(HBO) - Muong village is a traditional brocade weaving village in Com hamlet, Dong Lai commune, Tan Lac district

Weaving has become the daily work of the female people in Co hamlet, Dong
Lai commune (Tan Lac) during idle time.
More than 10 years ago, the craft of weaving brocade in the village
gradually died out, some people even removed the loom to make firewood. But
now, weaving cloth in free time has become a favorite work and brought a lot of
money for many women. Ms. Bui Thi Mia, who is considered as the village chief
of Co hamlet, says that since Vong Ngan cooperative received the support to
restore the, there have been about 80 looms in Com hamlet now. There are
products to sell to customers at any time of the year.
The time to weave the raw cloths, colorful brocade skirts can’t be counted
by days or months, it may take a year. According to Ms. Bui Thi Yen in Co
hamlet, Muong women have to go through about 20 stages to weave a cloth. The
first is growing cotton, taking care for it for about six months to harvest.
After being picked home, cotton must go through more than ten stages to become
the thread. Then from that they put the threat into the loom and it takes about
half a year to create a skirt waistband and skirt legs if working hard enough.
Ms. Bui Thi Mia adds "Currently, although there is a competition with
the brocade products woven by machines, we still work hard to create handmade
products that are both beautiful and meet the customers’ needs. In recent
years, the consumption of the products has mainly been through trade fairs and
festivals at the beginning of the New Year. Although it does not bring a high
income, but weaving helps women improve their lives".
In order to meet the needs of the market and improve competitiveness, women
in Com hamlet have discovered and created new products such as bags and scarves
with eye-catching patterns. With the love for traditional weaving, eighty looms
are being woven every day. They believe that if the product is widely
advertised, Muong patterns will stretch further and further, bringing warmer
springs for Muong village.
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.