(HBO) – The Khai ha (going down to the field) festival at Dinh Ngoi – a communal house in Quynh Lam ward, Hoa Binh city – opened on January 30 or the 9th day of the first month of the lunar year.
The procession of Via Lua (the Spirit of Rice) to
Dinh Ngoi opens the festival.
Dinh Ngoi is where several gods are worshipped including Tan
Vien Son Thanh – one of The Four Immortals in traditional Vietnamese mythology,
and those guarding the village against disasters and bringing it fortune.
The festival, taking place on the 8th and 9th days of the
lunar year annually, aims at paying respect to the gods and ancestors who
contributed to the protection and development of the land as well as at praying
for a new year of favourable weather, bumper harvest, and peaceful life.
It is often held solemnly with a host of rituals, including
the processions of the Spirit of Water and the Spirit of Rice, and an incense
offering ceremony. The event also features musical exchanges, gong
performances, culinary delights of the Muong ethnic community, sport
competitions, and folk games.
The organisation of the annual celebration is intended to
conserve local cultural and historical values, educate the younger generation
on these traditions, and to introduce the local beliefs to visitors./.
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.
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