(VOVwolrd) - Located in the Red River Delta, Ha Nam province is home to a number of ancient cultures like the Dong Son and the Lieu Doi cultures which still exist today. It can boast of many historical relics, cultural festivals, and well-preserved traditional folk arts, including the traditional opera or Cheo, Chau Van shamanism religious singing, trance rituals, and A Dao singing. VOV’s To Tuan reports:
Ha Nam province is at the confluence of the Day, Chau, and Nhue rivers. The province’s limestone mountain range in the west contributes to its spectacular natural landscape, which includes the 5-grotto mountain Ngu Dong Son, Luồn cave, and Jade mountain. Ancient Vietnamese people left Ha Nam many priceless tangible and intangible cultural heritages such as the Ngọc Lũ bronze drum dating from the glorious development period of Đông Sơn culture 3000 years ago, and the Bắc Lý bronze book dating from 1471, the best-preserved of 4 surviving ancient books. Nguyen Thanh Trong, who lives in Ly Nhan district, Ha Nam province, told VOV: "We local people have done our best to preserve our ancestors’ traditions. Visitors can see that the banyan tree, water well, and communal house yard still exist in many villages of Ly Nhan district. Our Communal house remains a place for public activities." 

State President Truong Tan Sang took part in the "Going the Field" Festival in Ha Nam province in early 2012. (Photo: internet)

Many communal houses and temples in Ha Nam province are closely associated with historical and cultural figures and deeply imbued with the local cultural traditions. Most noteworthy is a temple built in the 15th century in Ly Nhan district in dedication to princess Vũ Nương, a beautiful woman who committed suicide when her husband suspected her of unfaithfulness. Vu Nuong’s story has been featured in the works of eminent scholars like Nguyen Khuyen and Nguyen Cong Tru. Ha Nam province is also famous for its many ancient melodies of traditional opera which are being carefully preserved by the local people. Trinh Xuan Duyen from Ha Nam province’s Thanh Lien district said: "Our communes have established 12 song and dance troupes to help preserve our many ancient folk songs. Many people have volunteered to take part in these troupes. For example, it is recorded that 7 members of a family all joined one of these groups. Such activities have contributed significantly to protecting the local cultural values."
Ha Nam province has also won fame for its many handicraft villages known for weaving, embroidery, drum making, handicrafts, and carpentry. The most prestigious include Nha Xa silk village, Ngoc Dong bamboo and rattan weaving village, and An Hoa embroidery village. More than 100 traditional festivals are organized every year in the province.   
Ha Nam is also famous for its learning tradition and many well-known scholars whose names carved on the province’s ancient stele, like Vu Van Ly, born in 1807 in Bac Ly district. He was awarded the title of doctor in 1841, then returned to the province and opened his own school. The tradition has been well preserved, especially after the study movement “Bac Ly drum sounds” was launched in the 1960s, making the district always take the lead in a national movement  of “good teaching, good learning” at that time.
                                                                                                                                                      To Tuan