HÀ NỘI — In his two decades working in the field of culture, Lê Hồng Dương made significant contributions to the revival of quan họ folk singing, the preservation of the Đông Hồ folk painting craft, and the development of local cultural life.

A seminar Cultural Figure Lê Hồng Dương and the Nation’s Cultural Heritage on his life and career on November 12 in Hà Nội helped shed light on his management approach and the experience he gained in safeguarding cultural heritage.

The event was held by the Institute for Research, Conservation, and Promotion of National Culture, in collaboration with the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, as an activity to celebrate the Việt Nam Heritage Day (November 23) and the 80th anniversary of the National Culture Conference (1946–2026).

People’s Artist Lê Tiến Thọ, director of the Institute for Research, Conservation, and Promotion of National Culture, and former deputy minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the organising committee received 35 reports from researchers, administrators, artists, and individuals who were closely associated with Dương. They focused on his life, career, management philosophy, and contributions to the culture of Hà Bắc, most notably his efforts in preserving and promoting the cultural values ​​of the Kinh Bắc region.

Dương (1921–2003), a native of Đọ Xá, Bắc Ninh, served in various political and military roles throughout his career.

From 1963 to 1983, he was director of the Department of Culture for Hà Bắc Province (now Bắc Ninh City), where he directly organised and oversaw numerous initiatives to collect, research, and restore traditional local cultural forms.

Among the notable achievements was the restoration of 49 traditional quan họ villages, the establishment of the Bắc Ninh Quan Họ Troupe, the development of artistic programmes, and the creation of opportunities for artisans to pass on their knowledge directly to the younger generation.

According to People’s Artist Thọ, these initiatives laid the groundwork for the research, preservation, and promotion of Bắc Ninh quan họ folk singing, efforts that took place before the heritage was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

Dương also paid his attention on sustaining the environment in which the heritage was practiced. The initiative to bring young performers to the original quan họ villages, allowing them to learn singing directly from master artisans, was highly commended by Assoc. Prof., Dr., and composer Đỗ Hồng Quân, president of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations. Dương recognised the vital role of master artisans in preserving heritage, while also prioritising the training of a new generation to ensure that traditional values ​​continue to be passed down.

Regarding Đông Hồ folk painting, Dương played an active role in collecting and preserving traditional woodblocks, studying the techniques behind the prints, and encouraging artisans to maintain this time-honoured craft.

He also spearheaded efforts to revive production, promote the artwork, and introduce Đông Hồ prints to international audiences, helping generate valuable foreign currency earnings. By creating opportunities for artisans to sustain their livelihoods through their craft, these initiatives helped safeguard traditional printing techniques and ensure that the knowledge and skills associated with Đông Hồ folk painting could be passed down to future generations.

His range of interests also extended to water puppetry, traditional fishing practices, the preservation of ancient communal houses, temples, and pagodas, the promotion of grassroots cultural and artistic movements, as well as the research, compilation, and publication of works concerning the local geography, culture, and arts of Hà Bắc.

In 1978, he was awarded an Honourary Certificate by UNESCO in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the preservation of the musical traditions and cultural heritage of the Kinh Bắc region. Furthermore, he received prestigious honors from the Party and the State for his exceptional efforts in safeguarding this cultural heritage.

Based on the contributions noted during the seminar, People’s Artist Thọ stated that the organising committee and relevant agencies will submit a formal proposal to the Bắc Ninh People’s Committee and People’s Council to name a street after Dương in the city, an effort to recognise his significant contributions to the nation’s cultural heritage. — VNS