(HBO) – The Khai ha (going down to the field) festival at Dinh Ngoi – a communal house in Quynh Lam ward, Hoa Binh city – opened on January 30 or the 9th day of the first month of the lunar year.
The procession of Via Lua (the Spirit of Rice) to
Dinh Ngoi opens the festival.
Dinh Ngoi is where several gods are worshipped including Tan
Vien Son Thanh – one of The Four Immortals in traditional Vietnamese mythology,
and those guarding the village against disasters and bringing it fortune.
The festival, taking place on the 8th and 9th days of the
lunar year annually, aims at paying respect to the gods and ancestors who
contributed to the protection and development of the land as well as at praying
for a new year of favourable weather, bumper harvest, and peaceful life.
It is often held solemnly with a host of rituals, including
the processions of the Spirit of Water and the Spirit of Rice, and an incense
offering ceremony. The event also features musical exchanges, gong
performances, culinary delights of the Muong ethnic community, sport
competitions, and folk games.
The organisation of the annual celebration is intended to
conserve local cultural and historical values, educate the younger generation
on these traditions, and to introduce the local beliefs to visitors./.
Once a vibrant part of the daily life for the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province, traditional Muong singing styles such as "thuong rang bo meng” and "hat dup giao duyen” had faded over time. Today, local authorities and communities are working to restore and celebrate this cultural art form, recognising its value in preserving the group’s heritage.
Gau Tao Festival, one of the most important traditional festivals of the Mong ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district was held at the Pa Co stadium in Pa Co commune on January 11.
The ancient stone engravings dating back thousands of years in Suoi Co valley in My Thanh commune, Lac Son district, used to astonished domestic archaeologists. What their meaning is and what message they convey are the questions to which scientists are seeking answers.
Preserving and promoting unique cultural identities of ethnic communities in Hoa Binh province is considered a crucial task amid in the international integration trend.
More than just a cultural and historical attraction, the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum is playing a vital role in fostering sustainable tourism in the Northwestern region of Vietnam, particularly in Hoa Binh province. It stands as a model for the emerging trend of "responsible tourism," cleverly blending the preservation of cultural heritage with community economic development, raising awareness of Muong ethnic cultural values while promoting green tourism and sustainable growth.
The provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 24 organised a conference to report on the results of collecting, researching, restoring, and preserving "Bi doi”, a musical instrument of the airophonic family and a traditional instrument of the Muong ethnic people in Da Bac district.
.jpg)
.jpg)
