(HBO) - Mai Chau mountainous district is known as a concentrated residential area of the Thai ethnic group. Although in the modern life, it is rare to see images of people wearing traditional clothes every day, Thai culture is still permeated through words, voices, customs or the image of stilt houses, festival activities, and folk songs and dances.

‘Keng Loong’ dance performed by Thai girls in Mai
Chau to introduce and promote culture associated with tourism at the provincial
Mountainous Market in 2022.
Visiting communes such as Van Mai, Mai Ha, Mai Hich and Xam
Khoe, tourists can easily see Thai people's stilt houses following the ethnic
group's traditional architecture.
In addition to the poetic scenery, relaxing and peaceful
life and unique cuisine, the beauty of the Thai stilt house architecture has
its own charm, becoming one of the tourism products bringing great experience
to visitors when they explore and enjoy the traditional cultural space of Mai
Chau. Authorities of the hamlets, which still own many Thai stilt houses, have
paid attention to preserving cultural values to develop community-based
tourism, contributing to increasing locals' income. According to statistics,
about 80% of the Thai ethnic households live in traditional stilt houses.
Having an opportunity to attend the Great National
Solidarity Festival of residential areas in Tong Dau and Chieng Chau communes,
visitors will be fascinated by joyful Keng Loong dance which is popular in
community activities of the Thai people. Recently, on the occasion of the
provincial Mountainous Market Week in 2022, besides typical agricultural
products, district authorities increased the introduction and promotion of
ethnic cultures, especially the Thai one, through ethnic costumes, Keng Loong
performances, and traditional brocade weaving. These cultural characteristics
are also maintained by Thai people in different communes and towns. Many
community tourism villages such as:Van and Pom Coong - Mai Chau town; Lac -
Chieng Chau commune; Hich 1 - Mai Hich commune; Buoc - Xam Khoe commune; and Na
Phon and Nhot - Na Phon communes have exploited the potential of culture to
serve both domestic and international tourists.
According to Ha Thi Hoa, head of the district Culture and
Information Office, along with the awareness of preserving the Thai ethnic
cultural identity among the locals, district authorities have implemented many
measures to preserve and promote cultural values of ethnic groups, especially
linking the preservation and promotion of cultural identities with tourism
development./.
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.