A place that gathers cultural quintessence

12/10/2019 - 5:06:01 PM

(HBO) - Hoa Binh is home to more than 854,000 people, 74.31 percent of whom belong to ethnic minority groups, including Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao and Mong. Each ethnic group has its own cultural identities which altogether create a unique Hoa Binh province.

People in Vinh Dong commune (Kim Boi district) attend the annual Muong Chanh Festival.

That uniqueness can be seen in festivals of local ethnic minorities. Every spring, people from across Vietnam flock to festivals imbued with cultural identities of ethnic groups in Hoa Binh such as the going-to-the-field and fishing festivals of the Muong people, the cap sac (maturity) ritual of the Dao quan chet people, the Xen ban and Xen Muong festival of the Thai people, and the Gau Tao festival of the Mong people.

Festivals are popular community cultural activities and also priceless intangible cultural heritage enriching the national culture. A number of festivals used to be lost for many years have now been restored, including the Coi Communal House Festival in Binh Chan commune (Lac Son district), the Vai Communal House Festival in Thanh Nong commune (Lac Thuy district), the Trung Bao Temple and Shrine Festival in Cao Thang commune (Luong Son district), the Xam Communal House Festival in Phu Lai commune (Yen Thuy district), Hang Pagoda Festival in Yen Tri commune (Yen Thuy), the Tien Pagoda Festival in Phu Lao commune (Lac Thuy), the Rem Temple Festival in Chi Ne township (Lac Thuy), and the Ngoi Communal House Festival in Su Ngoi commune (Hoa Binh city).

According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, more than 60 festivals have been held in Hoa Binh in 2019. They included six district-level events, namely the inauguration of the memorial house of revolution contributors and the tree planting festival at the Chi Ne farm-based banknote printing factory relic site, the Tien Pagoda Festival (Lac Thuy), Muong Dong Festival (Kim Boi), Truong Kha Temple Festival (Lac Son), the culture – sports spring festival of Ky Son district, and the festivals of the Dao people (Da Bac district). Additionally, there are 35 others at the communal level and 22 festivals at hamlets.

The Hoa Binh Culture – Tourism Week 2019 was the biggest of its kind held so far in the province. A wide range of activities took place during the five days of the event, including arts, photo and culinary festivals, an exhibition of outstanding intangible cultural heritage of local ethnic groups, a beauty pageant and a workshop on local tourism development. All the activities were meant to popularise Hoa Binh as the place that gathers the most unique cultural identities./.

Hoa Binh - The land of epics and legends

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.”

Truong Kha temple festival 2025

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.

Women's clothing of ethnic minorities in Hoa Binh

The clothing of women reflects the culture of the Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao, and Mong ethnic groups in the northern province of Hoa Binh.

Hoa Binh’s cultural heritage: Muong Gongs, a timeless cultural treasure

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, promoting Muong cultural heritage: Upholding Muong culture into contemporary life

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.

Preserving essence of Muong culture: tradition meets modernity

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.