Mr. Bui Van Nom (the external from the right) and his associates when contacting, studying and collecting Mo songs, the old folk songs of Muong ethnic people in Van Son commune (Lac Son).

Following the distinguished culture researcher and artisan, Mr. Bui Huy Vong, we visited Mr. Bui Van Nom, the former Secretary of Lac Son District’s Party Committee. There are full of books about history and culture he has been collecting over the years on his desk. The sound of the rhythms of Rang Thuong singing, love song singing (responsive singing) is peaceful, melodious and gentle from the small speakers mounted on the column. Mr. Bui Huy Vong says these are old songs. It is one of the peaks of Muong folk language expressed in a rustic but extremely deep and emotional voice by the elderly artists of Muong Vang region. Thanks to Mr. Nom, Lac Son district has been collecting and preserving many traditional folk songs of Muong ethnic people.

The treasure of folk tunes and ancient music that Bui Van Nom has worked so hard to gather, and the folk researchers and artisans collecting them during the past years can be considered to be "massive”. The folk songs, love songs, or Thuong Dang and Bo Met singing are all stored in the form of recordings and video recordings. These are all ancient lyrics, only the elderly people know and know how to sing them, and now they are in danger of disappearing. It is worth saying that "without the effort of Mr. Bui Van Nom, it is likely that a lot of folk songs would have completely disappeared and could not be found. Because many people have followed their ancestors to Muong Ma already. Those are extremely valuable documents,” the folklore researcher and artist, Mr. Bui Huy Vong said.

Talking with us, Mr. Bui Van Nom also says that currently the collection team has gathered, collected and saved hundreds of audio and video recordings with a duration of about 70 hours of responsive singing, in which there are songs that last from morning till night. Along with that, there are hundreds of high quality audio and video recordings of over 100 hours of folk artists’ performance. In addition, there are hundreds of old songs with lyrics and languages bearing a literary image.

Related Topics

Chieng Chau commune preserves heritage tree

Ever-resonating Dong Son drums of Hoa Binh

Mo Muong - unique cultural heritage of Muong people

Unique traits of ethnic groups in Hoa Binh

---

Promoting Hoa Binh cultural heritage values: Part 3 - Reviving traditional values

Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.

Exploring Hoa Binh Culture

The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.

Promoting Hoa Binh cultural heritage values: Part 2 - Rich cultural heritage in Vietnam’s northwest gateway

Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.

Receiving the certificate of the historical and cultural site at the provincial level for Sau Communal House, Thanh Cao Commune

The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.

Motivation for community to enhance cultural heritage preservation

Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.

A journey through time: Exploring rich history, formation of Hoa Binh province: Article 1: Major features of Hoa Binh province formation

Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.