(HBO) - The cultural and performance activities have not only been exciting in typical residential areas such as Bai, Men Boi, but they have also been spreading widely in other villages, from Tro, Go Che, Muon, Mo to Lo, Lap, Chieng . Nine out of the nine hamlets have all established and maintained the activities of entertaining teams with about 12 to 15 members for each team.

The performance team
of the elderly people in Me Boi hamlet, Kim Lap commune (Kim Boi) are
performing the dance "The Stroke of the countryside” on the Muong folk music in
the Festival of the Great National Unity.
Mr. Bui Van
Tin, the Vice Chairman of the Communal People's Committee says that after
merging, in the commune there are 9 hamlets with 2,003 households, and Muong
ethnic people account for 98%. Over the past time, with the attention of the
Party Committee and the authorities, the cultural, entertaining and sports
movements among the people have been promoted. In addition to the resolution on
the economic development, the communal Party Committee issued the resolution,
and the communal People’s Committee has a plan to promote the cultural and
entertaining movement associated with preserving the identity of the Muong
ethnic group.
On the
occasions of festivals, New Year, celebrations and important days of the year,
the commune has been maintaining the exchanging activities, the public
performances to attract and arouse the movement. Every year, there is a
mechanism to support part of the budget to encourage the helmets’ performance
teams to participate in practice. In addition, in the contests and festivals,
the locality also has gifts to promptly encourage, praise and reward the
performance teams.
From the
cultural movement and mass culture, the commune has selected the core cultural
nuclei to participate in contests and performances at the district’s level. At
the same time, through the lyrics, the dances and the performances of Muong
gongs with its own unique features, the conservation and preservation of the
cultural identity among the people has been promoted, and it has been more and
more popular and spreading. Thereby, it has been contributing to encouraging
the spirit of enthusiastic production labor, building a new countryside,
building a cultural life in the residential area. In 2020, the average income
per capita of the commune is estimated at 26 million VND. Through the review,
80% of households have met the standards of the cultural family.
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.