Folk culture of sea and island area discussed

QUẢNG NGÃI – As many as 38 scientists throughout the country analysed issues concerning the ecology, history and folk culture of people living in the coastal region and on islands - to promote sea tourism and to confirm Việt Nam’s sovereignty over its territory and waters - at a workshop held yesterday in the central city of Quảng Ngãi.

Nguyễn Đăng Vũ, director of local Department for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that for the past 10 years the province has been one of the leading localities in the country in developing sea and island economics and preserving sea folk culture heritage - including hosting the “Lễ Khao Lề Thế Lính Hoàng Sa” (Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoàng Sa Soldiers) every third lunar month.

The province has also hosted various national-level workshops on sea and islands, which shows local authorities’ efforts in preserving and developing local sea and islands culture, he said.

Researchers addressing the workshop focused on highlighting local residents’ working processes for thousands of years, which created a diverse folk culture heritage. Local worship and art have much in common with other localities in the central region and the whole country. Quảng Ngãi also has special characteristic folk legends, folk songs and customs.

Đặng Ngọc Dũng, vice chairman of Quảng Ngãi People’s Community, noted that generations of local people have fished, grown sea products and traded with foreigners for thousands of years.

During the workshop yesterday, Việt Nam Folk Literature and Arts awarded the title of "Folk Artist" to four locals. — VNS