Within the framework of Project 6 on preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development, Lac Son district of Hoa Binh province organised a training programme and experimental competition of "danh mang” – a folk game played by the Muong ethnic group during their festivals – on November 26-27.
Female teams compete
in traditional "danh mang” game.
"Danh mang” is a unique sport and traditional folk game with
local cultural significance, with people trying to bring "mang” seeds into
holes. It is currently preserved and re-enacted by Lac Son district through
various initiatives.
The training programme attracted the participation of 24 teams
with 240 members from 24 localities. Participants were equipped with basic
skills, and knowledge on the history and unique characteristics of the game.
They then competed in the team and women categories,
following all eight steps of the game.
Based on the scores, the team of Vu Ban town came first. It was followed
by those from Tan My and Tuan Dao communes.
As a land deeply intertwined with human history and Vietnam’s millennia-long journey of nation-building and defence, Hoa Binh is often revered for its epic tales and legends.
Residents of Hoa Binh boast a rich cultural identity, reflected in their unique language, traditional attire, customs, and folk melodies – described as "sweet as honey, clear as a mountain stream.”
Lac Son district’s Vu ban town held the 2025 Truong Kha temple festival on April 12–13 (the 15th–16th days of the third lunar month). Since its revival in 2019, the festival has been organised every three years, preserving valuable intangible heritage while meeting the community’s cultural and spiritual needs.
The clothing of women reflects the culture of the Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao, and Mong ethnic groups in the northern province of Hoa Binh.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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.