Lac Thinh commune, Yen Thuy district, is home to 1,635 households, of which 82% are ethnic minorities, mainly Muong people. In recent years, the commune has prioritised to developing cultural clubs, aiming to both enrich the community's spiritual life and preserve traditional cultural values.
Artist Quach Thi Kieu (left) guides and teaches Muong gong playing techniques to club members.
With the view that "people stay alive when their culture
stay alive,the local authorities have paid heed to preserving and promoting
the Muong folk cultural identity. In this spirit, the Women's Union of Lac
Thinh commune has encouraged residents to wear traditional Muong attire during
festivals and community events. They also established two cultural preservation
clubs in Trac and Dinh Van hamlets.
With 31 members when founded in 2021, the Trac hamlet club now has 49,
including both male and female artisans. It maintains practices of traditional
Muong music, dance, and cultural performances every Saturday and Sunday. These
activities have garnered attention from professional units at district and
provincial levels. The club has been invited to participate in numerous
cultural exchanges and festivals, including performances for Vietnam's national
television.
Quach Thi Kieu, head of the Trac hamlet club, explained that members are taught
to play traditional Muong instruments, sing folk songs, and perform Muong
dances. The club also holds workshops on traditional brocade weaving and the
significance of traditional Muong clothing.
In November 2022, recognising the success of the Trac hamlet club, the communal
Women's Union established anotherclub in Dinh Van hamlet, with 45
members. The club has been actively involved in local cultural exchanges,
festivals, and workshops, helping to preserve and promote Muog traditions.
The establishment and development of the club model are of significance in
preserving and promoting the cultural heritage value, thus creating best
possible conditions for ethnic people to directly engage in protection and
promotion as well as enjoy results of these activities. foster a sense of
community, ensuring that cultural traditions are passed down to future
generations.
Hoa Binh’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 18, hosted a conference to present the outcomes of a research study on the traditional costumes of the Muong ethnic group.
Along with the activities of Project 6 - the national target programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas for the 2021 – 2026 period, efforts to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in Lac Son district have received additional momentum.
In the context of globalisation and deeper integration, preserving and promoting the national cultural identity is of utmost importance. Aware of their pioneering and proactive role on all fronts, over the years, the youth organisations at all levels in Hoa Binh province have implemented various concrete and practical activities to preserve and promote the cultural identities of ethnic groups in the locality.
Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province is home to seven ethnic groups, six of which are minorities. The cultural identities of the ethnic minority groups have been preserved well. One of the district’s effective preservation efforts is the establishment of a cultural preservation club at the Mai Chau Boarding Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minority Groups.
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.
The Muong ethnic minority community, with a nationwide population of over 1.4 million, are primarily concentrated in Hoa Binh province, which is home to more than 500,000 Muong people who make up over 63% of the locality's total population. The promotion of the Muong language and script is crucial for preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Muong people, as well as bolstering socio-economic development, thus contributing to the effective implementation of the national target programme on boosting the socio-economic development of ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous regions.
