(HBO) - Xoe dancing originates from the working life, the customs and the traditions of the people. Ong Bong Xoe dancing (fanning) is a form of the ancient dance with simple movements. Everyone holds the hands and dance around the bonfire in the "cheering" and "ho huay" lyrics after hunting or celebrating a new home...
The team of Xoe dancing in Mai Chau Ecolodge resort, Na Phon commune (Mai Chau) is performing to serve the tourists.
Xoe after the gongs: hanging the drum and the gong under the head of the houses on the stilt, 1 or 2 guys beat the drum and the gong, dancing. For Xoe Vong dancing (swinging) boys and girls hold hands to form a circle to dance on the floor or in the yard, moving the clockwise on the occasion of the family’s or community’s good news.
Xoe dancing is not only culture and customs but it is also the identity, the lifestyle and the habits. Above all, Xoe dancing is an indispensable spiritual dish of the Thai ethnic people. Xoe dances of Thai ethnic people in Mai Chau have been preserved and developed over the time. Today, Xoe dances have been modified and more attractive than they used to be. Xoe dances have had more movements with beautiful costumes. For example, women are wearing colorful brocade scarves across the neck or holding a fan, holding a music to create funny sounds.
Currently, Mai Chau district preserves and promotes Xoe dancing of Thai ethnic people through the local cultural and artistic activities. There are 183 mass performance teams in the whole district to serve the district's political duties. The unique Xoe dances have also performed at the major events of the province. The mass performance teams have been established in every village of Thai ethnic people. Every day, the folk artists contribute their heart and soul to the traditional Xoe dance, which is the core of preserving, maintaining and developing Xoe art in the community.
In addition, in order to preserve Xoe dances of Thai ethnic people, the Party Committee and the authorities of Mai Chau district have associated the development of Xoe arts with the development of the community tourism. The villages of the community tourism of Thai people have set up a professional Xoe dancing club to perform for the tourists.
Typically, there are 6 Xoe dancing teams in Lac village, there are 2 Xoe dancing teams in Van village, there are 3 Xoe dancing teams in Pom Coong village. There are from 12 to 13 people in each Xoe dancing team. The graceful and funny movements of Xoe dancing create a magical attraction for the tourists whenever they pay a visit, experience and explore the culture of Thai ethnic people in Mai Chau.
Mr. Ha Cong Hoi, the homestay owner in Lac village, Chieng Chau commune says: Tourists coming to Lac village love to see Xoe dancing and participate in the dance. In the feeling of many tourists, coming to Mai Chau without being immersed in passionate Xoe dances with the charming Thai girls, the trip is not complete.
Grasping the psychology of the tourists along with the desire to preserve the cultural identity of the Thai ethnic group, the tourism households like my family often invite the professional Xoe dancing team to perform. When the night falls, the fire flickers with the hilarious sound of gongs and drums, Thai boys and girls and the tourists are immersed in Xoe dancing. The bigger the drum and gong sound is, the bigger is the circle of Xoe dancing. Everyone's hand in hand, regardless of the owner and the guests, they are happy to take part in Xoe dancing. Just like that, the circle of Xoe dancing like a string connecting people together.
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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.
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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.
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