The Khai Ha (Going down to the field) Festival of the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province is a vibrant cultural event that draws thousands of local people and tourists each year. Held in Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district, this festival is deeply rooted in the spiritual and agricultural traditions of the Muong people.
The ceremonial procession carries the deity’s palanquin from Luy Ai hamlet to the Phong Phu stadium in Tan Lac district.
From the early morning of February 5 (the 8th day of the first lunar month), crowds of local people and visitors gathered to take part in the festivities.
Nguyen Hoa Thuy, a visitor from Hanoi's Hoang Mai district, said that this is the first time she has experienced the festival, and she was deeply impressed by its large-scale organisation, diverse activities, and captivating performances, especially the mesmerising Muong gong performance.
As the largest traditional folk festival of the Muong people in Hoa Binh, Khai Ha holds a special place in the hearts of the community, particularly in the four major Muong regions - Bi, Vang, Thang, and Dong. The festival is dedicated to honouring deities, paying tribute to ancestors who founded the land, and praying for favourable weather, abundant harvests, and prosperity. Each Muong region celebrates the festival at different times and locations, adding to its rich cultural diversity.
In recent years, the festival has seen a growing number of Muong ethnic people returning to their hometowns to take part in the celebrations, especially as the Lunar New Year (Tet) approaches.
This year, the festival took place on February 4 and 5 (the 7th and 8th days of the first month of Year of the Snake) and featured a dynamic mix of ceremonial rituals, cultural performances, traditional folk games, and sports competitions.
The celebrations began with a ritual of worshipping the local deity, followed by a deity’s palanquin procession to the festival venue at Phong Phu Stadium.
At the opening ceremony, an ensemble of Muong gongs filled the air, setting the stage for the grand festivities. Delegates and local people then participated in the festival’s symbolic tradition of going down to the field, marking the beginning of spring and a new agricultural season.
Beyond its spiritual and ceremonial aspects, the festival also showcased a variety of cultural and artistic performances, including brocade weaving demonstrations, folk games, singing and sports competitions and display of traditional Muong culinary.
Additionally, an One Commune One Product (OCOP) and agricultural product exhibition featured local specialties and handicrafts from the four Muong regions. A job fair was also organised to provide career guidance and networking opportunities for attendees.
Recognising its profound cultural significance, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism officially recognised the Khai Ha Festival as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2022. Since 2023, the festival has been celebrated on a provincial scale, attracting even greater attention from local people and tourists.
The event is part of a broader initiative to preserve and promote Muong cultural values under Hoa Binh province’s 2023-2030 cultural development plan. Through this initiative, the festival not only showcases the rich traditions, scenic landscapes, and warm hospitality of Hoa Binh but also strengthens the region’s identity as a cultural and tourism hotspot.
The festival is held annually to educate future generations on patriotism, national pride, promoting historical and cultural values while raising awareness about preservation and fostering ethnic cultural identity associated with developing typical tourism products, so that culture truly becomes a spiritual foundation, internal resource and driving force for development.
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.
Authorities and residents of Chieng Chau commune, Mai Chau district, are making efforts to preserve and promote the historical value of a centuries-old gold apple tree (scientifically known as diospyros decandra lour), which has been recognised as a national heritage tree.
Hoa Binh is home to two types of Dong Son drums: Heger I and Heger II. These drums date back from the 4th century BC to the 5th century AD.
Mo is a term referring to a profession and cultural heritage which integrates folk beliefs with folk culture and arts. Practiced at funerals and religious rituals by the Muong ethnic people, it aims to provide spiritual comfort during significant life events such as illness and death.
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