Late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s view on culture has served as the lodestar and a source of encouragement for Hoa Binh in cultural development.
Many cultural
houses have been completed and put into operation in Hoa Binh. In photo: The
cultural house of Doi hamlet in Tay Phong commune, Cao Phong district.
Hoa Binh is home to the six ethnic groups of Muong, Dao, Tay, Thai, Kinh, and
Mong, with the Muong accounting for more than 64% of the local population. Each
of the groups has its own cultural traits, contributing to the province’s
unique cultural tapestry. Over the past years, the province has continued allocating resources to
cultural development.
Cultural preservation, promotion – a key
task
The resolution adopted at 17th provincial Party Congress sets the task of
preserving and promoting the unique culture of ethnic minority groups in tandem
with tourism development, and seeking the dossier of Mo Muong to be included in
the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Quach Thi Kieu, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and
Tourism, said local cultural values and heritage have been both preserved and
nurtured.
Numerous cultural activities have been scaled up, generating new products and
values in service of local residents and visitors alike.
Notably, in 2023, the province launched a project aimed at preserving and
promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group and the Hoa Binh
civilisation for the 2023-2030 period. With a total funding of over 500 billion
VND (201,249 USD), this initiative provides significant resources to advance
the cultural sector.
joining hands in cultural development
Following the direction of the Standing Board of the provincial Party
Committee, various departments, agencies, and localities in Hoa Binh have
focused on cultural development.
Despite a host of challenges, Tinh villagers in Tu Ly commune, the mountainous
district of Da Bac, have joined hands in building a cultural house, and
supported the locality’s cultural development policy.
Dinh Van Khuyen’s family has donated hundreds of square metres of land for the
construction of the cultural house. Inspired by his family, many others have
also donated land, workdays, and materials to the project.
A gateway to Hanoi, Luong Son district stands out for its efforts in mobilising
the engagement of different economic sectors in cultural development, turning
itself into a fourth-tier urban area.
Nguyen Duc Dung, Secretary of the district Party Committee, noted that in
recent years, the locality has intensified the movement "All people stay united
to build new-style rural areas and civilised urban areas”.
Vo Ngoc Kien, head of the provincial Party Committee's Information and
Education Board, said such efforts have help create resources for cultural
activities and raise public awareness of the cultural development 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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