HBO – For members of the Muong ethnic minority group, gongs are a valuable treasure and the soul of the region. They are preserved in every house and used in many major events in Hoa Binh province. In most of the cases, festivals are not started until the gongs sound.
Gong team in Ngoi hamlet, Ngoi Hoa commune,
Tan Lac district rehearses before participating in a team to pay Tet visits to local
households.
The
Muong ethnic group has 37 big festivals, of which 26 use gongs. Gong
performances have left deep impressions on locals and tourists. Gongs are
descended from one generation to another. Preserving ancient gongs and gong
performances is an important mission of every Muong ethnic. At present, the
province has more than 10,000 gongs.
Some
districts pioneered opening classes and inviting artisans to teach how to beat
gongs such as Kim Boi, Lac Son and Tan Lac. Each class has about 30
participants. In addition, to preserve the value of Muong gongs, local authorities
have stepped up disseminations, and encouraged and supported locals to develop
amateur art movements, thus attracting the participation of more than 2,000
locals who work as farmers, artists and communicators to make traditional gong
performances of the Muong ethnic group, contributing to the maintenance of the
sound of gongs.
During
the New Year festival, in each home, gongs are beaten to invite ancestors to return
home for Tet. The sound of gongs, combined with "sac bua” singing, heats up the
festive atmosphere. Normally, each gong team has 12 gongs symbolizing the 12
months in a year and is called a "Phuong bua”. Each "Phuong bua” is headed by
an old person called "trum phuong” who is an expert in gong types and knows
numerous Muong folk songs.
According
to the custom, "Phuong bua” plays gongs in its procession, visits each
household, and sings a song to wish the host prosperity. "Phuong bua” paying
Tet visits must be experts in gong beating. Girls must wear traditional
costumes of the Muong ethnic group. Gong performances used on this occasion are
cheerful and suitable for the spring atmosphere. An important thing is that
members of the gong team must have radiant faces and be well-spoken. When they
concentrate on gong beating, the sound will be attractive and pervasive,
according to Bui Thi Bach Kim in Cao Phong district’s Xuan Phong commune.
In
addition, the sound of the gong is a signal to open the region’s festival./.
As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."
After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.
Great National Unity Day has been recently celebrated in Duong hamlet, Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district, in an atmosphere of warmth and community spirit. The event highlighted national identity and strengthened the bond of solidarity among residents.
On November 28, the People's Committee of Cao Phong district organized the Cultural and Sports Festival of Cao Phong district's ethnic groups in 2024.
