The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued Decision No. 3875/QD-BVHTTDL promulgating the Criteria Framework for Building a System of Cultural Standards and Values for Green Living and Sustainable Lifestyles Linked to Traditional Cultural Values. The framework covers three key areas: Festivals, Cultural Heritage, and Tourism.
In the field of Festivals, the overarching standard is to build a civilized, healthy, and safe festival cultural environment; to preserve and promote the nation’s positive traditional cultural values; and to minimize negative impacts on the environment, heritage landscapes, and ecosystems. Specific criteria include: management and organization; environmental and landscape protection; sustainable preservation and promotion of cultural values; and cultural conduct and green lifestyles.
In the Cultural Heritage sector, the general standard is the management, protection, and promotion of heritage values in accordance with sustainability principles, ensuring maximum preservation of original elements constituting heritage sites and the integrity of cultural landscapes. This approach seeks to harmoniously integrate conservation with socio-economic development, particularly green tourism. Specific criteria include: planning, conservation, and restoration; utilization and promotion of heritage values linked to green lifestyles; and raising community awareness.
For Tourism, the general standard is the development of sustainable tourism that is environmentally and socially responsible, ensuring the rational use of natural and cultural tourism resources to meet visitor demand while preserving and enhancing values for future generations. Specific criteria include: development of green tourism products; standards for tourism service providers (travel agencies, accommodation, transport, and other services); and criteria related to tourists’ behavior and responsibilities.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the implementation of green cultural living standards will play a significant role in building a healthy cultural environment at the grassroots level, gradually eliminating outdated practices and inappropriate or deviant behaviors. Moreover, effective application of green cultural practices at festivals and cultural and natural heritage sites will help shape and strengthen the image and brand of destinations that are safe, civilized, friendly, and responsible, thereby attracting visitors and high-quality investors.
At the same time, linking green lifestyles with traditional values serves as a means to affirm and promote national cultural identity, demonstrating a Vietnam that is dynamic in development while remaining deeply respectful of its roots. Successful application of this system of standards across culture, sports, and tourism will directly contribute to achieving the objectives of the National Green Growth Strategy, moving toward a green economy, carbon neutrality, and sustainable development.
The application of these criteria will also enhance awareness and a sense of responsibility among stakeholders and the public, gradually shaping habits and behaviors that reflect civility and responsibility toward the environment, culture, and society.
The criteria framework serves as a practical tool and benchmark for state management agencies to assess the effectiveness of organizing and managing cultural, sports, and tourism activities at the local level, providing a basis for commendation and for scaling up effective models and best practices.
Overall, the framework establishes an effective mechanism to ensure that the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values and cultural heritage, as well as tourism development, are carried out sustainably, harmonizing the relationship between conservation and development, and meeting present needs without compromising the future.
Ngọc Dung