HBO – As of June 2018, the ethnic minority groups in Hoa Binh province owned a total of 786 intangible cultural heritages, according to statistics of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. More than ever, the preservation and promotion of heritage values need due attention.
Artists
perform at second Muong gong festival
Hoa Binh is home to six ethnic groups with their own cultural
characteristics, which helps form a diverse, unique and impressive culture of
Hoa Binh.
Basically, the local ethnic groups still maintain their
traditional customs. The values of heritages related to literature, spoken language
and handwriting (excluding Muong ethnic group) are conserved, while folk
knowledge and traditional costumes are kept at an average level. For example,
Muong people’s cultural values such as folk singing, gong art, and epic are well
preserved and appreciated. Stilt houses are fading away, but many localities
such as Lac Son and Tan Lac are building stilt houses using concrete instead of
wood as usual. Meanwhile, Tay people still keep their folk songs and maintain
the teaching and learning of ancient handwriting in the community. The Dao
ethnic group continues maintaining "cap sac” (maturity ritual), Tet nhay
(dancing ceremony), and ancient handwriting study, while Mong people still
preserve their costumes, housing architecture, forging, language, Tet (new
year) festival and khen (panpipe) festival.
Notably, some positive signs have been seen in recent time,
including the development of traditional festivals and Muong gong. The role of
Muong shamans has been improved in society.
Localities have paid attention to and invested in preserving and
promoting the values of intangible cultural heritages through the formation of
one traditional cultural village, dozens of community-based tourism cultural
villages at the provincial level, as well as the implementation of nearly 30
scientific projects on culture and ethnic groups, the organization of nearly 50
classes to teach folk arts, hundreds of classes on ancient handwriting, and the
restoration of 50 traditional festivals.
As of June, five ethnic minority groups in the province owned 786
intangible cultural heritages, including spoken language, handwriting,
literature, folk performance art, traditional festivals, handicrafts and folk
knowledge.
The provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee allowed to
collect, study and make scientific documents for two intangible cultural
heritages: Mo Muong and Muong gong, and consider the use of Muong alphabet. The
province will continue making a document on Mo Muong to submit to UNESCO in
order to seek its recognition as the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent
Safeguarding./.
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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