Along with the activities of Project 6 - the national target programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas for the 2021 – 2026 period, efforts to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in Lac Son district have received additional momentum.
A love duet singing contest at a singing festival in Lac Son district in 2024.
Lac Son district’s authority has hosted the first Thuong Rang and Bo Meng, and love duet singing festival in November 2024, attracting over 300 artisans from communes, towns and Muong folk song clubs.
Bui Thi Tanh, a member of the Muong folk song club in Dinh Cu commune, said that the festival offered an opportunity for participants to exchange experiences in preserving and promoting the national cultural identity.
Building on the success of the festival, the district organised a training programme and competitions in "Danh mang” (folk game) of the Muong people, "Sec bua" ritual, and Muong gong performance, creating a joyful atmosphere during the festival.
According to Bui Thi Tham, Director of the district Culture, Sports and Communication Centre, "Thuong rang bo meng” and love duet singing, Muong gong performance, and "Danh mang” are typical cultural heritages of the Muong people in the Muong Vang area.
In recent years, local authorities have regularly paid attention to implementing solutions to preserve and promote traditional cultural identity of the locality through creating spaces and practice environments in festivals; great national solidarity festivals; and art, cultural and sports competitions at the grassroots level, Tham said.
The generations of artisans are encouraged to promote their role as heritage keepers, and actively pass it on to the next generations, Tham said, adding that with the support of Project 6, the contents and activities are systematically and attractively built, attracting a large number of artisans and locals, contributing to spreading the love for the nation, and preserving good customs and practices, and the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group.
Comrade Bui Van Duong, Vice Chairman of Lac Son district People's Committee, said that the district focuses on restoring and organising traditional Muong ethnic festivals; establishing and maintaining the operation of traditional culture preservation clubs at the grassroots level; and investing in upgrading, repairing, and embellishing relic sites.
Through the support of Project 6, the district Party Committee and People's Committee organised a gathering for artisans, researchers, collectors, composers, and those involving in traditional cultural preservation; and opened classes to raise public awareness of cultural heritages at risk of being lost.
Attention has been paid to conducting inventories, documentation, and classification of heritage types for research activities, Duong added.
In 2024, through Project 6, 50 ethnic minority-inhabited hamlets in the district have been supported to purchase equipment for communal houses; restore, preserve, and promote traditional cultural identities of ethnic minorities; continue to survey, collect and document heritage; preserve traditional festivals; develop policies for assisting artisans; and build traditional culture models, typical tourism areas, contributing to preserving heritage, satisfying the demand for cultural enjoyment in the community.
On February 12th (i.e. Lunar January 15), the People's Committee of Hop Tien commune, Kim Boi district organized the Festival of Sim Pagoda Festival in At Ty Spring, 2025. The festival welcomed many people and tourists to visit the pagoda and enjoy the scenery.
The palanquin procession to Sim Pagoda.
As Hoa Binh province is set to host 115 spring festivals, local departments, sectors and localities are joining hands to ensure safety for the events.
In many major cultural events in Hanoi, the sound of the Muong people's gongs has become a special tone, contributing to the unique harmony that praises the cultural values accumulated over thousands of years along with the sacred soul of the capital city.
On the first day back to work and school after the Lunar New Year holiday, thousands of female officials, civil servants, and students from grade nine and above in Lac Son district proudly wore the traditional Muong attire. The vibrant brocade patterns created a striking cultural display, reinforcing the community's commitment to preserving and promoting their heritage.
The provincial-level Khai Ha festival 2025 of the Muong ethnic minority group took place at Phong Phu commune’s stadium in Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province on the morning of February 5 (the 8th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Snake).
"Xuong Dong” (going to the field) festival opened in Yen Phu commune of Hoa Binh’s Lac Son district on February 5, or the eighth day of the Year of the Snake, drawing thousands of locals and visitors to partake in a variety of activities.
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