Located on the right bank of the Da river in Quynh Lam ward, Hoa Binh city, the Ngoi communal house was recognised as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic in 1999. Upholding traditions, locals often come to the place on major festivals, full-moon days, and the first day of each lunar month, burning incense to honour deities and pray for favourable weather and good harvests.
Ngoi communal house in Quynh Lam ward has received investment for its preservation and renovation, promoting its historical and cultural significance.
Dedicated to the God of Mountain Tan Vien, also called Son Tinh, who governs all creatures on land, the communal house is situated on a spacious and flat area covering approximately 2,000 square meters. like many other relics, it has deteriorated over time and undergone several renovations. However, its architecture and sculptures have been preserved.
Along with the time, the altars inside were lost, so local people erected a new altar, which is elevated to a height of 2 meters, with incense burners and a container for ceremonial objects.
In recent years, efforts have been made to restore and protect the spiritual place. In 2017, the Ngoi communal house festival was organised on a city-wide scale to revive the ancient festival, preserving the traditional cultural value of the community.
According to Nguyen Thai Hoa, Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Information, every year, the locality emphasises its long-standing historical and cultural values by maintaining cultural and religious activities at the communal house. The Khai Ha (going down to the field) festival is regularly held from the 8th to the 10th day of the first lunar month, featuring religious ceremonies, offerings, processions, folk games, and folk singing and dancing. Other lunar-calendar festivals held in the area include the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the 8th month as well as those honouring the God of Agriculture on the 5th day of the 6th month, and celebrating the new rice crop on the 15th day of the 10th month.
Not only a place to satisfy the spiritual needs of the local people, the communal house, with its proximity to famous tourist attractions such as the Hoa Binh hydropower plant, Tien Phi cave, and Thac Bo temple, is a draw to tourists, helping turn the city into a hub of tourism and cultural research.
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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