Sao oi (Muong flute), a unique traditional instrument of the Muong ethnic people, calls out the arrival of spring throughout the villages. Its pure and tender tones are reminiscent of the gentle spring breeze, carrying the thoughts and emotions of the highland people of the northwest.
Ha Xuan Trong, from Man Duc town, Tan Lac district, is captivated by melody of Muong flute.
During village gatherings, spring festivals and Tet celebrations, the Muong people often use the Mưong flute to accompany singing, especially lullabies, folk songs, and Muong folk songs.
The Muong flute, also known as "ống ôi" or "kháo ôi" by the Muong people, was ingeniously crafted by generations of skilled artisans, passed down from one generation to the next. Made primarily from bamboo, it has 4 finger holes and 5 musical notes: Ho - Su - Sang - Xe - Cong, and can produce high-pitched tones. Therefore, the sound of the Muong flute is simple and rustic, yet profound and gentle, with its own distinct nuances.
Unlike the bamboo flute, the Muong flute is suitable for Muong folk melodies. The Muong people's flute is likened to a call of love. While Hmong men use the "khèn” and "kèn lá” to express affection and win over girls, Muong men use the Muong flute to convey their feelings of love and affection. Its melodious sound travels from one end of the village to the other; in the forest, on the fields, it echoes from one place to another; by the rivers, streams, it resonates from one bank to the other. In the flute's melody, many words like "ôi" are used, such as ôi hỡi (my friend), ôi hày (oh dear), ôi hạ (oh dear), ôi hởi (oh dear), hỡi ôi (my dear) sounding intimate and sincere. The sound of the Muong flute seems to call out to loved ones, stirring the hearts of Muong girls. Its echoing tones are like expressions of affectionate confession, promises, vows, so deeply resonant! From those heartfelt sounds, the words "ôi" and "ơi" have paved the way for young couples to come together, innocently and passionately, yet filled with love and meaning.
Today, the Muong flute continues to be cherished, refined, and passed down through the skilled hands of Muong artisans across generations. Its resonant sound carries melodies and emotions, heralding the arrival of spring.
Hoa Binh province has shown strong performance in family planning by effectively implementing directions and plans in the field, including Directive No. 12/CT-UBND issued by the Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee on August 4, 2021 on rolling out measures to maintain the policy of each couple having two children, which is stated in community rules and the regulations of agencies, organisations, and units across the province of Hoa Binh for the 2021 – 2025 period.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a hybrid conference on December 18 to review the culture, sport, and tourism sector’s performance in 2024 and launch key tasks for 2025. Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council Bui Duc Hinh, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Chuong and officials from local departments and sectors also took part in the event.
Hoa Binh’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 18, hosted a conference to present the outcomes of a research study on the traditional costumes of the Muong ethnic group.
Along with the activities of Project 6 - the national target programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas for the 2021 – 2026 period, efforts to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in Lac Son district have received additional momentum.
In the context of globalisation and deeper integration, preserving and promoting the national cultural identity is of utmost importance. Aware of their pioneering and proactive role on all fronts, over the years, the youth organisations at all levels in Hoa Binh province have implemented various concrete and practical activities to preserve and promote the cultural identities of ethnic groups in the locality.
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