Abstract

This article identifies traditional village cultural values in the lowland area of Thanh Hoa Province and determines priorities for their protection and promotion. The study draws on 1,100 survey responses collected across 12 localities, supplemented by fieldwork and cultural inventory records. The findings identify five principal groups of values: history and awareness of origins; community cohesion, moral principles, and village and lineage norms; spirituality and communal beliefs; folk knowledge, skills, and creativity; and village architecture, arts, and landscapes. The extent to which these values are maintained varies considerably. The continued existence of a cultural form or value-bearing object does not necessarily indicate that its associated values remain fully preserved. The study also demonstrates that priorities for protection and promotion should be determined separately. Its findings provide scientific and practical foundations for developing a list of traditional village cultural values in lowland Thanh Hoa that require protection and promotion.

Keywords: Cultural management, protection and promotion, Thanh Hoa Province, traditional cultural values, village culture.