Lac Son district in Hoa Binh province is a treasure of cultural heritages, boasting 13 provincial-level relics and landscape sites. Of them, two are special national relic sites, namely the Xom Trai cave archaeological site and the Lang Vanh rock shelter, as well as one national relic site - the Muong Khoi Revolutionary Base. These landmarks reflect the region's rich cultural and historical significance.
The district is home to over 1,200 Muong gongs, which are an integral part of the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group.
Additionally, there are approximately 18,640 traditional stilt houses scattered across the district, providing a glimpse into the region's architectural heritage.
Cultural life has thriven with 252 community arts groups and various clubs dedicated to preserving traditional music and crafts. These include 10 village-level folk singing clubs, a district-level Mo Muong club, and clubs for poetry, traditional folk singing and dancing, Muong gongs, and even a cooperative focused on traditional brocade weaving.
Lac Son is committed to preserving and promoting its unique cultural heritage while pursuing the "all people unite to build cultural life" movement. The district actively preserves traditional festivals and intangible cultural values, ensuring that these practices are not only maintained but also celebrated.
The district has made impressive strides in promoting cultural standards. Currently, 252 out of 271 villages and residential areas, or 92.9%, meet the cultural criteria. The district also upholds a commitment to social norms, with no new cases of social evils, third-child births, early marriages, or consanguineous marriages reported.
Notably, all 23 communes of the district have achieved the cultural criteria required for new-style rural areas, a testament to the community's dedication to enhancing the quality of life while preserving its cultural roots.
This achievement highlights the district’s successful integration of cultural preservation with modern rural 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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