By choosing the city's theme for 2020 as the “Year of promoting cultural activities and building a civilised urban lifestyle”, Ho Chi Minh City once again affirmed its priority in developing culture as the spiritual foundation of the society. Despite the impacts of the COVID-19, the city’s authorities strived to host cultural activities to entertain residents as well as celebrations of the country’s’ major holidays in line with regulation on controlling the spreading of the pandemic. The highlight of last year’s cultural events was a cultural dialogue, during which the city’s leaders joined experts and residents to exchange their opinions on problems facing the city’s life and cultural environment. Opinions gathered at the forum provided a valuable source of information for the city’s leaders in amending and supplementing projects and plans on cultural development in order to safeguard and further uphold the city’s cultural identity. In addition to contemporary cultural programmes, the municipal authorities have also focused on traditional art forms, which are a source of pride among residents in Ho Chi Minh city and the southern region in general. The Tran Huu Trang Contest for Talented Cai Luong (Vietnamese reformed opera) Performers 2020 was elevated into a national contest, attracting around about 400 candidates across the country who brought vong co (nostalgic tunes) songs and cai luong plays to the stage. During the event, which was organised by the HCM City Television and the HCM City Theatre Association in November last year, theatregoers were entertained with sweet melodies of cai luong , a popular folk genre in the southern region. According to People’s Artist Tran Minh Ngoc Giau, that the 2020 event drew enthusiastic participation from young contestants signals a sign that cai luong will soon thrive again. Cultural spaces in the city have also contributed to cultivating a civilised lifestyle among residents. Festivals on boosting …
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