(HBO) – Dao ethnic people in Toan Son commune, Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province, make up 43.3 percent of the commune’s total population. Their unique spiritual and cultural values are vividly illustrated in the housing architecture, customs, costumes, festivals, folk songs, and traditional dances.
Dao
people in Toan Son commune mainly live in Phu, Ranh, and Cha hamlets. One of
their most special traditional cultures is "cap sac” (maturity ritual)
ceremony, which is considered an indispensable ritual for ethnic men because
only when they are declared the coming of age, they have right to involve in
the village’s work. Boys from ten years above could pass this ritual. The most
valuable thing in this ritual is teaching. The sharman will have teachings to
the matured men so that they will not do evil and have to respect their
parents. The teachings are done by vows under the witness of gods, heaven and
earth, ancestors and before all people in the family.
Mr. Dang Tien Dung from Cha hamlet, Toan Son commune
(Da Bac), prepares musical instrument for Tet Nhay (dancing festival).
Dao people always attach great important to
ancestor worshipping and Tet Nhay (dancing festival) is a special ritual.
Every day, Dao people from Toan Son commune wear
traditional costumes including a shirt, pants, belt, silver jewelry and a
headscarf. Women’s shirts are usually knee-length. With the skillful hands and
diligence, Dao ethnic women create colourful costumes.
Women weave and dye fabrics, then skillfully embroider and decorate patterns
which are close to the nature and represent their wish of a prosperous life.
Besides, Dao ethnic people are always aware of
preserving their scripts through teaching young generations. From 2016 to
present, Toan Son commune has opened three Dao language teaching classes.
Traditional dances of Dao ethnic people are performed in public in the
district’s events./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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