Da Nang youth’s efforts to keep cultural heritage alive

As a recognized national intangible cultural heritage, Tuong (classical drama) is the identity as well as a unique form of folk performance art of the Quang people.

Traditionally, Tuong has been considered “difficult” to pass on, yet fortunately, a generation of young people, born between 1996 and 2000, have become the generation of successors in promoting and preserving the art of Tuong.

Among them, Tran Vu Quynh is a vivid example. Discovered through the project "Bringing Tuong to Schools" implemented by the city’s Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theater in coordination with authorities in former Duy Xuyen District, Quynh studied Tuong professionally in Ha Noi. After 4 years, she returned to Da Nang and contributed to inspiring the generation of Da Nang students through Tuong performances at schools.

In addition, there are still many cultural clubs in the city with young people passionate about folk songs, 'bai choi' and folk dances. Many workshops on traditional instruments such as monochord, bamboo flute, drum and gong, along with experiential tours that combine traditional music with cultural learning are organized for students and visitors.

Another example is the group "Da Nang Tui", consisting of young people of the 9X generation. The group combines tradition with technology such as AR, 3D Mapping and AI to organize interactive cultural exhibitions.

"Nghe" to "Lenh Denh" exhibitions with the most ordinary stories of the city offer a multi-dimensional view of Da Nang. In 2024, the “Rong - Rao” exhibition earned high praise for its content quality and immersive interactive experiences. These events have attracted artists, volunteers, and visitors, providing momentum for Da Nang’s creative industry.

Recently, the initiative “Training Young Leaders in Hoi An” has placed young people at the heart of heritage transmission. This is a key activity under the project “Promoting Innovation for Youth and Communities” funded by UN-Habitat and Fondation Botnar and implemented by Wemaster and HoiAnlife.

The digitization of heritage continues to be of interest when the project “Neo Choi” has proposed a digital library solution to archive ‘bai choi’ lyrics and research to translate the traditional ‘bai choi’ lyrics into contemporary language.

The journey of young people to access traditional culture is not easy. Despite challenges, more and more young people in Da Nang choose to go hand in hand with traditional culture. They are laying the foundation for a city that grows sustainably while remaining rich in cultural identity.