(HBO) - Boi Ca is among the most populous residential areas in Kim Boi district’s Nam Thuong commune. It has eight residential clusters of 362 households grouping 1,607 people. Both Muong and Kinh people live here, with the former accounting for 92 percent of the total local population.
Locals in Boi Ca stage a musical performance at the 2020 great national solidarity festival.
The locals have been encouraged to join a
campaign on the conduction of new-style rural building activities every
Saturday. So far this year, local households have donated 520 working days to
build 0.9km of rural roads and upgrade the commune’s cultural house, giving the
area a facelift.
Boi Ca residents have also seen their
living standards significantly improved thanks to their new development
orientations that focus on agricultural services and transport and
establishment of local teams of construction workers and carpenters. In 2020,
the local per capita income is estimated at 40.5 million VND (1,750 USD), up
5.5 million VND from last year. The number of poor households dropped by 16
from last year to only 4, or 1.1 percent of the local population.
Civilised lifestyle, meanwhile, has been
promoted, with locals adhering to the residential area’s regulations on the
organisation of wedding ceremonies, funerals, and communal festivals. Each
household has access to sanitised water sources; no one dumps garbage at public
places; and prostitution and gambling have been eradicated from the area. In
2020, the area, having 80.9 percent of households recognised as civilised
families, was accredited as civilised site.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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