Muong cultural heritage museum promotes ethnic identity

6/25/2025 - 9:17:58 AM

The Muong Cultural Heritage Museum in Thai Binh ward, Hoa Binh city, has contributed significantly to preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group.

Founded in 2011 by Meritorious Artisan Bui Thanh Binh, the private museum is the result of over 40 years of artefact collection. It currently houses more than 6,000 original items, ranging from the Stone Age to the present, including tools, daily utensils, bronze artefacts, spiritual objects, and ceremonial items that reflect centuries of Muong life and tradition.

Visitors to the museum gain a comprehensive view of Muong culture spanning nearly 20,000 years, from primitive tools of the Son Vi, Hoa Binh and Bac Son cultures to the sophisticated bronze implements of the Dong Son period, and everyday items used by Muong communities across social classes.

The museum has attracted numerous visitors over the years, including researchers, domestic and international tourists, and especially students from across Vietnam.

What sets the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum apart is its mobile exhibitions, which bring Muong culture to regions across the country.

Driven by Binh’s desire to promote Muong heritage beyond its native land, the museum has collaborated with national and provincial museums, including the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and museums in Thai Nguyen and Hung Yen provinces.

Notably, since Tet 2014, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology has invited the Muong museum to co-host the annual "Tet Muong" celebration. During the first event, tens of thousands visited the exhibit to enjoy Muong cuisine and cultural displays.

The museum has also been an active partner in major cultural events in Hanoi’s Thach That, Ba Vi districts, and city-level gatherings, where its exhibits were key highlights. After the success of its 2019–2024 exhibitions, the Muong Museum has been invited to return for the 2024–2029 term.

Beyond Hanoi, the museum also supports local heritage sites and cultural and tourism projects throughout the province.

Tet (Lunar New Year) last year marked a memorable milestone for the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum, as it brought artefacts for display at the Cu Chi historical site in Ho Chi Minh City. More recently, the museum exhibited its collection at the Bai Dinh spiritual tourism complex in Ninh Binh province.

The Muong Cultural Heritage Museum’s travelling exhibitions have earned widespread praise, offering visitors, especially those unfamiliar with Hoa Binh. For Muong people living far from home, the displays evoke powerful memories and a sense of cultural reconnection.

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Provincial leader inspects construction site of Mo Muong conservation space

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A “fire keeper” of Muong culture

Born and growing in the heroic land of Muong Dong, Dinh Thi Kieu Dung, a resident in Bo town of Kim Boi district, in her childhood was nurtured by the sweet lullabies of her grandmother and mother. These melodies deeply imprinted on her soul, becoming an inseparable part of her love for her ethnic group's culture. For over 20 years, this love for her hometown has driven Dung to research, collect, and pass down the cultural values of the Muong people to future generations.

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