Preserving and promoting Cham ethnic culture in central Ninh Thuan province

The project will engage with the Vietnamese music and film industries, with particular emphasis on elements of those industries that are under threat of disappearing, or are generally under-represented in the modern media. The project coordinators will employ innovative approaches in working with music and film heritage to create inclusive and sustainable growth in the heritage sector.

According to the British Council, in the first year, the project will focus on Vietnamese traditional musical instruments with components of community cultural heritage implemented in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai (Gongs of Bahnar ethnic group), in the central province of Ninh Thuan (Cham ethnic ritual music) and in Ho Chi Minh city (Cai luong - folk singing).

In Ninh Thuan province, training courses on traditional music, film clubs for children, and activities to improve community tourism capacity in Bau Truc and Binh Nghia villages have been held. With the cooperation of the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies and Cham Culture Center, the project has provided training courses on Cham ethnic music in the two villages since October 2018. Each training course draws the participation of 15 learners.

As scheduled, in January next year, Cham ethnic people will have an exchange with representatives from the local Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to promote activities related to heritage in the community. There will seminars, performances of learners from training courses, and shows on films which are the result of Heritage Verite training courses./.