(HBO) – Only with nearly 20 members but over many years, Hoa Binh photographers have made continuous effort to overcome difficulties, going down to the hamlets to build high humanitarian works, reflecting good customs and habits of ethnic minority groups, timely praising good examples in production, security order maintenance, etc. In addition, those photographers have been actively engaged in creation, participating in competitions and exhibitions to promote culture, people in Muong ethnic land to friends of other province and international ones.
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Photographs by the photographers of the provincial
Photograph Union displayed at the event of the 130th Anniversary of the
foundation of the province received much attention of the local people.
Composing new works is also the permanent
demand of every photographer. Therefore, in most of the province's major
events, photographers are being present timely. Many artists have closely
followed the movement of units in the province, down to the village, building
high humanity works, reflecting the fine customs of the ethnic people, praising
the mirrors in production, keeping the order security, praising the beauty of
the homeland in Hoa Binh.
Over the past years, the provincial
Photography Association has actively organized and participated in many photo
exhibitions such as photo exhibition for Mong ethnic people's Tet festival in
Pa Co commune; displaying and introducing works at Phu Cuong High School (Ky
Son); being exhibited at the Vietnam Poem Day (Cao Phong District), Vietnam
Book Day (Hoang Van Thu Gifted High School), Provincial Party Congress, festivals
... Especially, the photographers are the core force in contests and photo
exhibitions such as "Peace for Life", "Hoa Binh - Identity
culture and Integration", "Colors of North West" ...
Every year, provincial photographers
regularly participate actively in photo contests of 15 provinces in the
Northern mountainous region. Since 2011, 635 works of provincial photographers
have been participated in the festival. Of which, 80 were selected to display
by the Statel Artistic Council and won the prizes. The authors of many quality
works chosen to display and be awarded are such as: Dao Duc Khanh, Hoang Dinh
Lai, Dinh Hai, Nguyen Xuan Thanh ... The main theme of the work is to closely
related to cultural life, customs, beautiful scenery of the province.
Mr. Hoang Dinh Lai, The Head of the
Provincial Photography Association, added: "The Association has actively
coordinated the organization of the creation camps, sent and encouraged the
members to participate in the camps, trained and exchanged to improve their
knowledge and experience of artwork creation for members. In the past five
years, the association has organized three camps for 54 participants. From
these camps, many good works have been completed and continued to build ideas
on the basis of reality approached. On this occasion, the participants had a
chance to listen to the prestigious artists of the field of photography to
exchange about the experience of writing and talk deeply about the art.
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.