(HBO) - Mrs. Bui Minh Hong, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Tan Lac district said: In order to preserve ethnic cultural character, communes and towns mobilized Muong women, youth and enthusiasts of Muong culture to establish teams of letters and arts performance for communities and hamlets. Everyone contributes funds to practice and develop local cultural and artistic movements.
A Hat Doi (challenge-and-response)
singing act of members of cultural character preservation club of Hamlet Dinh
II, Man Duc Commune, Tan Lac district.
The district
Department of Culture and Information issued regulations to coordinate with the
district Women's Union to propagate and
mobilize members to establish a club to preserve Muong cultural character.
Every year, the district Department of Culture and Information organizes
training courses on skills of beating gongs and teaching folk songs for members
of letters and arts of communes, on that basis, encourages all communes to
establish cultural character preservation clubs.
Currently, Tan Lac
district established 02 cultural character preservation clubs, including: Ngoi
hamlet club (Ngoi Hoa commune) established in March 2017 and Dinh II hamlet
club (Man Duc commune) established in March 2019. The two clubs regularly
organize exchanges of culture and letters & arts; teach members and young
generations how to sing folk songs, folk dance, Hat Doi (challenge and
response) singing, beat gongs. Women maintain wearing ethnic costumes. The
special performances of Ngoi hamlet club have contributed to promoting the
culture and beauty of Muong Bi people to tourists.
The two clubs that
preserve ethnic cultural character in Ngoi Hoa and Man Duc Communes play an
important role in preserving and promoting Muong Bi's cultural values. In the
coming time, the district Culture and Information Department continues to
encourage communes and towns to establish clubs. Encouraging and creating
conditions for organizations and individuals to study, teach and introduce
Muong Bi customs, practices and culture.
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.