Phong Phu commune preserves traditional culture

5/4/2021 - 6:05:08 PM

(HBO) – Over the past years, Phong Phu commune in Tan Lac district has paid due attention to preserving and promoting fine traditional cultural values, thus preserving the cultural trait of the locality and developing community-based tourism.

A "sac bua” performance in Phong Phu commune.

The commune is home to 14 hamlets with more than 8,000 people, of whom 97 percent belong to the Muong ethnic group. Local Muong people have maintained their traditional culture and customs, from stilt houses to the Muong language, folk singing and gong performance.

There are nearly 200 Muong gongs of all kinds in the locality, which are frequently used during Tet and other major festivals. The club of "Mo Muong” – a traditional ritual of Muong people – gathers 32 members, including famous ritual masters recognised as eminent artists.

Notably, Muong Luy Ai is one of the oldest Muong hamlets where unique traditional culture and customs of the Muong have been preserved. Muong Luy Ai was recognised by the provincial People’s Committee as a community-based tourism hamlet in 2014.

However, many cultural values have faded, for example only a handful of local households have maintained stilt houses built from wood with traditional designs, while most of them have been partially and completely concretised.

Weaving also face the same situation since it is now practised by only elderly people in Son Phu, Luy Ai and Kha La hamlets.

Bui Van Nuc, Vice Chairman of the communal People’s Committee, said to preserve and promote traditional cultural values, the communal Party Committee and People’s Committee have put forth a specific plan.

Under the plan, weaving classes will be held in Luy Ai hamlet in service of tourism.

Local authorities have also created conditions for the Mo Muong club to open classes for young people who want to learn about the folk ritual, and supported local residents in collecting ancient gong sets.

Communication work is promoted to raise the awareness of youths about the significance of preserving traditional values, as well as their sense of responsibility in this regard.

Such actions have contributed to improving people’s spiritual life, while preserving and promoting traditional culture in the cause of integration and development./.

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