(HBO) – For Muong ethnic people in the northern province of Hoa Binh, especially those from Lac Son district, gong is a national instrument with the most sacred sound in their cultural life.

A Muong gong
performance at a celebration of the 130th founding anniversary of Lac Son
district (in 2016). File photo
To preserve and develop the Muong gong culture
and realise a project on the preservation and development of cultures of
Vietnamese ethnic minority groups through 2020 approved by the Prime Minister,
Lac Son district has carried out a number of measures, including promoting the
role of the community in preserving intangible culture, particularly gong
culture. Along with the development of mass culture and art movements at
grassroots level, the district has encouraged people to play gongs at sport and
culture programmes and big festivals of communes.
Notably, in August 2017, the district opened a
training course on Muong gong art for nearly 150 artisans and cultural
officials of 29 communes and towns. According to Bui Thi Thuy, head of the district’s
culture-sport office, Lac Son is one of the first localities in the province to
organise such a class. A set of gongs consists of 12 units representing 12
months in a year. There are basic regulations. For example, a band needs one or
two people who can sing the opening song before entering a family to wish them
a happy Tet (Lunar New Year). Gong is believed to bring luck to families and
happiness to couples in their wedding days. It also means seeing off the
deceased and calling on people to go to the field and share joy over new crops
as well as driving away bad luck in life and bringing in warmth and
blissfulness. Therefore, gong is considered the most sacred musical instrument
passed from generations to generations, becoming an indispensable cultural
feature.
Artisan Quach Thanh Vin in Chay hamlet of Lien Vu
commune, who is considered the soul of the training classes, said thanks to the
classes, young people and local residents know how to play traditional gong (xac
bua) melodies. There are also some taboos on gong such as not putting the
instrument on the floor. Regardless of the space such as on stilt houses or in
the yard and public places, gong must be played in a methodological manner.
When performing on the stage, gong players have
to use not only their eyes but also their ears to feel the sound and play
melodies flexibly. Training on gong uses both easy and difficult songs which
include popular melodies in Muong Vang and those hailing from other regions due
to cultural exchange.
Statistics show that there are more than 3,500 gongs
across Lac Son district at present. The musical instrument is often used in
local festivals and cultural 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.