(HBO) - Lac Son is one of the four largest Muong ethnic minority districts in the province. The Muong ethnic population accounts for over 90% of the district population. Lac Son people are always aware of preserving and developing their ethnic cultural identity. Over the years, each stilt house has been preserved, Muong gongs and Muong Mo rhythm have been preserved. On holidays, from old to young women are dressed in traditional costumes.
The traditional festivals are restored and
preserved, such as the procession of The Buddha of Khu Dung Cave (Nhan Nghia
commune); Du Voi Festival (Lien Vu commune); Rock village roof festival (Yen
Phu commune), etc. Besides, the district also takes care of restoration of
revolutionary relics.
(photo: The art performance team of Mu
village, Tu Do commune practice regularly for holidays, Tet occasions).
Lac Son is one of the districts having the
most preserved stilt houses in the province. The District People's Committee mobilized
the people to preserve the traditional stilt houses and build a
concrete-floored stilt houses to protect the forest resources. At present, the
district has 18,640 houses on stilts, of which, wooden and bamboo stilt houses
accounts for 13,972 houses and stilts with concrete frame, wooden or bamboo
floors are 1,892 houses; total 2,776 houses of concrete stilt houses.
In addition, the district focuses on
preserving the unique values of Mo Muong rhythms. The District People's
Committee coordinates with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to
study and propose scientific dossiers of the Khot series of Muong ethnic
artists. The district has 50 Mo Muong artists, of which 2 study Mo Muong, Mr.
Bui Van Minh (Van Son commune) and Mr. Bui Huy Vong (Huong Nhuong commune). The
District People's Committee develops mechanisms and policies to preserve the
values of Mo Muong heritage and promote the propaganda and publicity of Mo
Muong cultural heritage.
On the holidays, Tet occasions, the
harvesting seasons, the gong echo resounds in each village. The district holds
over 3,000 gongs in all kinds. The old people teach the young people, the later
generations learn from the previous generation, so the gong is echoed
throughout the mountains. In many communes such as Nhan Nghia, An Nghia, Tan
Lap, 100% villages have gongs teams. Specialists and amateurs are present
everywhere from the village festival to the big festival of the district, the
province. The artisans have contributed significantly to raising awareness
about the value of traditional cultural heritage in the community and creating
their own culture identity for Lac Son land and people. People of communes and
towns also preserve many traditional and unique cultural characteristics of the
ethnic minority in music through Vi singing, common singing, etc.
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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