The Muong ethnic group’s folk games such as "ca kheo” (walking on stilts), "ban no” (shooting crossbows), "du tre” (swinging on bamboo poles), and "day gay” (pole pushing) carry cultural significance while reflecting their life skills as well as agricultural fertility rites.
Muong Ai women in Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac
district, are playing "danh mang”.
The Muong people's games often reenact daily
activities in their ancestors' era, known in their language as "doi
ho" or "the birth of land and water". "Ca kheo”, notably,
recreates how their forebears navigated swampy terrain in tropical Vietnam's
prehistoric times. It is currently performed in several "Khai ha” (going down
to the field) festivals in the Muong regions.
Similarly, "du tre” evolved from the necessity
of climbing trees to foraging and moving between hillsides using vines and sturdy
bamboo. The "du tre” festivals in Muong Voi region of Lac Son district, and in
Vai village of Luong Son district exemplify how a practical skill transformed
into a sacred tradition.
The process of creating these swings involves
intricate ritual, with the Nha Lang (House of Lang – the landlord class of the
Muong) selecting four special bamboo poles and distributed them to four Nha Au
(houses for the mandarins) for plantation at the field of the Nha Lang. Each Au
must take a different path when carrying their pole, and the construction
process requires precise ceremonial steps and blessings from a shaman.
Three stakes must be driven into the ground
exactly 25-30 centimeters from the swing, converging together to hold an
offering tray. Here, the shaman performs ceremonies inviting the village deity
to descend and partake in both the offerings and the swing itself. The shaman
is also the first one to use the swing, and only on the following day are the
Muong villagers permitted to participate in the swinging festivities.
Many folk games of the Muong people,
particularly those performed during the Khai ha festival, carry deeper meanings
related to fertility worship. The "nem con” (throwing a sacred ball through a
ring) symbolises the harmony between yin and yang energies. The game's elements
- the ball representing yang and the ring representing yin - reflect the
community's belief in growth and prosperity.
Other games like "danh khang” (a game of sticks)
and "gia gao” (rice pounding) also embody the fertility symbolism.
These traditional games passed down through
generations, represent the Muong ancestors' hopes for prosperity and peace.
In recent years, Lac Thuy district has paid increasing attention to investing in cultural and sports infrastructure. These grassroots facilities have attracted a large number of residents to participate in recreational and cultural activities, physical training, and community engagement, contributing to the development of cultural life and the local socio-economic growth.
In recent years, the mass physical training and sports (PTS) movement in Hoa Binh province has developed strongly and spread widely. Regardless of age, gender or occupation, people actively participate in physical training, creating a vibrant and enthusiastic sports atmosphere within the community.
Recently, Hoa Binh’s athletes have continued to show strong performances at national-level competitions. Alongside elite athletes, several standout performers have emerged from grassroots sports movements, underlining the province’s growing sports culture.
From April 26 to 27, at the Provincial Sports Arena, the Hoa Binh Provincial Karate Federation organized the 2025 Hoa Binh Open ASUDO Karate Championship.
While modern sports like volleyball and football continue to grow in popularity, traditional folk games and ethnic sports remain a vibrant and essential part of cultural life among the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
A total of 85 young players from across Hoa Binh province recently participated in the provincial Youth Table Tennis Tournament. Organised by the provincial Centre for Youth Activities, the event was part of activities to celebrate the 94th founding anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26, 1931 – 2025) and the 79th anniversary of Vietnam Sports Day (March 27, 1946 – 2025).
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