As usual, the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) atmosphere of the Mong ethnic people in Mai Chau district is bustling at this time. Houses nestled on hillsides are filled with laughter and wishes for good luck in the new year. This year, people celebrate Tet with more excitement as their lives get better.

People in Hang Kia commune (Mai Chau)
prepare sheets of paper to stick around their houses, considered talismans to
bless their families with good health, luck, and prosperity in the new year.
According to traditional customs, Mong people celebrate
their traditional Tet one month before the national Lunar New Year holiday.
That is the time when people rest after rice and corn crops have been
harvested.
The family of Vang A Tenh, who lives in Thung Ang village
which is about 15km from Hang Kia commune’s centre, is busy preparing wine and
meat to welcome their relatives. The village has 124 households and all of them
are Mong ethnic people.
This year, the family decided to slaughter a pig for Tet and
prepare six trays of food for guests. The remaining pork was salted and hung in
the kitchen for use later.
Last year there were only a few dishes along with some corn
cakes, men men (steamed corn flour – an indispensable traditional food of the
Mong ethnic people) and wine, but this year witnesses many changes because
people’s living conditions have been improved. There are dozens of dishes made
from pork while banh giay (round glutinous rice cake) is replaced by sticky
rice.
This year, his family is much happier as they welcome many
guests. In Mong people’s perception, a lot of people visiting a family on this
occasion is believed to bring good fortune to the host. After a year of hard
work, this is the time for people to gather, chat with each other and wish for
good luck in the new year.
"A few years ago, it was difficult to raise pigs and cows
and people did not dare to slaughter them,” Tenh said.
This year, his family has escaped poverty and can slaughter
a pig to celebrate Tet, he said, adding that many households in the
neighbourhood follow suit so it's very happy.
During the Tet holidays, children accompany their parents to
visit relatives and friends. Young people in new clothes wander around the
village and play traditional games. This is also an opportunity for couples to
confess their love.
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.