(HBO) - The Muong Thang new crop festival opened on February 10 in Dung Phong commune, Cao Phong district of the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh.
A unique gong performance
at the Muong Thang newcrop festival
The Muong Thang newcrop festival, also called the ploughing festival,
includes the ritual and festive activities. The rituals take place at the shrine of Dong Nhat hamlet, where the
village’s tutelary gods are worshipped. They include the palanquin procession
from the shrine to the place where the festival is held and vice versa. The procession
is solemnly held with flags, parasols and offerings with the participation of the
elderly, monks and crowds of local people.
The festive activities include folk
games such as ‘con’ ball throwing, duck catching and other sports, as well as a
singing contest, gong and folk music performances which are deeply imbued with the
Muong people’s cultural identity.
The festival offers a chance for
locals to express their gratitude towards and respect for gods who contributed
to forming the Muong land. Through the festival, local residents pray for a happy
and successful New Year, with positive achievements in socio-economic
development.
It is also a good opportunity
for Muong Thang people to meet and join together in exchange activities, thus tightening
the solidarity in the community./.
As a land deeply intertwined with human history and Vietnam’s millennia-long journey of nation-building and defence, Hoa Binh is often revered for its epic tales and legends.
Residents of Hoa Binh boast a rich cultural identity, reflected in their unique language, traditional attire, customs, and folk melodies – described as "sweet as honey, clear as a mountain stream.”
Lac Son district’s Vu ban town held the 2025 Truong Kha temple festival on April 12–13 (the 15th–16th days of the third lunar month). Since its revival in 2019, the festival has been organised every three years, preserving valuable intangible heritage while meeting the community’s cultural and spiritual needs.
The clothing of women reflects the culture of the Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao, and Mong ethnic groups in the northern province of Hoa Binh.
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.
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