(HBO) - 98% of the population in Doc Lap Commune (Hoa Binh City) are Muong ethnic people. Within the city’s area, this is the commune with the highest percentage of Muong ethnic people. In recent years, along with building a new cultural life, Doc Lap commune has always preserved the cultural identity of Muong ethnic people from the stilt houses, the costumes to the ancient gongs.
The women in Doc Lap commune (Hoa Binh
city) have maintained their cultural identity through the traditional costumes,
the songs and the dances of the Muong ethnic group.
Currently, 100% of the hamlets in the
commune have established the conventions and regulations on the cultural
lifestyle and they have regularly been revising to suit the reality. 100% of
the agencies and the schools have been built green - clean - beautiful - civilized.
The movement to build the cultural families, villages, agencies, units, and
schools has achieved remarkable results.
Every year, more than 80% of the communes
reach the standard of the cultural family. Regularly, from 5 to 6 out of the 6
villages reach the title of the cultural villages. The movement "All people
exercise their bodies following the example of the great Uncle Ho” has been
widely developed. Six out of the six hamlets have built their cultural houses
and sports fields. 44% of the population have been participating in regular
physical training and sports. Every hamlet, agency and school have their own
art performance teams and group, cultural clubs operating regularly and
effectively. The activities of mass culture and art performance, information
and propaganda have been widely developed.
The highlight of the cultural life in Doc
Lap commune is the preservation and promotion of Muong ethnic cultural identity
in the modern life. The Women's Union of the helmets has propagandized and
encouraged each female ethnic minority of Muong to have at least one
traditional costume to wear on holidays, New Year, weddings or festivals. The
Women's Union is also a key factor in building and maintaining the
effectiveness of the model "Preserving and promoting Muong ethnic cultural
identity through Muong folk songs”.
In recent years, the team of Muong's gong
with the strength of ancient gongs has made its own impression and identity in
the cultural activities of Ky Son district. More valuable is that at schools
such as Suoi Hoa kindergarten, Doc Lap semi-boarding high and secondary school,
the issue of preserving and promoting the Muong ethnic cultural identity is
specially paid attention. From 2016 up to now, Doc Lap semi-boarding high and
secondary school has been maintaining the operation of the team of Muong Gong.
The team has participated and achieved many high achievements in the arts
festivals of the education and training sector.
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.