(HBO) – Over the past years, the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage values of local ethnic groups in Lac Son district, northern mountainous of Hoa Binh province, have received great attention.
Members of folk singing clubs in Ngoc Son, An Nghia communes, Lac Son district, in an exchange programme.
With a population of more than 14,000 with Muong ethnic group accounting for 91%, the locals have a diverse cultural life and identity.
The district counts 18,000 Muong’s stilt houses, 58 sport clubs, 252 art groups, one Mo Muong club, seven folk singing clubs, and three singing and poem clubs. Up to 189 out of its 252 communes and streets have developed village conventions.
Nguyen The Hung, head of the Cultural, Information office of the district, said there are many difficulties in the preservation and promotion works of cultural heritages such as large area; lack of artisans who have deep insight understandings about traditional culture, while the work of popularisation and mobilising people to preserve and promote intangible cultural values is still limited.
The People's Committee of Lac Son district has directed authorities to put in the list 196 relics and scenic sites. This is potential for the development of culture, tourism and socio-economic development of the locality.
Notably, many relics and scenic sites have been restored and embellished to meet the cultural and spiritual needs of the people, such as the Coi communal house in Vu Binh commune, Khoi communal house in An Nghia commune, Khenh communal house in Van Son commune, and Tay Tien revolutionary historical site in Thuong Coc commune.
Besides, the district has restored traditional festivals to attract tourists to the locality such as Elephant festival, Thuong temple festival, Truong Kha temple festival in Vu Ban town; Khoi communal house festival in An Nghia commune; Bang communal house festival in Ngoc Lau commune; Khenh communal house festival in Van Son commune; Khu Dung cave festival in Nhan Nghia commune; Coi communal house festival in Vu Binh commune; and going to the field festival in Yen Phu commune.
In order to strengthen the preservation and promotion of traditional culture of local ethnic groups, the district will focus on communications work among the locals from all walks of life about conserving and developing the traditional heritage values, especially Mo Muong and folk singings.
In the time ahead, the district will also open classes to educate cultural heritage to more people while bringing folk singing and music into school curriculum, festivals and exchange programmes./.
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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