Having applied himself to researching and preserving traditional culture, Meritorious Artisan Bui Huy Vong in Huong Nhuong commune, Lac Son district, has won high regard from many people for his dedication to the Muong ethnic culture.
Meritorious Artisan Bui Huy Vong shares his journey to
research and preserve the Muong ethnic group’s culture.
Vong said researching and preserving the Muong
culture and bringing into play the good cultural values of ancestors in the
modern life is an arduous journey. However, thanks to support from district and
grassroots authorities as well as local artisans, he has obtained certain
achievements.
In particular, he has helped with the
restoration of some traditional festivals such as those of the Khenh Communal
House in Van Son commune, the Bang Communal House in Ngoc Son commune, and the
Khoi Communal House in An Nghia commune. He has written and published nearly 20
books, about 10 scientific articles on specialised magazines, along with
hundreds of articles, short stories, and research papers on central and local
media agencies.
Recalling difficulties and endeavours in the
restoration of local temples and festivals, Vong noted it took almost 10 years,
from 2001 to 2010, to rehabilitate the main hall of the Bang Communal House,
but it was not until 2016 that the Chay Dat - Chay Muong ritual of this site’s
festival was revived. Besides, it took up to 15 years, from 2003 to 2018, to
have the main hall and festival of the Khenh Communal House restored.
As the core zone of the Muong culture, Lac Son
district has also paid attention to revitalising the Muong ethnic singing. As a
result, the folk singing movement has become popular in the local community
over the last 10 years. Five clubs of "thuong rang” and "bo meng”, two types of
the Muong folk singing, have come into being, drawing more than 200 artisans.
Not only an artisan, collector, and researcher,
Vong is also one of the first person to post video clips about the Muong
singing on YouTube, attracting millions of viewers.
However, he is still concerned that many
valuable cultural heritages like the Vanh village stone shelter, the Trai
hamlet cave, Mo Muong, Muong gongs, as well as the customs and folk songs of
Muong people remain untapped. District authorities have just restored traditional
festivals and utilised the ethnic group’s space and cuisine for tourism
development.
Vong expressed his hope that the local Party
Committee and People's administration will hold regular meetings with artisans,
collectors, researchers, and those preserving the traditional culture. They
should create a space at major events and folk festivals for Muong singing
artisans in Lac Son, as well as those from across Hoa Binh province and other
localities, to engage in exchanges. In addition, it is important to pay more
heed to tourism promotion to bring into play the role of the local community
and artisans of the Muong culture.
Once a vibrant part of the daily life for the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province, traditional Muong singing styles such as "thuong rang bo meng” and "hat dup giao duyen” had faded over time. Today, local authorities and communities are working to restore and celebrate this cultural art form, recognising its value in preserving the group’s heritage.
Gau Tao Festival, one of the most important traditional festivals of the Mong ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district was held at the Pa Co stadium in Pa Co commune on January 11.
The ancient stone engravings dating back thousands of years in Suoi Co valley in My Thanh commune, Lac Son district, used to astonished domestic archaeologists. What their meaning is and what message they convey are the questions to which scientists are seeking answers.
Preserving and promoting unique cultural identities of ethnic communities in Hoa Binh province is considered a crucial task amid in the international integration trend.
More than just a cultural and historical attraction, the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum is playing a vital role in fostering sustainable tourism in the Northwestern region of Vietnam, particularly in Hoa Binh province. It stands as a model for the emerging trend of "responsible tourism," cleverly blending the preservation of cultural heritage with community economic development, raising awareness of Muong ethnic cultural values while promoting green tourism and sustainable growth.
The provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 24 organised a conference to report on the results of collecting, researching, restoring, and preserving "Bi doi”, a musical instrument of the airophonic family and a traditional instrument of the Muong ethnic people in Da Bac district.
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