(HBO) – The Muong Culture Space Museum is located in a small limestone valley in Hoa Binh city, about 70km from Hanoi. Forgetting the busy daily life, we went to this place to see why many people leave noisy urban areas to come here at weekends or holidays to live in a peaceful environment close to the life of Muong people. Not at all dry as the image that the name "museum” often suggests, visitors to the place will find themselves in a lively space close to the nature.
The 5ha
Muong
Culture
Space
Museum, established in 2007, is covered by the
green of Wedelia chinensis plants. The plant’s small yellow flowers, which are
in blossom the whole year, especially in spring, line the small paths, creating
a poetic scenery. The museum’s staff also use these flowers to decorate
reception desks and the lounge, giving visitors a fresh and relax atmosphere.
A corner of Muong Culture Space Museum
Welcoming us were the museum’s staff
and guides who looked graceful in Muong women’s traditional costumes, along
with painter Vu Duc Hieu who devoted his youth and assets to study and
establish the
Muong
Culture
Space
Museum. Hieu gave us the first impression of a man
of few words with melancholy eyes. Though he is called Hieu "Muong”, Hieu is
actually of the majority Kinh ethnic group and born in
Hanoi. In 2000, he graduated the
Hanoi
Industry
University in the glass
technology major. He has a strong attachment to Hoa Binh as he grew up in the
province and is engulfed by the unique Muong culture.
The
Muong
Culture
Space
Museum is divided into two areas: one for
reproductions and the other for display. Currently, the museum is preserving
about 3,000 objects and many valuable books on Muong culture. Hieu spent 10
years collecting these exhibits.
The museum is built as a miniature of
the Muong society with four stilt houses corresponding to four different social
strata. The first place to visit is the Lang house, demonstrating the life of the
landlord class. After the Lang house is the Au house of the Lang’s servants,
the Noc house of the commoners, and then the Noc Troi house of the lowest class
in the Muong society.
The
Muong
Culture
Space
Museum attracts a lot of domestic and foreign
visitors
Our journey through both the
reproduction and display areas at the museum ended at sunset. A dinner with
typical dishes of the Muong was ready for us to enjoy.
This was also an attraction for
tourists when visiting the museum, where they can not only learn about the Muong
culture but also enjoy Muong dishes and sleep in stilt houses, which makes the
place ideal for a short holiday or on weekends. Visitors, especially those
coming here for the first time, are sure to be impressed by such dishes as
steamed forest vegetables, grilled fish, hot steamed glutinous rice and Muong
wine. If you are lucky to come in the right season, there are some unique
specialties such as ant egg or bee larvae.
We will definitely come back to the
museum to enjoy the environment and cuisine of the Muong people again.
Hai
Yen
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.
.jpg)
