Vietnam has announced eight additional national intangible cultural heritages under the Decision No.3325/DD-BVHTTDL, recently signed by Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien.
A venue for water puppetry (Source: VNA)
They include papermaking by the Dao Do ethnic people in Viet Quang
town, Bac Quang district, the northern province of Ha Giang; Dum singing in the
communes of Phuc Le, Pha Le, Lap Le, Tam Hung, and Ngu Lao in Thuy Nguyen
district, the northern city of Hai Phong; Qua Son temple festival in Boi Son
commune, of Do Luong district, the central province of Nghe An; as well as Lang
Son temple festival in Trung Nghia commune, Thanh Thuy district, the northern
province of Phu Tho.
Others consist of the coming of age worship ritual by the Ede ethnic group in
Song Hinh commune, in Son Hoa district, the central province of Phu Yen; Linh
Son Thanh Mau (Mother Goddess of the Mountain) festival in the southern
province of Tay Ninh; water puppetry in Nguyen Xa and Dong Cac communes, in
Dong Hung district, the northern province of Thai Binh; as well as the
traditional bronze casting of Che village in Thieu Trung commune,in Thieu Hoa
district, the central province of Thanh Hoa.
Under the decision, the chairpersons of People’s Committees of localities,
where the new national intangible cultural heritages were recognised, were
required to manage them well in line with the law.
As of September 2018, Vietnam boasted nearly 260 national intangible cultural
heritages.
Source: VNA
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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