The northern province of Hoa Binh has paid much attention to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of ethnic minority groups in recent years. A new point in its preservation efforts is to build "living museums" in each ethnic communities, promoting endogenous strength to preserve and promote the value of cultural heritage.


 

The Muong ethnic group's Khai Ha festival in Hoa Binh province is a national intangible cultural heritage.

To facilitate the preservation, the province reviewed all intangible cultural heritages of the ethnic groups. As the results, the province now has 786 heritages, including types of languages, writings, folk literature, folk performing arts, traditional crafts, social customs and beliefs of the five ethnic minorities of Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao, Mong.

Of these, five national heritages are Mo Muong, Muong gong art (recognised in 2016); folk knowledge of the bamboo calendar of the Muong, Khai ha (going down to the field) festival of the Muong people in Hoa Binh (recognised in 2022); social customs and Keng Loong belief of the Thai people in Mai Chau district (recognised in 2023).

Mo Muong has great significance in the spiritual life of the Muong people, containing many unique and precious values. The Prime Minister has agreed to compile a national dossier for Mo Muong to seek UNESCO's recognition in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Up to now, the dossier has been completed, and the Government has issued a document agreeing to send the dossier to UNESCO for consideration.

As one of the people who participated in the filming process in the National Mo Muong Dossier, shaman Bui Van Rum, of Rom Co hamlet, Thuong Coc commune, Lac Son district, said that since he was a child, he liked listening to Mo. When he was 40, he officially started this profession. Rum said he is the 8th generation of his family to practice the profession.

"I really like the humanity expressed in the Mo songs,” he said, adding that shamans hope that the good values of Mo Muong will be promoted, introduced to the world and passed to future generations.

In addition, dossiers for other heritages are also completed to seek recognition as national intangible cultural heritages such as Muong skirt pattern weaving techniques and folk songs, love songs (Thuong Dang and Bo Met) singing.

The province has also paid attention to managing relics, artifacts, and antiquities - important materials to help learn about the history and culture of the Muong people, as well as the culture and civilisation of the ancient Vietnamese people.

The province hâs implemented a project on construction, restoration, preservation, and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural values in the province in the 2023 – 2030 period.

Hoa Binh province is home to 41 national-level relics; 71 provincial-level relics; 303 relics and scenic spots that have been added in the protection list. 

It holds 73 traditional festivals of ethnic groups annually. Many folk festivals of ethnic minority groups have been restored and maintained including Tien pagoda festival, Khai Ha festival, Muong Thang festival, Muong Dong festival, and Bo temple festival.

To meet the people’s needs in enjoying and creating culture and art, in recent years, many traditional cultural and art clubs have been established across the province.

Classes of Muong ethnic language, Muong gong art, and Muong, Dao, and Tay ethnic brocade weaving have been opened in the districts of Tan Lac, Lac Son, Cao Phong, Kim Boi, Luong Son, Lac Thuy, Mai Chau, and Da Bac.

Up to now, the whole province has 1,482 art troupes in villages, hamlets, and residential groups. In some hamlets and villages that develop community-based tourism, troupes regularly perform to serve tourists.

 

To build "living museums" in the community to preserve traditional cultural values, Hoa Binh has built the Muong Cultural Space Conservation Area in Tan Lac and Cao Phong districts.

Private museums in the province have restored and displayed many valuable artifacts such as Muong Cultural Heritage Museum, Thai Mai Chau Cultural Artifacts and Antiques Exhibition House; and Muong Cultural Space Museum. 

The formation of "living museums" in tourist villages and communities contributes to preserving and spreading the good values of Hoa Binh culture and people.

Related Topics


Hoa Binh’s cultural heritage: Muong Gongs, a timeless cultural treasure

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, promoting Muong cultural heritage: Upholding Muong culture into contemporary life

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.

Preserving essence of Muong culture: tradition meets modernity

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.

Preserving Muong community’s identity – Journey from tradition to modernity: Part 1 – Exploring Muong culture region

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.

Traditional festivals of Hoa Binh: A rich cultural heritage

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 – National intangible cultural heritage

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.