An ancient form of tug of war is still organised at the Tran Vu Temple Festival on the third day of the third lunar month in Thach Ban ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi.
Two competing teams pull some bamboo, which runs through a hole on
a big wooden pillar. The pillar stands firmly on the ground. The athletes lean
their feet against wooden pillar to have more power to pull the bamboo back
toward their team's side. (Photo: VNA)
Legend has it that during a serious drought, only one of 12 wells
in Ngọc Tri village still contained water.
Men from Cho hamlet went to collect water from the well but were stopped by men
from Dia hamlet. At that time they used bamboo twine to carry the water home.
When a fight for the precious resource broke out, both sides were afraid of
spilling the water, so they sat down and battled to pull the water from each
other, some even clinging on to the buckets for dear life.
When the drought was over, elders in the village initiated the game as a
reflection of the fight at the village festival in order to wish for a better
weather, a bumper crop and a prosperous life.
The event has been recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by
UNESCO.
The festival at Tran Vu Temple includes a ceremony and the tug of war to
express locals’ respect for the gods and their desire for a peaceful life.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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