(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./.
The 10th art festival for the armed forces, youths and students of Hoa Binh province celebrating the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and 35th anniversary of the All People’s Defence Day wrapped up on April 25.
Xoe dance, an unique art form of the Thai ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province has existed for a long time and passed down through generations. Xoe dance is not only a popular dance in the Thai community but also a unique cultural feature, an indispensable part in the Thai ethnic minority people's cultural and spiritual life.
The Bac Son pre-school in Hung Son commune, Kim Boi district is effectively implementing a model of preserving and promoting cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group.
Through ups and downs, many unique cultural features of the Muong ethnic minority group are facing risks of falling into oblivion. However, with a strong determination, Lac Son district of Hoa Binh province has deployed synchronous solutions to preserve and promote the locality's cultural heritage values.
If Tan Lac is considered the core of the cradle of Muong culture in Hoa Binh, Phong Phu commune is the cultural centre of Muong culture in Tan Lac district. Luy Ai hamlet in Phong Phu commune is where customs and traditions of Muong Bi are preserved. Luy Ai hamlet was chosen to build a space to preserve Muong ethnic culture. The district is seeking support from the province and coordinating with relevant agencies to devise a plan on preservation of Muong cultural spaces associated with developing tourism products and improving the lives of local residents.
Nguyen Manh Tuan, a Muong ethnic man in Ba Hang Doi town, Lac Thuy district, is known as a young, dedicated, and outstanding artisan who has made significant contributions in collecting, restoring, and preserving national cultural values.