Thanh Cong Cooperative, established in 2019 in Dan Chu ward, Hoa Binh city, has provided vocational training for rural, ethnic minority labourers, while helping them in selling bamboo, rattan, and brocade products, and preserving the Muong people’s culture.
Thanh Cong Cooperative in Dan Chu ward, Hoa Binh city, has helped preserve and promote brocade weaving, and create jobs for locals.
Phung Thi Tiep, from Mat Tren hamlet, Dan Chu ward, said in 2010, she and other five women in the neighbourhood established a brocade weaving group, and they then joined Thanh Cong Cooperative.
"Brocade weaving helps raise income for my family,” she said.
Quach Thanh Cong, director of the cooperative, said with its members being locals who have experience in rattan, bamboo, and brocade weaving, Thanh Cong offers unique products.
From a membership of only seven, the cooperative now gathers 20 official members, and around 40 seasonal workers, he added.
To continue preserving cultural traits in brocade weaving and generating jobs for rural, ethnic minority people, the cooperative has coordinated with the farmers’ unions of Dan Chu and other communes and wards in organising refresher courses for its members and local women.
In 2022 and 2023, there were four training classes for industrial sewing with 120 members, two for bamboo and rattan weaving with 60 members, and two others for brocade weaving with 60 members, helping satisfy workforce demand of businesses and craft villages in the locality.
Last year, the cooperative’s revenue exceeded 3.3 billion VND (130,499 USD), and the average monthly income of its labourers reached 11.9 million VND.
Nguyen Duc Thinh, Chairman of the Dan Chu Ward People’s Committee, said the Muong people make up over 40% of local population, expressing his hope that Thanh Cong Cooperative will create more jobs to raise income for rural labourers, contributing to local socio-economic development.
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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