Hoa Binh province has paid due attention to preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic minority group and the Hoa Binh Civilisation (Hoabinhian) – a valuable heritage of the country and the mankind.
At the exhibition on the Hoa Binh Civilisation.
Various documents were issued to direct the preservation and promotion of the values of the Hoa Binh Civilisation, while the state management over archaeological sites related to the culture has attained important achievements.
According to Director of the Hoa Binh Museum To Anh Tu, the province is now home to 87 relic sites having relations to the Hoa Binh Civilisation, ten of which was recognised as national relic sites, while many have become popular tourist sites like the stone roof of Vanh village in Lac Son district, and Cho cave in Luong Son district.
The values of the local heritages have been brought closer to the public, particularly researchers and students, from far and wide as the province has organised various mobile exhibitions in Hanoi, and Thai Nguyen and Hung Yen provinces.
Particularly, two seminars held in 2017 and 2022 to mark the 85th and 90th anniversaries of the world recognition of the Hoabinhian drew the participation of many domestic and international scientists, and cultural heritage managers, affirming the significance of the standout values of the archeological site in the locality to the study of the Hoabinhian in Vietnam and the world.
However, as the preservation work has faced formidable challenges, several Hoabinhian relic sites have been destroyed, while many have not received adequate investment to serve research and tourism purposes.
Dr. Nguyen Van Viet, Director of the Centre for Southeast Asian Prehistory, suggested the province pay due attention to training human resources to build a museum on the Hoa Binh Civilisation, and rank all of the uncovered relic sites.
Under a project to preserve and promote the values of the Muong ethnic culture, and the Hoabinhian for the 2023-2030 period, Hoa Binh is focusing on building planning schemes for outstanding Hoabinhian relic sites, including the renovation of the national special relic site of Trai hamlet cave and stone roof of Vanh village, and promoting scientific research for, and restoration of Hoabinhian relic sites with the support of domestic and international specialists.
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.
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.
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, 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.
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