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.
(Photo: Outstanding artisan Nguyen Manh Tuan, Ba Hang Doi town,
Lac Thuy district, introduces artifacts to visitors at Muong cultural space).
Tuan was raised up and nurtured with Mother Goodness worship tradition in his
childhood. In 2012, after working for nearly 13 years in the armed forces, Tuan
demobilised and returned to the locality and, with a great desire to preserve
cultural values of the ethnic group, he restored the Muong stilt house and
studied the ancient and present Muong ethnic customs in funerals, weddings,
festivals, singing dances, gongs, stork instruments, flute pipes, and Muong
language, among others to teach young generation to understand the culture of
their people.
In November 2022, Tuan established a Muong ethnic cultural heritage club where
he can spread the love to his compatriot. The club has attracted the
participation of more than 200 regular members.
Covering an area of 750 sqm, the space displays more than 2,000 artifacts which
are familiar in the daily life in the Muong ethnic people, including 100 gongs;
120 bronze, 200 pottery, and 250 wooden items; 45 animal horn pieces; 150
fabric products, blankets, brocade pillows, costumes; 250 rattan products; 55
ethnic musical instruments; nearly 150 Muong cultural books; and nearly 200
other widgets and composite products, among others.
Besides, Tuan has directed many events of the locality and he has effectively
maintained the training on Muong gong culture, songs, dances, folk games, and
language for young generation. With tireless efforts, the artisan was awarded the title of Excellent Artisan
in the field of social practices and beliefs in 2022.
With numerous contributions to the preservation and promotion of the racial
cultural identity, he is also an outstanding example in charity and social
security work in the locality.
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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