Nghe An is the province with the largest natural area in the country, with 16,487 km2, of which ethnic minority and mountainous areas account for 83% of the total area of the province. Ethnic minorities have 491,267 people, accounting for 14.76% of the total population of the province, including 47 ethnic minorities living together in 12 districts and towns.
In recent years, the construction and implementation of village covenants and conventions in Nghe An have had a positive impact on the movements of building “Cultural Families”, “Cultural Villages”, and civilized lifestyles in weddings, funerals and festivals. Thereby contributing to preserving and promoting good customs and practices in the community. However, village covenants and conventions are not “unchangeable” but have undergone many adjustments, additions and improvements to suit actual conditions. It is clearly stipulated that all citizens in the village must be responsible for educating and reminding the younger generation to preserve the traditional cultural features of the nation, while eliminating backward customs to build a new and better life.
Currently, Section 5, Article 4, Principles for building and implementing village covenants and conventions according to Decision No. 22 of the Prime Minister stipulates that it is not allowed to "set fees, charges, fines, or material penalties". However, in many villages, especially in mountainous and remote areas, in addition to the common village covenant according to the model, there are still separate conventions or oral agreements agreed upon by the people and implemented together as "village rules" to increase deterrence and binding. For example, in Truong Son village, Nam Can commune (Ky Son), there is a separate village convention consisting of 8 articles. It stipulates that households and individuals who have land disputes: the first time will be reminded, the second time the individual voluntarily submits 20kg of rice to the management board as a fund for building the village (for a collective, it is 50kg of rice). If the violation is the 3rd time or more, multiply the amount of rice specified in the second time submitted to the village management board.
Or the convention of the Tho clan in Huoi Vieng village, Dooc May commune regarding violations of the Law on Marriage and Family, illicit relationships, clearly states: Illegal second marriage without divorce is not accepted. If the husband or wife has an illicit relationship that damages the honor and dignity of others, causing bad public opinion, they will be punished in cash and material. Specifically: Individuals who violate must comply with the form of punishment of the clan: 12,000,000 VND or more depending on the level of influence and some other material (if any) to compensate the honor of the wife or husband (to be discussed and decided by the collective). For acts of stealing, stealing other people's property, damaging the honor and dignity of the family, the clan will be punished with a warning, a reminder in front of the clan (depending on the nature and level of property affected). If after being reminded, education still does not progress, depending on the level of impact, the law enforcement agency will recommend sending the person to a reform camp according to the provisions of law.
In other hamlets such as Dot Va hamlet, Mo Moi hamlet... Nghia Xuan commune (Quy Hop), the common village covenant clearly stipulates the rewards and handling of violations. Specifically: Any household or individual with achievements in building and implementing the village covenant will be recorded in the traditional golden book; will be presented as an example of good people and good deeds on the loudspeaker system or at village conferences, and will be considered for recognition as a cultural family. For groups and individuals who violate: first time and minor violations will be reminded and reconciled. Repeated violations will be subject to review at the organization or group that person is participating in or review before the people's conference, and at the same time announced on the village loudspeaker. “In case of serious violations of the village covenant, based on the consensus of the community, it is possible to force the fulfillment of obligations and responsibilities within the community. Or apply penalties, but not impose severe penalties that infringe upon the life, health, freedom, honor, dignity, property, and legitimate rights of citizens,” said Mr. Dinh Van Chau - Secretary of the Party Cell of Dot Va hamlet, Nghia Xuan commune.
To be suitable for contemporary life, village rules and regulations must comply with state laws, local policies and guidelines; on the basis of respecting individual dignity and human rights. However, many opinions say that they should not be too rigid and stereotyped, losing the unique characteristics of each region and each ethnic group.
