(HBO) – Dao ethnic people in Toan Son commune, Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province, make up 43.3 percent of the commune’s total population. Their unique spiritual and cultural values are vividly illustrated in the housing architecture, customs, costumes, festivals, folk songs, and traditional dances.
Dao
people in Toan Son commune mainly live in Phu, Ranh, and Cha hamlets. One of
their most special traditional cultures is "cap sac” (maturity ritual)
ceremony, which is considered an indispensable ritual for ethnic men because
only when they are declared the coming of age, they have right to involve in
the village’s work. Boys from ten years above could pass this ritual. The most
valuable thing in this ritual is teaching. The sharman will have teachings to
the matured men so that they will not do evil and have to respect their
parents. The teachings are done by vows under the witness of gods, heaven and
earth, ancestors and before all people in the family.
Mr. Dang Tien Dung from Cha hamlet, Toan Son commune
(Da Bac), prepares musical instrument for Tet Nhay (dancing festival).
Dao people always attach great important to
ancestor worshipping and Tet Nhay (dancing festival) is a special ritual.
Every day, Dao people from Toan Son commune wear
traditional costumes including a shirt, pants, belt, silver jewelry and a
headscarf. Women’s shirts are usually knee-length. With the skillful hands and
diligence, Dao ethnic women create colourful costumes.
Women weave and dye fabrics, then skillfully embroider and decorate patterns
which are close to the nature and represent their wish of a prosperous life.
Besides, Dao ethnic people are always aware of
preserving their scripts through teaching young generations. From 2016 to
present, Toan Son commune has opened three Dao language teaching classes.
Traditional dances of Dao ethnic people are performed in public in the
district’s events./.
Once a vibrant part of the daily life for the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province, traditional Muong singing styles such as "thuong rang bo meng” and "hat dup giao duyen” had faded over time. Today, local authorities and communities are working to restore and celebrate this cultural art form, recognising its value in preserving the group’s heritage.
Gau Tao Festival, one of the most important traditional festivals of the Mong ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district was held at the Pa Co stadium in Pa Co commune on January 11.
The ancient stone engravings dating back thousands of years in Suoi Co valley in My Thanh commune, Lac Son district, used to astonished domestic archaeologists. What their meaning is and what message they convey are the questions to which scientists are seeking answers.
Preserving and promoting unique cultural identities of ethnic communities in Hoa Binh province is considered a crucial task amid in the international integration trend.
More than just a cultural and historical attraction, the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum is playing a vital role in fostering sustainable tourism in the Northwestern region of Vietnam, particularly in Hoa Binh province. It stands as a model for the emerging trend of "responsible tourism," cleverly blending the preservation of cultural heritage with community economic development, raising awareness of Muong ethnic cultural values while promoting green tourism and sustainable growth.
The provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 24 organised a conference to report on the results of collecting, researching, restoring, and preserving "Bi doi”, a musical instrument of the airophonic family and a traditional instrument of the Muong ethnic people in Da Bac district.