Preserving the Traditional Culture of Ethnic Minorities in Association with Sustainable Community-Based Tourism Development in Vietnam
Abstract
The preservation of traditional culture among ethnic minorities and the development of community-based tourism are two independent fields that share a closely interdependent relationship, ensuring sustainability for economic, cultural, and social development. Culture plays a role as both the driving force and the goal of development; however, limitations or inappropriate preservation methods can become barriers to the overall development process. Sustainable community-based tourism development in ethnic minority areas generates positive impacts on the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values. Conversely, negative impacts arising from uncontrolled socio-economic development will affect the sustainable tourism development of both local communities and the nation. This article analyzes the relationship between the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and community-based tourism development, while evaluating the status of these efforts in recent times. On that basis, the author proposes several solutions to enhance the effectiveness of preserving and promoting traditional cultural identity associated with sustainable community-based tourism development for ethnic minorities in Vietnam.
Downloads
References
Nguyen The Anh, Nguyen Dinh Thao (2020), Local knowledge and the issue of forest resource protection among ethnic minorities in the western part of Thanh Hoa province, Journal of Culture and Arts, No. 433 - July.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. (2023). Summary report on collecting and archiving ethnic cultural heritage. Hanoi.
Government. (2022). Decree No. 86/2022/ND-CP regulating the awarding of titles "People's Artisan", "Meritorious Artisan" in the field of intangible cultural heritage. Hanoi.
General Statistics Office. (2019). National Population and Housing Census Results, 2019.
Government of Vietnam. (2011). Decree No. 05/2011/ND-CP on Ethnic Affairs.
Nguyen Thi Song Ha (2023), Transformation of traditional ethnic minority costumes in Vietnam and preservation, promotion work in modern life, Vietnam Social Sciences Journal, DOI: 10.56794/KHXHVN.7(187)
Nguyen Thi Song Ha (2023), Policies on preserving and promoting ethnic minority cultural values in Vietnam, Communist Review, July issue.
Nguyen Thi Song Ha (2024), Preserving and promoting cultural heritage contributing to sustainable national development, Journal of Political Theory, Issue 555 (May 2024).
Dang Thi Hoa (2019), Preservation of traditional cultural heritage of very small ethnic groups in the context of development and integration, Journal of Ethnic Studies 2019.
Sy Hao, (2018), Preserving the cultural identity of very small ethnic groups: A race against time, accessed July 20, 2026, https://dantocphattrien.vietnamnet.vn/bao-ton-ban-sac-van-hoa-cac-dan-toc-rat-it-nguoi-chay-dua-cung-thoi-gian-2016.html
Le Van Hung (2022), Ethnic minority cultural experiences and community-based tourism development, Journal of Culture – Tourism, No. 15.
Trung Hung (2026), Preserving and promoting ethnic minority cultural values: Awakening endogenous strength, spreading Vietnamese identity, accessed August 10, 2026, https://nhandan.vn/bao-ton-va-phat-huy-gia-tri-van-hoa-cac-dan-toc-thieu-so-khoi-day-suc-manh-noi-sinh-lan-toa-ban-sac-viet-nam-post921706.html
Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, B (2004). Intangible heritage as metacultural production. Museum International, 56(1–2)
Law No. 45/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly: Law on Cultural Heritage, https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=212473&classid=1&typegroupid=3
Decree No. 269/2026/Nd-Cp Providing Several Mechanisms And Policies For Preserving And Promoting Traditional Culture Of Ethnic Minorities, https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Van-hoa-Xa-hoi/Nghi-dinh-269-2026-ND-CP-chinh-sach-bao-ton-va-phat-huy-van-hoa-truyen-thong-cac-dan-toc-thieu-so-713145.aspx
Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, Full speech of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Cultural Conference (2021), https://baochinhphu.vn/toan-van-phat-bieu-cua-tong-bi-thu-nguyen-phu-trong-tai-hoi-nghi-van-hoa-toan-quoc-102304394.htm
Resolution No. 80/BCT-TW (2026), https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Van-hoa-Xa-hoi/Nghi-quyet-80-NQ-TW-2026-phat-trien-van-hoa-Viet-Nam-689327.aspx
Vinh Phong, The Bo Y people preserving cultural identity, published in Journal of Mass Mobilization 2015.
Decision 3222/QD-BVHTTDL issued October 30, 2024 on Approving the Scheme on Community-Based Tourism Development in Vietnam
Scheyvens, R (1999). Ecotourism and the empowerment of local communities. Tourism Management, 20(2)
Shepherd, R (2002). Commodification, culture and tourism. Tourism Studies, 2(2)
Smith, L (2006). Uses of heritage. Routledge.
Tran Huu Son (2008), Local knowledge of the Ha Nhi people in Vietnam on the issue of forest protection, 3rd Vietnam Studies Conference.
Tran Huu Son. (2018). Cultural transformations among ethnic minorities in tourism development in the Northwest region. Journal of Folklore, (3), 15-24.
To Ngoc Thanh (2017), Culture of ethnic groups with population under 10,000, March 17 issue, Journal of Ethnic Studies
Ngo Duc Thinh (2003), Understanding the customary laws of ethnic groups in Vietnam, Hanoi: Social Sciences Publishing House.
Ngo Duc Thinh. (2010). Preserving and promoting cultural heritage in sustainable development in Vietnam. Vietnam Education Publishing House.
Timothy, D. J., & Nyaupane, G. P (2009). Cultural heritage and tourism in the developing world: A regional perspective. Routledge.
Population and Housing Census (2019)
Nguyen Phu Trong (2021): "Striving to build, preserve, and promote the distinct values of an advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity", Communist Review, Issue 979 (December 2021)
UNESCO (2003). Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. UNESCO Publishing.
UNESCO. (2005). The Cultural Space of Gong Culture in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam.
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
UNESCO (2021), Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Environmental Practices, Paris.
UNESCO, & Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies [VICAS]. (2020). Assessment report on the impact of commercialized tourism on intangible cultural heritage in Northern mountainous provinces. Ethnic Culture Publishing House.
The authors and co-authors warrant that the article is their original work, does not infringe any copyright, and has not been published elsewhere. By submitting the article to GPH-International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, the authors agree that the journal has the right to retract or remove the article in case of proven ethical misconduct.
