Nguyen Tat Thanh University accompanies Ninh Thuan province to support community based tourism development

NTTU – Recently, the Faculty of Tourism, Nguyen Tat Thanh University (NTTU) had a field trip to the festival area. At the same time, NTTU signed a cooperation agreement with the Cham Bau Truc Pottery Production, Trade and Service Cooperative on the occasion of the 2023 Kate Festival of the Cham people taking place in Ninh Thuan.

Taking place from October 13-16, Kate is the most unique folk festival of the Cham people in Ninh Thuan, with the meaning of worshipping the gods and praying for good weather, favorable harvests, prosperity, harmony between couples and proliferation of humans and all species.

Cham people organize festivals for several days before and after Kate to commemorate and review the merits of grandparents and ancestors. At the same time, it is also an opportunity for entertainment and community exchange after a year of hard work. Photo source: Ethnic newspaper

Kate Festival often begins with festivals from Cham temples and towers, then ends with amused activities to celebrate Tet at home. This is also an opportunity for Cham people to remember the deceased and those honored by the Cham people as gods. At the event, a large number of people gathered at ancient temples and towers to enjoy folk dancing and music of the Cham people. Everyone rested and was filled with pleasure, visiting and congratulating each other.

Lecturers of NTTU Tourism Department have the opportunity to experience the Kate Festival of the Cham people in Ninh Thuan province

Nowadays, the Kate Festival of the Cham people in Ninh Thuan is a part of Vietnam’s national cultural heritage. That is the great contribution of Cham culture to the unified Vietnamese culture in diversity, creating more vivid colors in the overall Vietnamese culture.

On the occasion of Kate Festival 2023, the Faculty of Tourism, Nguyen Tat Thanh University had a field trip to conduct a research at the ceremony area; At the same time, signed a cooperation agreement with Cham Bau Truc Pottery Production, Trade and Service Cooperative.

Dr. Phan Thi Ngan, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, Nguyen Tat Thanh University presented at the signing ceremony

According to Dr. Phan Thi Ngan – Acting Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, the University will support training in tourism development promotion; training and development of community based tourism for Bau Truc pottery village. This is to contribute to the preservation and development Cham culture in a unified and diverse Vietnamese culture, creating more vivid colors in the overall Vietnamese culture and promoting local tourism development.

It is known that Bau Truc Pottery Village (Hamu Craok) is a craft village and an important tourist destination in Ninh Thuan, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent protection. The signing of this cooperation has practical significance, providing professional support and connection to craft villages. Thereby, the Faculty of Tourism will support training in tourism promotion and development, training and community tourism development for Bau Truc Pottery Village.

Representative of the Faculty of Tourism of Nguyen Tat Thanh University signed a cooperation agreement with Bau Truc Pottery Village

In addition, the Faculty will also coordinate researching on a project “Research, propose and implement a community based tourism model associated with Bau Truc Pottery Village, Ninh Thuan province” and other research activities in the future. The two sides commit to coordinate in sending personnel to participate in operating and organizing experiential tours in Bau Truc Pottery Village and Cham village and promoting local tourism experience activities.

Currently, although tourism is developing, the community’s tourism operating skills still face many difficulties. According to Dr. Quang Dai Tuyen, Faculty of Tourism – Nguyen Tat Thanh University, although Cham traditional craft villages have potential and development opportunities to shape the identity of specific tourism products of Ninh Thuan province, the strategies, regulations and even the most practical and specific implementation programs are still quite limited.

Dr. Quang Dai Tuyen hopes that the pioneering cooperation agreement of the Faculty of Tourism will be a driving force for other units to jointly promote the development of Vietnamese traditional craft villages.

Faculty of Tourism