Developing the Lotus Village Festival into a national cultural brand.
The 2025 National Lotus Village Festival, held to commemorate the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2025), is an opportunity for the entire Party, people, and army to express their profound respect and gratitude to the great leader of the nation. Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Bui Dinh Long, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, about the significance, scale, and unique highlights of the Festival.
PV:Comrade, the 2025 Lotus Village Festival, on a national scale, holds special significance and immense importance. Could you elaborate on how this year's festival has demonstrated the people's gratitude to Uncle Ho, as well as the dissemination of Ho Chi Minh's cultural and ideological values in the current context?
Comrade Bui Dinh Long:The 2025 Lotus Village Festival truly holds profound significance and stands out in scale compared to previous festivals, as it is closely linked to a momentous historical milestone – the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth. Organizing it on a national scale demonstrates the deep concern of the Party, the State, and the entire nation for President Ho Chi Minh's homeland – the land that gave birth to him – as well as for the ideological and moral legacy he left to the nation.
Right from the early days of the festival, especially duringopening nightHeld on the evening of May 15th, we clearly felt the solemn and sacred atmosphere, yet also the warmth and intimacy. The opening ceremony was not only an artistic program but also a symphony of gratitude, a message spreading the sacred and loving feelings that the people of the whole country have for Uncle Ho. The presence of Party and State leaders, central ministries and agencies, representatives from provinces and cities nationwide, and a large number of people affirmed the scale and reach of the festival.
Despite being organized on a large scale with many diverse activities in various locations, all preparations and organization were carried out systematically and scientifically, ensuring solemnity, safety, and effectiveness. Most valuable is the active participation of the people – not only as spectators but also as cultural participants – which contributed to the festival's success. This spirit of unity and solidarity further highlights the meaning of "A Great Festival for the Whole Nation" that the Lotus Village Festival aims for and is gradually realizing.
PV:The 2025 Lotus Village Festival is leaving many people and tourists with mixed feelings. Could you briefly mention some of the typical activities and unique highlights that have created a positive impact on the community?
Comrade Bui Dinh Long:One of the most significant and meaningful highlights worth mentioning first is the inauguration ceremony of the statue "Uncle Ho Visiting His Hometown". The idea for this project stemmed from the desire to authentically and vividly recreate the image of President Ho Chi Minh as a simple and approachable figure during his visits to his hometown in 1957 and 1961. The chosen location was the Lang Sen stadium – where President Ho Chi Minh once spoke to the people of his hometown – which not only holds profound historical value but also offers ample space, making it suitable for the construction of a large-scale project that would attract visitors from all over.
This is a meaningful gift that the People's Public Security Force respectfully offers to Uncle Ho - the beloved Father of the People's Armed Forces. Under the close guidance of the Ministry of Public Security, the close coordination of Nghe An province, and the utmost efforts of the construction unit, the project has been completed on schedule, ensuring quality and aesthetic value. We expect the project to become a new cultural and historical symbol, an indispensable stop for every Vietnamese person when returning to visit Uncle Ho's hometown, to remember, express gratitude, and learn from and follow his shining example.
Besides this key project, the 2025 Lotus Village Festival will also feature many new and diverse activities. Among them, the highlight is the "Following in the Footsteps of Uncle Ho - For National Security" running race, with enthusiastic participation from numerous professional and amateur athletes, contributing to spreading the spirit of health training and learning from Uncle Ho's example throughout society.
The photo exhibition "ASEAN Countries and People" has attracted the attention of a large number of art lovers. The works on display not only vividly depict images of our homeland but also offer multifaceted perspectives on international friends, contributing to the promotion of cultural exchange.
An annual event, but organized on an exceptionally large scale this year, is the "Village of Lotus" Folk Art Festival, bringing together nearly 1,000 amateur artists from all three regions of the country. This is truly a meaningful platform for art troupes to showcase their talent, affection, and reverence for President Ho Chi Minh through songs and performances imbued with national identity.
In addition, the National Traditional Wrestling Championship and many other sports competitions also contribute to creating a vibrant and culturally rich atmosphere for the festival, especially attracting the attention of young people. The film week about President Ho Chi Minh and the exchanges with film artists and film crews who have made works about him are also practical activities that help the public understand more deeply about his life, career, and ideology through the language of the seventh art.
