Vietnamese ethnic communities’ culture is under a threat of falling into oblivion for many reasons. Most ethnic groups are so underdeveloped they cannot devise effective ways to preserve their own cultural values. Thus, ethnic languages, costumes and customs are losing their position in the modern era. In a series of activities to mark the Vietnamese ethnic groups’ cultural day, a workshop for preserving ethnic cultural values was held recently, gathering 120 delegates who are village elders and artisans from northern Vietnam’s ethnic communities. They discussed methods to preserve and promote ethnic cultural values. According to them, besides their role, authorities and relevant agencies should work to preserve ethnic culture identities. Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in cooperation with the Association of Vietnamese folk artists announced plans to publish a book for ethnic customs and traditional values. It has also assigned research institutes to file dossiers to UNESCO to recognise some ethnic values as cultural heritage.-VNA