On August 28, 1945, the Ministry of Information and Propaganda (the predecessor of today’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) was established, marking a historic milestone and the beginning of the cultural sector’s 80-year development. Since then, August 28 has become the Traditional Day of cultural and revolutionary information workers.

Over the past 80 years, the culture sector nationwide in general, and in Cao Bang in particular, has achieved remarkable accomplishments. In Cao Bang, the DoCST has made significant contributions to preserving and promoting cultural heritage; building grassroots cultural life; developing both mass sports and professional sports; promoting the image of the homeland and its people nationwide and internationally; and advancing tourism into a key economic sector. Its staff and employees have constantly grown, innovated working methods, and improved service quality. For its outstanding contributions, the DoCST of Cao Bang has been honored with the Second-class Labor Medal along with many prestigious awards from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Provincial People’s Committee.

As part of the 80^th Anniversary celebration, a variety of vibrant and interesting activities have taken place in Cao Bang, spreading patriotism, professional pride, and the awareness of preserving national identity. These activities are not only tied to patriotic emulation movements but also integrated with studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts, morality, and lifestyle.

Communication efforts have been comprehensively carried out through the press, digital platforms, social networks, literary and artistic works, cultural and sports events, and exhibitions. Banners and slogans displayed along main streets, office buildings, and institutions created a vibrant and solemn atmosphere toward this significant anniversary. Meaningful messages such as: “Culture is the soul of the nation,” “Culture lights the way for the nation,” “Cultural development and human development are both the goal and the driving force of renovation,” and “Building the Vietnamese people of the new era, harmoniously integrating traditional and modern values” have reaffirmed the vital role of culture in the country’s development.

Highlights of the celebration serries include a special art program; book exhibitions combined with mobile library services; a photo exhibition entitled “Typical Cultural Heritages of Cao Bang’s Ethnic Groups” at Kim Dong Walking Street; a thematic exhibition “Light from the History” at the Pac Bo Special National Monument; as well as displays of local tourism products and cultural publications. In addition, film screenings and art performances were held to serve people in remote, mountainous, and border areas, bringing culture and information to the grassroots level. The 2025 Cao Bang Open Pickleball Competition, organized by the DoCST, also added a highlight to the mass sports movement.

Especially, at the 80^th Anniversary Ceremony of the Traditional Day of the Culture Sector (August 28, 1945 - August 28, 2025) held on August 24, delegates reviewed the sector’s development and paid tribute to the dedication of generations of officials and workers. The ceremony not only reaffirmed the sector’s glorious tradition but also served as a reminder and encouragement for today’s generation to uphold responsibility, solidarity, creativity, and determination to build and develop an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity, meeting the requirements of integration and sustainable development in the new era. On this occasion, the DoCST conferred a certificate of merit to 9 organizations and 8 individuals with outstanding achievements in the emulation movement.

The anniversary activities took place in a vibrant atmosphere and presented political, cultural, and social importance, affirming the significant contributions of the culture sector to socio-economic development, especially in enriching people’s spiritual life, preserving and promoting national cultural values, fostering sustainable tourism, and building a healthy and progressive cultural environment. This was also an opportunity for the DoCST to review achievements, set future orientations, and create conditions for its staff to exchange experiences, strengthen political integrity, public service ethics, and professional capacity, in order to meet the growing demands of the new era.

Author: Minh Chau