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.
The bamboo calendar is still preserved and displayed by the Muong community in
Mo hamlet, Binh Thanh commune, Cao Phong district, where locals continue to
apply its wisdom in their daily lives.
According to Muong legend, the Muong Bi calendar dates back to the era of King
Dit Dang, the earliest ruler of the Muong people. It is believed to have first
emerged in Muong Bi, an area historically linked to the early days of the Hung
Kings’ reign.
As one
of Vietnam’s indigenous ethnic groups with a rich history, the Muong people
developed their own sophisticated timekeeping system. The Muong Bi calendar is
remarkably detailed, dividing time into precise units: a day consists of 16
hours (each Muong hour is roughly equivalent to 1.5 Kinh hours), a month spans
29-30 days structured into three weeks of 10 days each, and a year is divided
into 12 months across four quarters.
The
calendar deeply influences both Muong society and daily life. However, its
application is geographically specific - local proverbs such as "ngay lui thang
toi” (days regress, months advance) reflect agricultural traditions unique to
Muong Bi and do not necessarily apply to other Muong regions.
Thanks
to its historical and cultural significance, the Muong bamboo calendar of Hoa
Binh province, alongside the Khai Ha Festival, the Keeng Loong dance of the
Thai people, and the Xen Ban Festival in Mai Chau, has been officially
recognised as National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture,
Sports and Tourism.
Beyond
the calendar, the Muong people boast a rich cultural legacy, including the
iconic Muong drums, gongs, script, and traditional villages. These elements not
only preserve the unique identity of the Muong community but also attract
researchers, archaeologists, and folklore enthusiasts, as well as visitors
eager to experience Hoa Binh’s vibrant cultural heritage.
Hoa Binh leaves a strong impression on visitors due to the diversity in the lifestyle and cultural identities of its ethnic groups. The province is home to six main ethnic groups, with a total population of nearly 900,000. The largest group is Muong, making up 63.3% of the population, followed by Kinh with 27.73%, Thai 3.9%, Tay 2.7%, Dao 1.7%, Mong 0.52%, and other ethnic groups 1.18%. Along with the long history of the nation’s formation and defence, the province’s ethnic groups have always been united, hardworking, and determined to strive for socio-economic development. At the same time, each ethnic group displays its own unique and distinct cultural identity, contributing to a diverse, rich, and attractive cultural tapestry.
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
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