In the aesthetic concept of the Mong people, a woman's beauty is partly reflected through her clothes. In Mai Chau district, there are two communes inhabited by the Mong ethnic people, namely Hang Kia and Pa Co, with a combined population of over 6,000. Despite the strong development of the society, the cultural identity, notably traditional costumes, of local people is still preserved and promoted.
Mong ethnic costumes are regularly
used by locals, contributing to the attractiveness of community-based tourism
in Pa Co commune (Mai Chau).
As a local, besides working as a preschool
teacher, Sung Y Do in Cha Day hamlet, Pa Co commune, is also very passionate
about preserving traditional culture, especially linen weaving, fabric dyeing,
sewing, and embroidering costumes. She also shows her love for ethnic costumes
through her habit of wearing them at school and in her daily life.
In recent years, thanks to the promotion of
potential and strengths of natural resources and human resources, the two
communes have become attractive destinations for domestic and foreign tourists.
Local Party committees and authorities have paid attention to maintaining the
organisation of festivals and cultural, art and sport activities to attract
locals to preserving cultural identity and ethnic costumes associated with
promoting community-based tourism development.
As a result, people use traditional
costumes more and more commonly. Many Mong women still wear traditional dresses
while working. On market days, holidays, and Tet, people wear their best
outfits to go out to festivals. In Pa Co commune, there is a traditional
brocade weaving village that maintains its activities, helping visitors
experience stages of making costumes. Another interesting destination in the
commune is Mong Space, Cha Day hamlet, where many traditional costumes that
have been used for hundreds of years are on display to introduce and promote
their beauty, and gradually turn the costumes of the Mong ethnic people in Mai
Chau district into a unique tourism product.
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.