Authorities of the northern province of Phu Tho held a ceremony on March 29 to commemorate the legendary national ancestors of Vietnam, Father Lac Long Quan and Mother Au Co.
Officials of Phu Tho province pay tribute to Lac Long Quan at his temple on Sim Mountain on March 29 (Photo: VNA)
At the temples dedicated to Lac Long Quan and Au Co in the Hung Kings relic site, on behalf of the Vietnamese people, leaders of Phu Tho province offered incense and offerings to express gratitude to the two for laying the foundations of the country.
This year, due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was streamlined, and participants also took preventive measures as recommended by health agencies.
Meanwhile, many activities within this year’s annual festival of the Hung Kings’ Temple, which falls on April 2 (the 10th day of the third lunar month), will be cancelled due to the pandemic.
However, certain commemoration services will still be performed, including the incense offering ceremony – the most important ritual dedicated to the legendary founders of the nation.
Legend has it that Lac Long Quan married Au Co, who later gave birth to a pouch filled with one hundred eggs, which soon hatched into a hundred sons, believed to be the ancestors of the Vietnamese nation. Their eldest son was made king, who named the country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (nowadays Viet Tri city of Phu Tho province), beginning the era of the Hung Kings.
To honour their great contributions, a complex of temples dedicated to them was built on Nghia Linh Mountain in Phu Tho, and the 10th day of the third lunar month was designated as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings.
The worship of the Hung Kings was recognised as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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