(HBO) – Traditional costumes are among typical cultural identities of ethnic groups. Now in Hang Kia and Pa Co communes (Mai Chau district), local Mong ethnic people still wear them almost every day, which impresses visitors and adds to the area’s attractiveness.
Mong ethnic people in traditional costumes of Hang Kia and Pa
Co communes visit a market.
Phang Y Mai, an elderly resident in Pa Hang
village of Pa Co commune, said Mong women have made clothes for their families
from generation to generation.
Men’s clothes are mostly black and have very
loose trouser legs so that men can easily climb hills and mountains to work or
practice traditional dances. Belts, called "lang dua la” in Mong language, form
an indispensable part of their clothes.
Meanwhile, women’s clothes consist of skirts and
blouses. Skirts, known as "ta” in the Mong language, are loose and pleated and
look like blooming flowers when spread out. They are also decorated with unique
patterns embroidered or printed carefully. Meanwhile, blouses, called "so”,
have V-shaped collars and are attached with pieces of cloth with wearers’
favourite colours. They also feature elegant decoration patterns and silver
coins creating joyful sounds when wearers move. Particularly, sleeves are
embroidered with colourful patterns, making the blouses more eye-catching.
Farming flax, weaving cloth, making clothes,
embroidering, drawing in beeswax, and dying patterns have become a traditional
craft of Mong women. Each costume of the ethnic minority is a result of its
maker’s month-long industriousness.
Nowadays, Mong people in the two communes are
still preserving traditional costumes in association with developing tourism as
a way to uphold their cultural identity. Besides, a traditional brocade making
village in Pa Co commune was also recognised in 2019.
Via efforts to preserve traditional costumes and
crafts, Hang Kia and Pa Co have been striving to introduce the local cultural
quintessence to visitors, thereby helping to develop local tourism./.
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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