(HBO) – Although Huu Nghi ward is located in bustling Hoa Binh city, it still preserves the traditional culture of the Muong ethnic group.
Through various activities, the elderly have kept the traditions alive, while nurturing the love for indigenous cultural values among young generations.
Huu Nghi ward is the first locality in Hoa Binh city to establish a club of traditional culture and arts, which is operating effectively. With the aim of preserving the traditional culture, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Huu Nghi ward set up the club of folk culture and arts, bringing together 30 members aged from 15 to 35 years.
Nguyen Van Hung, deputy secretary of the local youth union, said the club was officially formed on August 20, 2020, with the first class on the Muong language taught by eminent artist Bui Huy Vong.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the class to suspend, the club has strived to teach the Muong language to its members and local children. "At first, many club members could not play gongs, speak the Muong language and sing Muong songs. However, most of them now can perform basic gong techniques and folk songs,” said Bui Thi Khanh Hoa, a club member.
"We usually participate in exchanges with units from other localities like Hoa Binh commune and Thinh Lang ward, as well as contests organised by the city,” Hoa added. "Last year, the club won the second prize of a communication contest.”
The youth union has regarded educating and teaching traditional culture to youths as an important task, and plans to maintain the operation of the club in the time ahead, expanding the membership to children and teenagers in the locality.
It has also diversified teaching methods such as making video clips and utilising social networks in this regard, helping to promote the traditional culture among young generations as well as increase their love for the homeland./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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