(HBO) - When the fog covering the town of Mai Chau gradually disappears, a small village with rustic houses on stilts show up, It is Pom Coong village imbued with characteristics of Thai ethnic people. Coming here, visitors can immerse themselves in the poetic natural scenery, enjoy traditional Thai ethnic food, grow rice and cook meals with ethnic people.
Tourists choose souvenirs in Pom Coong village, Mai Chau town, Mai Chau
district.
Pom Coong
means a village of hills lying on a big drum like the bronze one.
Currently,
Pom Coong is home to 70 households with 359 people and seven big families
living in harmony. Up to 89 percent of households are recognised as cultural
families. Pom Coong has been recognised as a cultural village for five
consecutive years. Local residents began providing homestay services in 1998, with
the first three families of Ha Thi Chung, Kha Van Vuong and Kha Van Hung. To
date, 15 households have engaged in this business. Up to 70 percent of visitors
are foreigners and the remaining are Vietnamese keen on Thai ethnic
characteristics. Pom Coong is attracting more and more tourists, earning locals
higher income. Last year, the village earned more than 2 billion VND from
tourism, or nearly 20 percent of the total revenue.
To lure
more visitors, local authorities and people always preserve special
characteristics of Thai ethnic culture, from stilt houses, traditional crafts
and costumes to folk dances. Thai ethnic people’s stilt houses are high, under
which, Thai young girls and women sit by the loom and weave brocade products.
Bows and
crossbows are also made available as souvenirs. When darkness falls down,
visitors could enjoy special music performances staged by local art troupes. In
the light of fire, flexible dances by beautiful Thai girls enchanted visitors.
The
village is well arranged and local residents abide by regulations of the
campaign "All people stand united to build cultural lifestyle in residential
areas”. There are not any social vices such as gambling, drug and prostitution.
Environment hygiene is ensured while garbage is classified and treated.
Chiho from
Japan said: "It is the first time I have visited
Vietnam.
Staying together with local family and joining in activities such as cycling,
rice growing, cooking ethnic food made me satisfied and impressed. Images of
Thai women next to the loom and pipe wine jar are unforgettable to me. After
returning home, I will introduce friends to Pom Coong village and return to the
village again”./.
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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