(HBO) - Hoa Binh is home to more than 854,000 people, 74.31 percent of whom belong to ethnic minority groups, including Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao and Mong. Each ethnic group has its own cultural identities which altogether create a unique Hoa Binh province.
People in Vinh Dong commune (Kim Boi
district) attend the annual Muong Chanh Festival.
That uniqueness can be seen in festivals
of local ethnic minorities. Every spring, people from across Vietnam flock to
festivals imbued with cultural identities of ethnic groups in Hoa Binh such as the
going-to-the-field and fishing festivals of the Muong people, the cap sac
(maturity) ritual of the Dao quan chet people, the Xen ban and Xen Muong
festival of the Thai people, and the Gau Tao festival of the Mong people.
Festivals are popular community cultural
activities and also priceless intangible cultural heritage enriching the
national culture. A number of festivals used to be lost for many years have now
been restored, including the Coi Communal House Festival in Binh Chan commune
(Lac Son district), the Vai Communal House Festival in Thanh Nong commune (Lac
Thuy district), the Trung Bao Temple and Shrine Festival in Cao Thang commune
(Luong Son district), the Xam Communal House Festival in Phu Lai commune (Yen
Thuy district), Hang Pagoda Festival in Yen Tri commune (Yen Thuy), the Tien
Pagoda Festival in Phu Lao commune (Lac Thuy), the Rem Temple Festival in Chi
Ne township (Lac Thuy), and the Ngoi Communal House Festival in Su Ngoi commune
(Hoa Binh city).
According to the provincial Department of
Culture, Sports and Tourism, more than 60 festivals have been held in Hoa Binh
in 2019. They included six district-level events, namely the inauguration of
the memorial house of revolution contributors and the tree planting festival at
the Chi Ne farm-based banknote printing factory relic site, the Tien Pagoda
Festival (Lac Thuy), Muong Dong Festival (Kim Boi), Truong Kha Temple Festival
(Lac Son), the culture – sports spring festival of Ky Son district, and the
festivals of the Dao people (Da Bac district). Additionally, there are 35
others at the communal level and 22 festivals at hamlets.
The Hoa Binh Culture – Tourism Week 2019 was the
biggest of its kind held so far in the province. A wide range of activities took
place during the five days of the event, including arts, photo and culinary
festivals, an exhibition of outstanding intangible cultural heritage of local
ethnic groups, a beauty pageant and a workshop on local tourism development.
All the activities were meant to popularise Hoa Binh as the place that gathers
the most unique cultural identities./.
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.