(HBO) – The Mai Chau uplandmarket - a unique tourism product of Hoa Binh province’s Mai Chau district – becomes more and more attractive to holidaymakers, offering tourists a venue to experience daily activities and understand more about traditional culture identities of the locality.
Visitors
are interested in traditional costumes sold at the market.
In the first Sunday of April, people from
the Hang Kia, Pa Co, Dong Tan, Son Thuy, Bao La, Chieng Chau, Mai Ha and Thanh
Son communes of Mai Chau district transport their products or those found in
forests such as orchids, vegetables, bitter bamboo shoots and mountain snails, to the market for sale.
Because loving the natural scenery and people of Mai Chau so much, many
tourists visit the destination not just once.
They said visiting the market, they have a chance to learn more about unique
cultural identities of the locality, and buy agricultural products that
have not been sold in Hanoi.
According to Vice Chairman of the
Mai Chau district People’s Committee Pham Van Hoan, the highland
marketfestival is held every Sunday as part of activities to mark the
southern liberation and national reunification day (April 30) and May Day (May
1), and to stimulate tourism demand.
During the festival, visitors enjoy music
performances imbued with national cultural identity and play popular folk games
such as tu lu, to le, and rope swing.
The festival contributes to introducing and popularising local tourism images,
beauty of local customs and cultural identities of ethnic minorities, thus
attracting more domestic and foreign visitors and further promoting
socio-economic development of the locality./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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