At the workshop "Protecting, preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, good customs and practices in village covenants and conventions in Nghe An province" organized by the Department of Culture and Sports of Nghe An at the end of 2021 in Vinh City, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh - Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics gave a speech emphasizing the cultural diversity of different regions. Preserving Vietnamese identity means preserving the diverse cultural features of each region, each village, each ethnic group. In the context of globalization, along with cultural exchange is the process of preserving the unique cultural features of the nation. Without tools to preserve our cultural values, we may lose our identity. And the effective way to preserve that cultural diversity is to build village covenants and conventions as tools to preserve unique cultural features, and at the same time as a shield to purify the toxins of foreign lifestyles imported into Vietnam.
In fact, in Nghe An, the issue of protecting, preserving and promoting the values, traditional cultural identities, and good customs and practices of ethnic communities in building and implementing village covenants and conventions has always been of interest and care to Party committees and authorities at all levels. For example, in Chau Cuong commune (the original land of Muong Ham) - the earliest established Muong in Quy Hop region with a long-standing system of customs and practices, the authorities have developed a plan to organize a workshop to promote cultural values imbued with the identity of the Thai ethnic group, amending some customs and practices to suit the development of the times.
Similarly, in Nghia Mai commune (Nghia Dan), 10/10 villages have ethnic minorities living together. In particular, the Thai and Tho people have many cultural features imbued with national identity such as bamboo dancing, gongs, carving, throwing, singing, antiphonal singing, xoe dancing, lam vong dancing, can wine, making way, eating khem troi... Therefore, the issue of preserving cultural identity is always of interest to the Party Committee, government and people. The Nghia Mai commune Party Committee has issued a project to preserve and promote the cultural traditions of ethnic minorities in the area for the period 2020-2025. With the goal of building at least 2 clubs for gongs, carving, bamboo dancing, traditional costumes. Mobilizing people, especially young people, to participate in ethnic musical instrument classes, striving for over 50% of Thai and Tho ethnic villages to have a young gong team by 2025. In addition, campaign to eliminate backward customs in weddings (such as the custom of living with the wife's family, dowry...) and in funerals such as (lying on the street to carry the coffin, casting spells, exorcising evil spirits, scattering real money during funerals...).
Mr. Le Thai Hung - Vice Chairman of Nghia Dan District People's Committee said: In order to preserve and promote traditional cultural values and cultural identities of ethnic groups, the Party Committee of Nghia Dan District has issued Resolution No. 02-NQ/HU on promoting cultural traditions and people of Nghia Dan, meeting development requirements in the new period. In which, focusing on building conventions and village regulations to implement civilized lifestyles in weddings, funerals and festivals. Resolutely push back all kinds of social evils, superstitions, backward and uncultured customs and practices in each residential area, in families and clans. Preserve, promote and expand types of community-based cultural activities; Build eco-tourism and community tourism models associated with preserving and promoting the cultural values of ethnic minorities of Thai and Tho people in the area.
Talking about promoting cultural values in village conventions and covenants, Mr. Hoang Xuan Luong - former Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee said: "Life is a constant flow, so in every ethnic group there are values that are surpassed by life, so we must mobilize people to fight to abandon bad customs. And to overcome this, we must first review and re-evaluate traditional cultural values, list outdated customs, propagate so that people can clearly see the harm, and then add them to village conventions... We must skillfully combine the State's policies and laws with traditional village conventions and covenants, especially issues that the law does not cover in detail and meticulously must be transformed into village conventions and covenants. It is necessary to remember that village conventions are also the cultural identity of the village, an effective extension of the Party and the State in implementing policies and guidelines".
Mr. Bui Cong Vinh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports said: In the coming time, the Department of Culture and Sports will coordinate with relevant agencies and units to implement the construction and replication of models and typical examples in the construction of village covenants and conventions in the province in accordance with the new situation. At the same time, it is recommended that localities continue to direct, guide the implementation, monitor and manage the state on the construction and implementation of village covenants and conventions associated with the movement "All people unite to build a cultural life" ... in order to promote the role of village covenants and conventions in current social life. This is also a solution to effectively implement the Project on preserving and promoting traditional cultural values of ethnic groups associated with tourism development in the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021 - 2030.