(HBO) – Hoa Binh is a land of a long-lasting history and culture associated with the national construction and defence. It houses six main ethnic groups – namely Muong, Kinh, Thai, Tay, Dao, and Mong, of which the Muong account for more than 63% of the population.
Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, hands over certificates accrediting Hoa Binh’s bamboo calendar knowledge and Khai ha festival as national intangible cultural heritages.
The Khai ha festival of Muong people in Hoa Binh province reenacted at a local event in 2022.
In the field of culture, the province currently has a total of 786 intangible cultural heritages. Annually, it organises more than 60 festivals, which is a great potential to exploit and promote serving the local socio-economic development, especially in tourism.
The Khai ha festival of the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh is the biggest and oldest traditional folk event indispensable to the community on the occasion of the lunar new year.
It is now the fourth in the province to be recognised as a national intangible heritage. Such recognition honours the contributions by residents in the local four big Muong areas – Bi, Vang, Thang, Dong (now the districts of Tan Lac, Lac Son, Cao Phong, and Kim Boi). It forms a ‘trademark’ for the province, helping to popularise its heritages domestically and internationally. The local protection and promotion of the heritage is also benefited.
In the time to come, Nguyen Phi Long, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, suggested the local authorities, competent agencies, researchers, cultural managers, and locals make further efforts to promote the role and responsibility of the Muong community and to introduce to domestic and international friends the land, people, and cultural identity of Hoa Binh.
He noted that heritage-owning localities should pay attention to building promotion and communications programmes; creating favorable conditions for artisans in teaching heritage values in the community; and mobilising resources for the collection, preservation and publication of ancient documents related to all types of heritage in general.
The People's Committee should make proposals to the People's Council concerning the implementation of mechanisms and policies to preserve and develop specific cultural values of the province, the official said./.
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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