(HBO) - A club to preserve and promote Mo Muong cultural heritage was established in Tan Lac district in early April, bringing together 26 members from local communes and towns. The club has the task of collecting, preserving, and promoting the Mo Muong cultural heritage.

Artisan Dinh Cong Tinh from My Hoa commune in Tan Lac
district performs an excerpt from a Mo folk song "Mountain Flower Garden”.
Mo Muong is a sacred ritual that has been used in funerals and
some rituals to pray for the good health of the Muong ethnics. Mo Muong is a job and also a performance practiced at funerals,
religious festivals, and life cycle rituals by the ethnic Muong sorcerers. It
consists of three main components namely Mo words, performing environment and
people who practice Mo singing.
"The
district has helped localities establish such clubs to create the conditions
for sorcerers to meet, study, preserve, and promote the values of Mo
Muong,” said Dinh Son Tung, head of the District Department of Culture and
Sports. "There are seven Mo Muong clubs in the district, six of which are
commune-level clubs. All have operating regulations and have proven efficient.”
Figures show
there are about 180 senior sorcerers practicing in Tan Lac district. Of these, 41 are
elderly (over 70 years old) and possess rich knowledge and experience about the
Mo Muong. The others are younger and practice only simple Mo rituals.
Sorcerers attach importance
to preserving and promoting the values of the cultural heritage, regularly
exchange information, introduce and teach Mo Muong in line with the conventions
of residential areas and the law.
According
to Secretary of the District Party Committee Dinh Anh Tuan, most local artisans
practicing Mo Muong are living in difficult circumstances. There are no
mechanisms and policies to support and encourage them in teaching Mo Muong to
the younger generation.
It is
necessary to establish these clubs to honour the heritage and at the same time preserve
and promote values in the present and the future, he noted.
Tan Lac district
is focusing on publicising the District Party Committee’s directive on
strengthening the Party’s leadership in preserving and promoting Mo Muong
heritage values. The district also worked to promote it among public employees,
workers, students and people from all walks of life, raising awareness about collecting,
preserving, and upholding heritage values.
Tan Lac
district aims to maintain and encourage artisans to continue practicing and
teaching Mo Muong regularly. Localities are encouraged to establish clubs and
honour those who directly preserve the cultural treasures of the Muong people. Linking
Mo Muong with community tourism activities would also effectively promote their
heritage./.
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.