Hoa Binh, a gateway to the Northwestern region, is home to six main ethnic groups, namely Muong, Kinh, Tay, Thai, Dao and Mong, of whom the Muong people account for about 64%. In recent years, with the efforts of Party committees and administrations at all levels and ethnic minorities, the province has achieved encouraging results in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.

Traditional festivals in the province are organised
to contribute to preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic
groups. Photo taken at Ke Pagoda Festival in Phu Vinh commune (Tan Lac
district).
The preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage
values of the ethnic groups has been given special attention by Party
committees and administrations at all levels. The province has issued a lot of
directive documents, including Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021
of the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board on preserving and promoting
the cultural heritage values of ethnic groups in Hoa Binh province for the 2021
– 2025 period, with a vision to 2030.
Quach Thi Kieu, Director of the provincial Department of
Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the highlight of the work is that the
province has carried out a programme to conduct a general inventory of all intangible
cultural heritage of local ethnic groups. Up to now, the whole province has 786
intangible cultural heritage pieces, including: language, writing, folk
literature, folk performing arts, traditional crafts, social customs and
belief. It owns five national intangible cultural heritages: Mo Muong, Muong
Gong Art, Muong bamboo calendar folk knowledge, Khai Ha traditional festival of
Muong people, and Keng Loong social customs and the belief of Thai people in
Mai Chau district.
On September 8, 2016, the provincial People's Committee
issued Decision No. 2295/QD-UBND on approving the Muong handwritings of Hoa
Binh province. The provincial People's Committee issued Decision No.
1349/QD-UBND, dated June 8, 2019 approving a project on teaching and learning the
Muong ethnic language in the province for the 2018 – 2025 period, with a vision
to 2035. The Department of Education and Training has organised training
courses to build a contingent of experts to teach the Muong language.
In addition, implementing a project to preserve traditional
costumes of the ethnic groups, localities, agencies and units have had many
solutions to encourage officials, members and people to wear traditional
costumes on holidays and anniversaries, and encourage students to wear traditional
costumes in flag-raising ceremonies, and cultural and artistic activities.
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.