(HBO) – Authorities of the northwestern province of Hoa Binh have focused on preserving and promoting cultural heritage values since the beginning of this year. The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism directed localities to organise traditional festivals on the occasion of the New Year in a safe and economical manner, in association with the preservation and promotion of national cultural identity as well as cultural and historical relic sites.
Special folk
games were also designed to serve visitors during the traditional Lunar New
Year (Tet holiday). Recently, the Hoa Binh Museum hosted an exhibition in the
northern province of Hung Yen to introduce the unique culture of the Muong
ethnic group in the province.
The department has proposed the provincial
People’s Committee recognise four places as provincial relic sites, namely Nui
Kien Cave (Lung Van commune, Tan Lac district), Truong Kha temple (Lien Vu
commune, Lac Son district), the revolutionary site of the organisation of the
first Party Committee’s Congress in Lap Chieng commune (Kim Boi district), and
the revolutionary base of the Tong Kiem – Doc Bang insurgents in the
anti-France resistance war in 1909-1910 in Ky Son district.
The department has conducted fact-finding tours
and made scientific dossiers for four relic sites: site of the establishment
Regiment 12 – Hoa Binh in Cao Phong district; Quan Am pagoda in Phuc Tien
commune (Ky Son district); Cat Dun temple in Dong Tam commune (Lac Thuy
district); and Trang waterfalls in Do Nhan commune (Tan Lac district)./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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