(HBO) – Visiting Muong Vang land of Lac Son district at the beginning of the Lunar New Year, tourists will have a chance to experience festive atmosphere there, thus getting insights into the cultural identity of the locality.
Quoc Mau Hoang Ba (the title of a mother goddess) procession in the Khoi Communal House’s festival.
The festival of Khoi Communal House in An Nghia commune kick-started the spring festival season 2023 in Lac Son district.
The festival took place on January 26-27 (the 5th and 6th day of the first lunar month) with worshipping rituals and festive activities such as art performance, Muong gong performance, and many unique folk games of the Muong ethnic group.
On the occasion, the Khoi communal house was granted the province-level historical cultural relic certificate.
Meanwhile, the festival of Coi communal house in Vu Binh commune was held on January 28-29. Crowds of visitors flocked to this province-level historical cultural relic to join festive activities imbued with traditional cultural imprints of the locality.
Truong Thi Minh Thu, a visitor from Hanoi, said joining the festival helps her understand more about the traditional culture value of the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh.
According to statistics, Lac Son has 23 archaeological relics, cultural and historical relics. Khoi communal house in An Nghia commune, Coi communal house in Vu Binh commune, Thuong and Cay Da temples in Vu Ban town, and Bang temple in Ngoc Lau commune are associated with festivals imbued with religious values, becoming attractive destinations for visitors who are interested in culture and beliefs.
Many other festivals were also held in the first lunar month, including the Muong gong festival and the festival of Khenh communal house in Van Son district.
Head of the Culture and Information Office of Lac Son district Nguyen The Hung said besides the unique Muong culture, historical and cultural relics, and spiritual beliefs in the locality have also attracted tourists.
In recent years, the local authorities have paid special attention to upgrading and preserving historical and cultural relics, and places of worship to serve tourism development. Festive activities have contributed to preserving the cultural identity of all ethnic groups in the province./.
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.”
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.
The clothing of women reflects the culture of the Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao, and Mong ethnic groups in the northern province of Hoa Binh.
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.