(HBO) – The mass art movement in Muong Chieng commune (Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province) has developed over the past time with the engagement of numerous people, creating an exciting atmosphere in production and improving locals’ spiritual and cultural lives. Art performances have played an important role in promoting local traditional cultural values.
Chairman of the communal People’s Committee Sa Van Hung said with over
90 percent of population being
Tay ethnic
people, the public art activities have received much attention from the local
Party committee, authorities and mass organisations. At present, in additional
to a commune’s art troupe, nine hamlets in the commune have set up art troupes.
Each has 10-15 members. Mass organisations such as youth, women and elder
people unions also established performance teams.
Art troupe
in Muong Chieng commune (Da Bac) usually perform to serve people.
To develop the public art movement, the communal
Party and People’s Committee have mobilised sources to upgrade and build
cultural houses to meet the local demand of performing arts and practicing
sports.
The commune hosts a number of exchanges,
competitions and festivals during special occasions such as Tet holiday,
attracting crowds of people. The quality of art programmes has been improved,
creating a cheerful atmosphere for local residents. The locals are encouraged
to join these activities to enrich their cultural and spiritual lives as well
as contribute to preserving cultural identities. Most of art troupes perform
voluntarily while actively involving in the dissemination of the Party’s
guidelines and the State’s policies and law.
Present at an art exchange night in Muong Chieng
commune, we felt the strong development of the public art movement here. The
event became a festival of local people with nearly 20 music, dance and
instrument performances, including folk songs and ethnic dances praising the
Party, late President Ho Chi Minh, and the nation’s heroic struggle.
At the end of the event, people held each
other’s hands to a dance to affirm their solidarity.
Sa Thi Thuong from class 11A4, Muong Chieng high
school boarding school said she felt very happy to practise songs and dances as
well as exchange with many people to preserve and develop local culture./.
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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