(HBO) – As usual, members of the Inter-generational Self-Help Club of Mong sub-area of Luong Son township of Luong Son district gather for a monthly meeting on every 24th day of the month. For local residents, the club has become a common house for them and a place where they can find support, said Nguyen Thi Nhung, one of the members of the club.
Photo: At a meeting of the Inter-generational Self-Help Club of Mong sub-area of Luong Son township of Luong Son district.
The club was established in November 2021 with 50 members, 70% of them senior citizens. It has helped 30 members access soft loans worth 139 million VND (5,914 USD), while maintaining the operation of five volunteer groups to assist the elderly facing difficulties.
Nguyen Thi Binh, President of the club, said it has received funding from the project of reducing income and health-related vulnerability of old persons in Vietnam (Project VIE071). In each meeting, members receive healthcare service and legal education; and join cultural, art and sports activities, she said.
To date, Luong Son has seen the operation of nine of such clubs in Lam Son, Tan Vinh, Hoa Son, Nhuan Trach communes and Luong Son township. Members of the clubs have been provided with loans totaling nearly 850 million VND. The clubs have coordinated with medical facilities to give health check-ups and treatment to more than 300 members.
The clubs have received great attention from local authorities who have attended every meeting. Training courses have also been organised for their leaders. The clubs have also been provided with a number of medical equipment.
Le The Vinh, deputy head of the representative board of Luong Son Association of the Elderly, said that the model has been effective in caring for and promoting the rights of the elderly, helping improve their living quality. He expressed his hope that the district will receive more support from the State to multiply the model./.
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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