The Vietnam Jungle Marathon (VJM) is set to start in Pu Luong Nature Reserve in the central province of Thanh Hoa from April 13 to April 15.
The Vietnam
Jungle Marathon will start in Pu Luong Nature Reserve in the central province
of Thanh Hoa from April 13 to April 15 (Photo courtesy of organiser)
Participants will compete on 25-km, 42-km and 70-km routes, which
traverse through the lush jungles, limestone cliffs and rice paddies.
On their trails, runners will meet with ethnic minorities and plodding
buffaloes, before celebrating with a special party at Ban Hang village after
the race.
The VJM is an official Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) qualifying race. UTMB
is a race of the Ultra-trail world tour. So, the event will provide a great
opportunity for runners to gain points to join the UTMB race.
Runners can register via the website vietnamjunglemarathon.com.
The race is organised by Topas Travel, founder of Vietnam’s longest established
and hardest ultra race, Sa Pa’s Vietnam Mountain Marathon.
Last year, the tournament attracted some 300 runners from 32 nations. Almost
half of the 300 participants were Vietnamese.
Source: VNA
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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.
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