(HBO) – On sweltering summer days, villagers in Lo Son commune, Tan Lac district are busy building rafts and preparing nets for the local fishing festival.
During
the festival, they flock to the Cai River to show off their fishing skills. The
festival has become a regular event, held once or twice a year, offering
leisure time for villagers catching fish for their daily meals and showing
their respect to gods. Besides, it also serves as a chance for them to pray for
favourable weather conditions, bumper harvests and rich fish in rivers and
streams.
In the
afternoon, after rituals performed by the shaman, hundreds of rafts carrying
fishermen rush to the river, to the cheer of thousands of locals and visitors
under the scorching sun which sends the mercury to as high as 40 degrees Celsius.
After the
first day of the festival, many are lucky to catch tens of kilograms of fish
while others go home empty-handed. Yet, they are all happy and say: "See you
tomorrow.”

casting net experts
Suoi Long
Lake in Doi hamlet covers a vast area, 5m-6m deep. Last year, many caught fish up
to tens of kilograms each during the second day of the festival. Therefore,
this year, the lake continued to attract hundreds of rafts. Seeing the fish hunters
from the early morning, Bui Thi Lieng, a resident in Doi hamlet, said: "I am
very happy. Locals brave the heat to keep coming here to cheer the competitors.
Unlike last year’s festival, so far no one has been lucky enough to catch big
fish this year. It may be due to the deep water that makes fish swim to the
river bottom. The festival has helped us relax while offering an opportunity
for us to sell our catches to visitors.”
Apart
from residents in Lo Son, the festival has also attracted skillful fishermen
from adjacent communes. Last year, Bui Van Chuc from Muong 2 hamlet, Do Nhan
district, and five other s in the hamlet teamed up to participate in the
festival. However, this year, he came as a visitor as he had not enough time to
form a team.
"Last
year, I joined several others participating in the festival. We netted more
than 30 kilograms of fish after just a day. I regret not joining this year’s.
The festival is meaningful as it helps preserve our traditional culture, raise
public awareness of ecological protection and prevent illegal fishing
activities” Chuc said./.
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.