On the afternoon of December 22, the People’s Committee of Hanoi City organized an online conference for the Steering Committee of the movement “Whole Population Unites to Build Cultural Life” and the Steering Committee of family affairs and festival activities for the year 2024. The meeting was chaired by the Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi City, Vu Thu Ha.
In reporting the results of implementing the “Whole Population Unites to Build Cultural Life” movement in 2023, Ms. Tran Thi Van Anh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, stated that the goals and tasks of the movement had been excellently fulfilled, with many exceeding the set plans. Noteworthy achievements include the cultivation of civilized lifestyles, the practice of cultural norms in ceremonies, weddings, and festivals, the establishment, and implementation of conventions and pledges, as well as the investment and enhancement of the quality of cultural and sports facilities. Specifically, in 2023, 95.8% of registered families achieved the Cultural Family title. The rate of Cultural Families in the entire city reached 88%, surpassing the city’s set target. Seventy percent of registered hamlets and villages applied for the “Cultural Village” title, while 80% of residential areas applied for the “Cultural Residential Group” title. All districts and towns implemented the registration to strive for the construction of 2-5 units meeting the civilized urban standards. In 2023, the percentage of agencies, units, and businesses meeting cultural standards reached 71.8%.
Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, Tran Thi Van Anh, presented at the conference.
Currently, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports has drafted plans for implementing the “Whole Population Unites to Build Cultural Life” movement in Hanoi in 2024. The movement’s contents will be implemented through various specific and practical models, closely linked to the implementation of local economic and socio-economic development tasks and national security and defense. It aims to timely honor and replicate exemplary individuals in the cultural life-building movement. Simultaneously, the contents will be implemented in-depth, with a focus on quality, effectiveness, and practicality to fulfill the objectives, targets, and tasks of Program No. 06-CTr/TU of the Hanoi Party Committee on “Developing culture, improving the quality of human resources, and building cultured and refined Hanoians” in the 2021-2025 period.
During the conference, districts and towns including Bac Tu Liem, Hoang Mai, Me Linh, Phu Xuyen, Chuong My, Ba Vi, and Son Tay reported achieving various goals of the movement to unite the entire population in building cultural life. Some localities suggested increased support for investment in upgrading and embellishing deteriorating monuments and assisting in constructing hamlet cultural houses.
At the conference, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, Tran Thi Van Anh, revealed that the department had provided recommendations to the People’s Committee of the City for the implementation of festival management in districts, towns, and cities with large-scale and extended-duration festivals such as My Duc, Soc Son, Dong Anh, Son Tay, Me Linh, Ba Vi, and Dong Da. Clear responsibilities were assigned for state management to various departments and sectors in the City, as well as the People’s Committees of districts, towns, and cities. The guidance focused on preparing for festival organization, including developing management and organization plans, epidemic prevention measures, ensuring public order and safety, traffic safety, environmental hygiene, food safety, and fire prevention. It also involved establishing Steering Committees and Organizing Committees for the festivals. The People’s Committee of Hanoi established an inter-agency inspection team to examine the management and organization of major festivals, exemplified by the festivals in Go Dong Da, Soc Temple, Co Loa Citadel, Hai Ba Trung Temple, Huong Pagoda Festival, Chem Communal House Festival, Lang Pagoda Festival, Phu Dong Temple Festival, Dong Co Temple Festival, and Tay Ho Citadel.
Alongside the achievements, Ms. Tran Thi Van Anh also noted that some localities lacked sufficient investment in the festival organization, and the public’s awareness of civilized communication and behavior during festivals was still limited. Some festivals still featured unsightly stalls and businesses within heritage sites, leading to aesthetic degradation and causing traffic congestion, with potential fire and explosion hazards.
Ms. Tran Thi Van Anh also highlighted a new aspect of the 2024 festival management, which is the implementation of the criteria for building a cultural environment during traditional festivals issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The goal for 2024 is to ensure that 70% of festivals meet these criteria.
Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi City, Vu Thu Ha, concluded at the conference.
In her concluding remarks at the conference, addressing the themes of the movement “Whole People Unite to Build Cultural Life” and family and child-related initiatives, Vice Chairwoman Vu Thu Ha urged localities to review and concentrate resources and solutions to ensure the completion of the set objectives. For the 40 hamlets without cultural centers, she emphasized the need for attention to planning, adjustment, and land allocation to meet the conditions for investing in the construction of cultural centers. The focus should be on achieving the target of 100% of hamlets with cultural centers (currently at 98.7%). For the remaining goals and tasks, registration and assessment processes should be implemented with substance and effectiveness. Vu Thu Ha proposed that each locality, at the district and municipal levels, register two cultural development models with the City. Based on these models, the City’s Steering Committee will conduct surveys and evaluations. “The city will concentrate on building cultural models within schools, considering it one of the focal tasks for 2024,” emphasized Ms. Vu Thu Ha.
Regarding festival management, Vice Chairwoman Vu Thu Ha emphasized that festival activities must promote traditional, historical, and cultural values while contributing to the refinement and civility of Hanoi residents, ensuring no wastefulness. Localities need to reassess the various levels of festivals (scale, timing), and promptly report to the Department of Culture and Sports to ensure effective management. They should also implement the criteria for building a cultural environment during traditional festivals.
Thuy Nga