(HBO) – Whether harvesting rice, planting maize in the fields or picking vegetables and herbal leaves in the forest, or going to the market every day, Tay ethnic women in Muong Chieng commune, Da Bac district wear their ethnic costumes as a habit and pride and above all, an esteem of their cultural beauty.
Photo: Women in Chieng Cang hamlet of Muong Chieng
commune, Da Bac district, wear traditional Tay ethnic costumes in daily life.
Vice Chairman of the communal People’s Committee Bui Van Huong said as a hub of
the district, the commune has three ethic groups living together, including
Tay, Muong and Kinh. Of them, Tay people hold a majority. While Tay men usually
wear traditional costumes during festivals or special events at home, women
love wearing them every day.
In 2017, Muong worship festival was the most
outstanding event of Tay group in Da Bac district, which has been restored. It
dated back to a time when Tay people began to live and explore the land of
Muong Xong, known as Muong Chieng today, to settle down. Held at the beginning
of the year, the festival aims to commemorate ancestors and those who explored
and built the village as well as paid respect to the gods of land, water and
forest for endowing local residents with favourable weather conditions, a
peaceful, healthy life, and bumper harvests.
The local Tay community also preserves a new rice
festival which is held in the 10th lunar month. It is meant to thank
ancestors for a bountiful harvest and pray them to bless the next crop.
Depending on affordability of each family, those who can afford often make it
big, those who can't will make it small, but they must keep it. Especially,
recently, attention has been paid to learning Tay characters in the community.
With local teachers, the community learning centre opened dozens of Tay
language classes for about 300 people.
Along with preserving and promoting cultural values,
people of ethnic groups in the locality followed regulations in residential
areas. Weddings, funerals and festivals are organised in new and civilised
trend, typically in such hamlets as Na Muoi, Chum Nua, Chieng Cang, Ban Ha, and
Ke./.
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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