This year, the Lim Festival has been honoured with inscription on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list, affirming the outstanding value of the Kinh Bac quan ho (a form of folk singing characterised by a duet format) cultural space in the nation’s cultural life. The recognition is not only a source of pride for local people but also places greater responsibility on the preservation and promotion of the heritage in close connection with contemporary life.
Tran Van Vung, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Tien Du Commune (Bac Ninh), said: “Following the official operation of the two-tier local administration, the Resolution of the First Party Congress of Tien Du Commune has set the goal of striving to upgrade Tien Du into a ward before 2028, with a development orientation towards commerce, services, and tourism. In that roadmap, the Lim Festival is identified as a key highlight, requiring continued promotion of its heritage values in order to effectively serve local tourism and socio-economic development.”
Cultural exchange booths at the Lim Festival are arranged in combination with designated livestream areas on social media platforms, helping to promote the image of the festival and spread the values of quan ho heritage to a wide audience.
Alongside preserving traditional rituals and customs, the organising committee has proactively renewed its communication methods. Key festival activities are regularly updated on digital platforms; numerous quan ho singing performances, rituals, and typical cultural activities are livestreamed, enabling audiences both at home and abroad to follow and experience the atmosphere of the Lim Festival even if they are unable to attend in person.
Bringing the festival into the digital space has expanded its reach, particularly among younger generations, thereby fostering a love for and awareness of safeguarding the heritage.
Sharing her experience while following the festival, Nguyen Thi L., a visitor from Ha Noi, said that watching quan ho melodies via livestream had helped her family members, especially the younger generation, better understand traditional cultural values and feel more connected to the heritage.
Alongside renewing promotional methods, festival management has continued to receive close attention from the locality. The authorities and organising committee have clearly upheld the principle of holding a civilised festival and preserving the purity of the quan ho cultural space. Functional forces are deployed at singing venues to provide reminders and guidance, ensuring that quan ho performances are conducted in accordance with traditional customs and avoiding commercialisation.
Many local residents have expressed their support for this approach. Tran Van H., a resident of Tien Du Commune, said: “Quan ho is for enjoyment and for emotional exchange. Maintaining proper order in this way makes the festival more dignified and true to its traditional spirit.”
Efforts to ensure security and order, environmental sanitation, and traffic regulation have also been implemented in a coordinated manner, creating favourable conditions for residents and visitors to attend the festival safely and in a civilised way.
A highlight of this year’s Lim Festival is a comprehensive art programme and a low-altitude fireworks display on the evening of February 28, creating a joyful and festive atmosphere in the early days of spring and attracting the attention of large numbers of residents and visitors.
The harmonious combination of preserving traditional values with the application of digital technology demonstrates an appropriate direction for festival organisation today. Through this approach, the Lim Festival is not only maintained as a community cultural activity but continues to spread strongly in contemporary life, contributing to affirming the enduring vitality of Kinh Bac quan ho heritage.
