(HBO) – Being located at the Northwest gateway of the country, Hoa Binh province is known for its famous "Hoa Binh Culture" - the cultural center of the ancient Vietnamese people, and the legendary epic of "De Dat, De Nuoc”. Moreover, this is the land of festivals and the treasure of folk music of ethnic groups of Muong, Dao Thai, Tay, Mong, etc., where is full of folk songs "sweet like honey bees, fresh like streams". Therefore, despite the ancient or the reality, Hoa Binh is still the promised land for great literature and art performances.
The art performance team of the provincial
ethnic minority organizes many performances for serving the political and
cultural events of the province and the local people.
To be encouraged and set up the background
for the past 10 years, the literature writers and artists of the province have
composed and advertised over 800 works, including 48 poems, 15 novels, 35 short
stories, 30 episodes being studied and collected; staging over 50 plays; composing
130 songs; over 100 concerts; over 450 photography works; over 100 works of
art. When being promoted to the public, art councils, hundreds of works have
been awarded prizes of literature and arts from the State to the locality. The
most outstanding works are collections, researches on culture, customs and
traditions of the Muong ethnic group of the artist Bui Huy Vong (whose works
have been awarded 11 awards of Vietnam Folk Arts Association). With his such
great contributions, in 2017, the talented artist Bui Huy Vong received the
National Prize for literature and art for his works of " ẩm thực dân gian Mường vùng huyện Lạc Sơn - Muong folk food in
Lac Son district” và "Tang lễ cổ truyền của
người Mường – the traditional Funeral of Muong ethnic
people”. The Poet Le Va, won the A prize at the poetry contest organized by the
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Painter Tran Thi Thu, whose works
won A prize in the contest held by the Vietnam Fine Arts Association. The
Photographer Nguyen Xuan Thanh, in turn, has won A and B prizes in photography
at the National level, etc.
To be dedicated fully to the arts, over the
years, our province has five artists being awarded the title of Elite Artist.
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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