Excellent traditional Chinese culture is the spiritual lifeblood of the Chinese nation, containing rich ideological and political education resources. Integrating traditional culture into ideological and political education in higher vocational colleges can enhance the effectiveness of ideological and political education, strengthen students’ cultural confidence, and help fulfill the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education. Based on the professional attributes and student characteristics of higher vocational education, this paper analyzes the contemporary value and integration principles of integrating traditional culture into ideological and political education in higher vocational colleges, and explores effective application paths. It aims to provide theoretical reference and practical experience for building a culturally distinctive ideological and political education model in higher vocational colleges, and help cultivate high-quality technical and skilled talents with both moral integrity and professional competence as well as cultural confidence.