Weaving childhood dreams with threads of Vietnamese culture in the Ho Van space.

In the ever-changing flow of modern society, connecting the younger generation with traditional values ​​and the finest aspects of national culture is becoming an increasingly urgent task. In the heart of Hanoi, a melting pot of history, knowledge, and culture, Ho Van Lake – an integral part of the Temple of Literature – is becoming a new cultural meeting point, where journeys of "growing up with tradition" are woven from the very fabric of heritage.

The festival is not only a gift for children on International Children's Day, but also an invitation to the community, especially the younger generation, to explore, learn about, and cherish the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation.

"We believe that a love for heritage, if nurtured early, will become a solid foundation for each individual to grow up with the cultural identity of their nation. 'Growing Up with Tradition' is not just a festival – it's a journey for children to touch seemingly distant cultural values ​​through handicrafts, folk art, and direct interaction with artisans," shared Mr. Khanh Duy from Dong Da, who came with his daughter.

An open space - A journey through heritage

From 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on both holiday days, Ho Van Lake will transform into a vibrant and multi-dimensional art space, where every step brings you closer to the treasure trove of Vietnamese cultural heritage. Unlike typical exhibition models, "Growing Up with Tradition" offers a highly interactive playground where children can not only observe and listen but also touch, experience, and create their own designs through various activities.

The festival space is designed to be open and free of charge, encouraging free, intimate, and equal participation from all. There, urban children will have the opportunity to try their hand at woodblock printing, experimenting with traditional hairstyles and headscarves, or assembling ceramic pieces into works of art. Adults, while bringing their children to participate, will also find faded memories awakened by the colors of folk paintings, the gentle tapping of mortars and pestles, and the subtle fragrance of handmade paper.

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The intersection of tradition and innovation

What makes the "Growing Up with Tradition" festival so appealing is the way traditional values ​​are recreated—not in a rigid or purely exhibitional way. Instead, it's a flexible blend of tradition and creativity, of heritage and modern application, through the hands of artisans, creators, and contemporary art organizations.

Cool Vietnam features activities such as decorating bamboo dragonflies and papier-mâché masks, recreating the playful and folk spirit. Magic of Color allows children to paint folk art and create crafts from dó paper – a traditional material that is gradually disappearing. Lamphong Studio and Dragon Sigma bring lacquer art closer to the public through painting and decorating experiences. Hong Xiem Class offers the experience of printing unique woodblock prints – a technique once popular in traditional folk paintings. Cham Do, D16 Creative Class, Qmosaic, Slowbooks… all offer activities that combine tradition and creativity, such as silk painting, reading books about ancient patterns, mosaic pottery, or coloring Dong Ho paintings.

In addition, we cannot overlook the workshops offering experiences in traditional clothing and beauty practices, such as the "Hair Styling with Traditional Headscarves" organized by groups like Moc Mien Thi, Can Dai Dao Tri, and Thanh Phong. Children and adults can try on traditional hairstyles, wear Vietnamese traditional clothing, and take photos in the ancient setting of Ho Van Lake – a gentle yet profound way to experience the culture firsthand in every detail of daily life.

Cultural booth - where gifts imbued with the spirit of the nation are told.

The festival also dedicates a special space to handicraft stalls, showcasing and selling products inspired by folk culture. This is not only a place for visitors to admire exquisite products made from La Khe silk, artistic paper lanterns, Do paper paintings, lacquerware, mosaic ceramics, etc., but also an opportunity for consumers to better understand the value of Vietnamese handicrafts in modern life.

Each item here tells a story, not only about the materials and techniques, but also about the spirit and the community behind those products. The emergence of businesses like Qmosaic, Chạm Dó, Bana&Bibi, and Mộc Miên Thị is proof of the creative transformation of traditional crafts, inspired by young designers and artists.

Throughout the two-day festival, performances of traditional folk art will be held in rotation, ranging from <i>ca trù</i> (traditional Vietnamese singing), <i>hat xam</i> (traditional Vietnamese folk singing), and traditional dances to contemporary music blended with folk influences. These performances not only contribute to a vibrant and culturally rich atmosphere but also serve as "silent lessons," allowing viewers to directly experience the national spirit through music, melodies, dances, and costumes.

Nurturing a love of heritage from childhood.

It's no coincidence that the festival is named "Growing Up with Tradition." This is not just a slogan, but also a cultural orientation, a social aspiration that every child grows up carrying with them a genuine love for traditional values, viewing them as a natural part of life.

By organizing an event to celebrate International Children's Day and integrating activities suitable for all ages, the organizers created a true festival where children could learn, play, and be creative in a safe, inspiring environment imbued with national spirit.

“Growing Up with Tradition” is not just a summer event. It marks the beginning of a series of activities called “Weaving Heritage - Weaving Creativity,” which will run throughout 2025. This series aims to spread the spirit of preserving, creating, and developing cultural heritage in contemporary life, a key objective in the national cultural strategy.

From simple activities like coloring pictures, assembling pottery, or trying on traditional Vietnamese clothing, to larger stories about the craft industry and the role of heritage in education, "Weaving Heritage - Weaving Creativity" hopes to become a bridge between the past, present, and future, between tradition, modernity, and creativity.

Amidst the increasingly hectic pace of modern life, Ho Van - Van Mieu becomes a haven to reconnect with the past. The "Growing Up with Tradition" festival not only provides joyful experiences for children on June 1st, but also ignites in each participant a quiet yet profound belief that national culture, if loved, preserved, and nurtured properly, will always be an endless source of creativity for the future.

Text and photos: Hoang Anh