(HBO) - Tan Lac district is proud to be one of the cradles of the Muong ethnic people, which was previously known as Muong Bi. Over the past years, ethnic groups have raised their awareness of preserving and upholding cultural identity.
Muong ethnic musical instruments are indispensable cultural values
during Muong Bi (Tan Lac) summer festival.
Head of the district Culture-Information Office Dinh Son Tung said Muong Bi is
home to well-known relic sites such as Trang waterfall, Cot Co mountain in Nhan
My commune, Nam Son and Nui Kien caverns in Van Son commune, and Hoa Tien and
Thac Bo caverns and Bung cave in Suoi Hoa commune. Traditional craft products
like brocades and can (pipe) wine, together with folk songs and Muong gong
performances, have enriched local spiritual lives, contributing to popularising
the image of Muong land and its people.
Recent statistics showed that the district is now home to 87,565 people, 85
percent of them of the Muong ethnic group. Over 2,200 Muong gongs, 579 folk
musical instruments and about 4,800 Muong ethnic costumes are being kept. Among
the 11 recognised relic sites, six are at the national level and five at
the provincial one. The district checked the status of 60 relic sites and
classified them to add into the list of relics under the management of the
province.
Secretary of the district Party Committee Dinh Anh Tuan affirmed that
developing culture, preserving and upholding cultural identity are both
the goal and the driving force for socio-economic management and national
defence-security. In particular, in order to create highlights in local tourism
development, the district raised public awareness of the effort from the
grassroots level, especially in each family and residential area. It pooled
resources and focused investment in humans and outstanding cultural values,
with incentives given to collectors, researchers and keepers of the traditional
cultural identity. The district also combined the socio-economic development
with the preservation of ethnic cultural identity and enhanced State investment
in the effort, especially in remote and mountainous areas./.
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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