(HBO) – Over the past years, Hoa Binh province has prioritised resources for cultural heritage preservation and optimisation so as to create a strong impulse for tourism development.
Preserving
and optimising ethnic groups’ cultural heritage are hoped to help with tourism
development. Photo: A ritual performed at the Khai ha (going to the field)
Muong Bi Festival.
Statistics show that there were about 600
historical and cultural relic sites in Hoa Binh by the end of 2021, including
41 national and 61 provincial, with nearly 100 sites in the list of those
needing protection.
Meanwhile, the province is home to 786 tangible
cultural heritages and two national intangible ones, namely Mo Muong and the
gong art of the Muong ethnic group. At present, a national-level dossier is
being compiled to seek the UNESCO recognition of Mo Muong as part of the
intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.
All the relics and heritages are an important
resource helping with local tourism development over the past years.
On October 19, 2021, the provincial Party
Committee’s Standing Board issued Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU on the preservation
and optimisation of local ethnic groups’ cultural heritage values for the 2021
- 2025 period, with a vision to 2030. This resolution continued attaching importance
to preserving and bringing into play historical and cultural values so as to
develop tourism. It also devised many measures for capitalising on cultural and
historical values for tourism development.
However, it is a fact that there remain
shortcomings in this work, leading to a lack of high-quality tourism products
and services.
Luu Huy Linh, Deputy Director of the provincial
Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said to effectively tap into
cultural heritage values, the sector needs to prioritise collection and
research activities so as to identify the values of ethnic groups’ cultural
heritage; step up dissemination to raise authorities, people, and businesses’
awareness of the role, importance, and benefits of heritage; attract private
resources to building tourism infrastructure; and develop the tourism brand of
Hoa Binh in a professional manner, thereby helping turn tourism into a key economic
sector./.
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.
Authorities and residents of Chieng Chau commune, Mai Chau district, are making efforts to preserve and promote the historical value of a centuries-old gold apple tree (scientifically known as diospyros decandra lour), which has been recognised as a national heritage tree.
Hoa Binh is home to two types of Dong Son drums: Heger I and Heger II. These drums date back from the 4th century BC to the 5th century AD.
Mo is a term referring to a profession and cultural heritage which integrates folk beliefs with folk culture and arts. Practiced at funerals and religious rituals by the Muong ethnic people, it aims to provide spiritual comfort during significant life events such as illness and death.
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