Traditional cultural values of Muong people have been preserved well in Chien hamlet, Van Son commune, Tan Lac district.
Located about 4 km away from the commune’s centre and at an altitude of 800 m above sea level, Chien hamlet is known as a peaceful and beautiful Muong village.
Villagers in Chien hamlet perform a Muong dance to serve tourists at Hai Than homestay.
Visitors to Chien hamlet are much impressed by the simple beauty of the stilt houses in a spacious highland scenery and the hospitality of local villagers. Tran Tuan Viet, a tourist from Hanoi said that local people are so friendly and sociable. During his two-day stay in the hamlet, he enjoyed the fresh air, explored Nam Son cave, contemplated three ancient lychee trees, and particularly he had a chance to try delicious local food.
In 2019, Chien hamlet received financial support from the Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific to implement the project "Improving Sustainable Livelihoods through Community-based Tourism Development". Under the project, three households in the hamlet were chosen to develop homestay services namely Hai Than, Xuan Truong, and Thu Bi homestays.
Doing community-based tourism, villagers are engaged more in preserving cultural identities to create attractive products to visitors. Ha Van Hun, Secretary of the Chien hamlet Party cell, said that the hamlet is home to nearly 80 households with about 400 people, most of them are from the Muong ethnic group. Local people mostly do farming work.
Since the community-based tourism model was developed in the hamlet, local people have paid more attention to promoting cultural identity, especially in communications, customs, and costumes. They also care more about protecting the environment and keeping village roads/alleys bright and clean.
Being formed later than other community tourism destinations in the district and province, Chien hamlet quickly became one of the most popular tourist destinations thanks to its advantages in weather and culture.
Coming to the hamlet, tourists can visit the national scenic spot Nam Son cave, the relic site of Nui Kien cave, and learn about biodiversity and natural landscapes. The hamlet is also home to a vast ancient tangerine hill which turns more attractive during harvest season at the end of the year.
Visitors can also explore the Van Son market fair, which takes place every Tuesday and offers agricultural products such as Bac Son purple garlic, Quyet Chien off-season vegetables and fruits, herbs, wild bamboo shoots, tea, chicken, Ngo Luong native pig, and Huop Lung Van wine.
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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