On February 15th (Lunar January 6th), Phu Lai commune, Yen Thuy district held the opening ceremony of the festival of Xam Xuan communal house during the Dragon Spring in 2024.
The palanquin procession at
the festival of Xam communal house in Phu Lai commune, Yen Thuy district.
Xam Communal House was
recognized as a provincial historical relic in 2003. The communal house was
built in the 5th year of Thieu Tri (1845), worshiping the Tutelary God as a
human god, the local people's customary name is Bui Van Khu (i.e. Do Khu). with
his wife, the Princess Thien Tinh. Currently, Xam communal house still preserves
11 ordained identities.
Xam communal house festival
takes place for 3 days, from February 15th – 18th (i.e.
Lunar January 6th – 8th). The festival consists of 2
parts: the ceremony part and the festival part. The ceremony includes the rice
contest procession, the palanquin procession and the opening of the festival;
The festival part includes the cultural and arts activities, and sports
competitions.
In 2013, Xam communal house
was built, renovated, embellished, and restored with a total cost of 11 billion
VND. The communal house is not only a place to worship the Tutelary God, the
village deity, but it is also a center of cultural activities associated with a
community of the residents characterized by Vietnamese wet rice civilization.
If Tan Lac is considered the core of the cradle of Muong culture in Hoa Binh, Phong Phu commune is the cultural centre of Muong culture in Tan Lac district. Luy Ai hamlet in Phong Phu commune is where customs and traditions of Muong Bi are preserved. Luy Ai hamlet was chosen to build a space to preserve Muong ethnic culture. The district is seeking support from the province and coordinating with relevant agencies to devise a plan on preservation of Muong cultural spaces associated with developing tourism products and improving the lives of local residents.
Nguyen Manh Tuan, a Muong ethnic man in Ba Hang Doi town, Lac Thuy district, is known as a young, dedicated, and outstanding artisan who has made significant contributions in collecting, restoring, and preserving national cultural values.
The Government Office with Document No. 2082/VPCP-KGVX, dated March 29, 2024, sent out the opinion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha regarding the submission of the "Mo Muong" and "Cheo art" dossiers to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In the evening of March 28th, in Hoa Binh, the Department of Grassroots Culture (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) coordinated with the provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the city to organize a mobile propaganda contest to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7th, 1954 - May 7th, 2024) with the theme "Returning to Dien Bien”. There ứa the attendance of Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; the representatives of the leaders from a number of departments, branches and numerous veterans and Hoa Binh people.
In responding to the movement of "All people stay united to build cultural lifestyle”, over the years, Kim Boi district has conducted many practical and effective activities to promote solidarity and mutual support among the local community in sustainable poverty reduction and building cultural lifestyle and a healthy cultural environment, and maintaining national cultural identity.
