(HBO) - Vo Market happens twice a week, with the Sunday session being the busiest. The market offers all kinds of things, from clothing, footwear to necessary items and agricultural tools. It particularly still preserves many features of a traditional wet market.
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A Muong ethnic minority man
sells traditional products of his people at Vo Market.
Located in Vo Street, Nhan Nghia
Commune, Hoa Binh’s Lac Son District, Vo Market has been popular for many
generations as a marketplace for not only local people but also those from
neighbouring communes, such as Van Nghia, My Thanh, Tuan Dao, Tan Lap, Mien Doi
and Quy Hoa.
It is a very bustling and crowding
market where people come for not only selling and buying but also chitchatting
weekly.
Though many new markets, such as Chieng
Market (Tan Lap) and Sao Market (Tuan Dao) have been established in nearby
communes as part of the local new-style rural building campaign, Vo Market
remains the busiest and most crowded one thanks to its long history.
Displayed at the market are various
traditional farm produces, including Ri chicken, eggs, wild-caught shrimps and
freshwater crabs, bamboo shoots among others.
There are also a wide range of hand-made
cultural products of Muong ethnic minority people, from gongs, to traditional
clothing, brocade items, offering a unique experience for first-time visitors.
Vo Market is held from early morning to
noon./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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