(HBO) – The festival of outstanding community-based tourism villages 2017 is scheduled to take place from September 29-October 1 at Mai Chau district’s stadium and other locations in Mai Chau town. Nguyen Van Chuong, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee and head of the festival organising board, granted an interview to the Hoa Binh Newspaper about the event.
Lac village - a community-based tourist destination in Chieng
Chau commune (Mai Chau district) attracts a large number of visitors (Photo:
HBO).
Reporter: Could you unveil the purpose and significance of
organising the festival of outstanding community-based tourism villages 2017?
Mr Nguyen Van Chuong: The festival is one
of the activities hosted by Hoa Binh province in response to the Lao Cai –
Northwest National Tourism Year 2017. It aims to promote the province’s tourism
potentials, thus preserving cultural traditions of ethnic groups in the
northwest region and nationwide. The event will extend cultural exchanges among
ethnic groups and introduce effective community-based tourism models in
Vietnam.
Reporter: Could you
introduce the major contents of the festival?
Mr Nguyen Van Chuong: The event runs from September 29 to October 1 with the participation of
14 outstanding community-based tourism villages, including Thai group village
in Mai Chau, Muong group village in Tan Lac, and others in Lao Cai, Yen Bai,
Phu Tho, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Thanh Hoa, Hanoi and
other provinces.
Major activities of the festival consist of an exhibition of tourism
products, craft-making shows, a photo exhibition on tourism in Hoa Binh and extended
Northwest region, and a festival spotlighting traditional music and costumes of
ethnic groups. The festival is set to begin at 7:30 pm on September 30.
A scientific seminar on sustainable development of community-based
tourism in the northwest region will be co-chaired by the provincial People’s
Committee and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. A cooking contest
will also take place during the festival.
Reporter: Thank you!
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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