With his love for traditional musical instruments, at the age of over 60, artisan Hoang Van Vien, Gieng Xa hamlet, Cu Yen commune (Luong Son), still maintains his passion and enthusiasm. He actively participates in performing folk songs and dances, and teaches Muong gongs to younger generations with a desire to preserve and promote traditional cultural values.
Artisan Hoang Van Vien, Gieng Xa hamlet, Cu Yen commune (Luong Son), cleans his Muong gongs.
A Muong ethnic member, Vien started learning to play Muong gongs in 1981 and since then, he has always been enthusiastic and passionate about the Muong ethnic culture, regularly participating in cultural programmes. He is often invited to folk performances on major holidays and competitions in the district and province.
To preserve the beauty of the traditional culture, he has taught many others in his village on how to play Muong gongs. Vien shared that Muong gongs are the soul of the ethnic group’s music. "We place into it the optimistic spirit and life philosophies of our people. With gongs, we can play solo, in chorus and use them in love songs, folk songs and dances... I want to preserve and pass them on to younger generations so that the ethnic cultural identity is not lost.”
Over the recent years, Cu Yen has strengthened the management, preservation and promotion of Muong ethnic cultural values, including language, customs, beliefs, cuisine, and costumes. It has encouraged all people to participate in building and developing an advanced culture imbued with national identity. Currently, the commune has two Muong gong teams with three sets of gongs and 36 pieces.
Bui Dinh Luan, Vice Chairman of the commune People's Committee, said that in order to preserve and further promote the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group, the committee regularly organises cultural exchange activities; commends units that care about preserving ethnic cultural traditions; and promotes the role of village elders in teaching the beauty of ethnic culture to the younger generations.
As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."
After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.
Great National Unity Day has been recently celebrated in Duong hamlet, Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district, in an atmosphere of warmth and community spirit. The event highlighted national identity and strengthened the bond of solidarity among residents.
On November 28, the People's Committee of Cao Phong district organized the Cultural and Sports Festival of Cao Phong district's ethnic groups in 2024.