PV:The important role of large-scale cultural events like the Lotus Village Festival in promoting tourism and socio-economic development is undeniable. How do you assess the specific contributions of this year's festival to Nghe An's tourism industry, especially in attracting tourists and promoting the image of the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh?
Comrade Bui Dinh Long:The Lotus Village Festival has long been identified as one of the important driving forces promoting tourism and socio-economic development in Nghe An province. In 2025, with its national scale and elaborate, systematic investment, the festival is creating positive effects and making clear contributions in many aspects.
First and foremost, in the field of tourism, the Lotus Village Festival is a unique cultural tourism product with great appeal to both domestic and international tourists. In just the first few days of the festival, the number of pilgrims visiting Lotus Village and other key tourist destinations in the province has increased dramatically. This is an opportunity for Nghe An to widely promote the image of a region rich in revolutionary traditions, with a strong cultural identity and hospitality – the birthplace of the nation's beloved leader.
Activities within the framework of the festival range from highly symbolic rituals and spectacular art programs to exhibitions and sporting events.folk performance- All of these contribute to highlighting the distinctive culture of Nghe An and shining a light on the ideological and moral values of Ho Chi Minh. Through this, tourists gain a deeper experience and a clearer understanding of the "essence of Nghe An" - both simple, sincere, and rich in tradition and compassion.
Furthermore, successfully organizing a national-scale event like the Lotus Village Festival contributes to enhancing the prestige, image, and position of Nghe An province on the national tourism and cultural map. It also provides an opportunity to attract more investors and create momentum for the development of other economic sectors.
The Lotus Village Festival is not only a cultural event with profound spiritual significance, but also a crucial impetus for the sustainable development of the tourism industry and the socio-economic development of the province. The success of this year's festival will serve as a foundation for Nghe An to continue effectively exploiting its existing potential and advantages, gradually building the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh into an attractive destination on the national and international tourism map.
Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An Province
PV:Drawing on experience from previous Lotus Village Festivals, especially this national-scale event in 2025, what strategic direction does Nghe An province have to continue preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Ho Chi Minh through the festival? How can the Lotus Village Festival become more than just an annual event, but a distinctive cultural brand with lasting vitality, contributing to educating the younger generation about patriotic traditions and the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source"?
Comrade Bui Dinh Long:Based on the experience of organizing the 2025 festival, with the synchronized and effective involvement of central ministries and agencies, the close coordination of localities, and the active participation of the community, we have learned many valuable lessons to further improve our organizational capacity. In the coming time, the province will focus on promoting the application of modern technology in the management, operation, and promotion of the festival, providing a convenient and attractive experience for residents and tourists.
Another key focus is preserving the traditional cultural space in Lang Sen, President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace. This is not limited to preserving and enhancing historical relics and natural landscapes, but also encompasses maintaining the lifestyle, customs, and traditions characteristic of the community – fundamental elements that contributed to the formation of President Ho Chi Minh's great personality. We see the festival as a bridge for the younger generation to access, experience, and further understand and appreciate these profound cultural values.
Furthermore, the province will focus on improving the quality and creativity of festival activities. Besides solemn traditional ceremonies, we encourage highly interactive activities suitable for young people while still preserving cultural depth. Experiential programs and activities educating about the history and culture of Ho Chi Minh will continue to be promoted. Inviting art troupes, folk artists, and researchers from both within and outside the country to participate will also create a rich and multifaceted space for exchange.
An indispensable task is to strengthen communication and promotion efforts to build a deeper brand awareness of the Lotus Village Festival in the public consciousness. We will enhance cooperation with media agencies, promote multi-platform communication, and effectively utilize social media and digital technology to spread the image of the festival and the image of President Ho Chi Minh's homeland to people nationwide and international friends.
In particular, the province places great emphasis on promoting the role of the community as the main actors in organizing and preserving festivals. People are not only participants and beneficiaries, but also creators, guardians, and disseminators of the cultural values of the festivals. We will create conditions for people to participate more deeply in all stages – from organization, performance, and welcoming guests to developing tourism products and services with local identity.
With strategic direction and strong determination, we expect that the Lotus Village Festival will truly become a vibrant and sustainable cultural symbol – a place where national pride and sentiment converge, and an effective channel for educating about patriotic traditions and the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," in a way that is relevant to the new era.
PV:Thank you very much, comrade!
