The management and organization of festivals have changed positively during the past years in Việt Nam, considerably contributing to the preservation and promotion of the country’s values of cultural heritages, improvement in people’s spiritual life, and advancement of services and tourism.

However, festivals have recently been organized disorderly with many wrong-doings while the responsibilities of festival holders and partakers have proved limited.

In addition, many social evils like superstition, encroachment of the cultural sites, and excessive commercialization of the festivals have arisen.

Therefore, the Government chief demanded organizations in charge of the festivals must be responsible for the contents and scope of the festivals.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and local People’s Committees are required to expand inspection and supervision of the festivals so that social evils, including superstition, placement of merit boxes, circulation of harmful cultural products, would be prevented immediately, said the PM.

For big festivals like Perfume Pagoda (Hà Nội), Yên Tử (Quảng Ninh), Hội Lim (Bắc Ninh), Phủ Dầy and Đền Trần (Nam Định), Hùng Temple (Phú Thọ), Lady of the Realm (An Giang), the People’s Committees of the localities must prepare plans to ensure the visitors’ safety.

Statistics show that Việt Nam has around 500 traditional festivals in all four seasons. Each has its own characteristics and often associates with a hero who made outstanding contributions to the country in various aspects.

The abundance of festivals in Việt Nam is a nice cultural feature and an attractive tourism products.

By Hải Minh