The Muong people account for over 63% of the population in Hoa Binh province. Over the time, the ethnic group has innovated and preserved its rich and diverse folk culture. Within this cultural background, there is a prominent, unique, and deeply humanistic art form known as Mo Muong.
To preserve and
promote the cultural heritage of Mo Muong, Hoa Binh province, in coordination
with other localities, is compiling a national dossier for the art to be
included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent
Safeguarding.
Mo practitioners perform rituals at the Khai ha (going down to the
field) festival of the Muong people in 2023.
Bui Van Rum, a Mo practitioner from Rom Co hamlet, Thuong Coc commune,
Lac Son district, talks about Khot, tools used in Mo Muong performance.
Mo Muong reflects the unique worldview and cosmology of the Muong ethnic group,
containing profound educational significance for the community. It is
associated with folk rituals imbued with sacred elements used in funerals or
ceremonies to wish for the best for the Muong people.
Over the time, Mo Muong has been diminished, and many traditional values of the
art are gradually fading away. Mo Muong in Hoa Binh is undergoing significant
changes, including both new and positive aspects. However, it still holds an
important position in the spiritual life of locals.
Bui Van Noi, a researcher and meritorious artisan from Phong Phu commune, Tan
Lac district, highlighted epic, art, language, moral and spiritual values of Mo
Muong.
Since 2010, the province has taken specific solutions to preserve Mo Muong,
including the establishment of five clubs in Lac Son, Tan Lac, Cao Phong, Yen
Thuy, and Kim Boi districts.
In addition, the title of people's and meritorious artisans conferred to Mo
practitioners has encouraged them to work harder to preserve and promote the
heritage values of the art.
In 2015, Hoa Binh received the sponsorship of the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO
Associations for its Mo Muong. One year later, the Ministry of Culture, Sports
and Tourism issued a decision bringing it into the national intangible cultural
heritage list. In 2020, the Prime Minister ordered building a dossier for Mo
Muong to seek the UNESCO recognition.
The provincial People’s Committee issued a plan dated November 25, 2021, on
coordination in building the dossier, and established steering and organising
committees for the work.
Dr. Pham Minh Huong, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Musicology, said the
dossier has been completed and presented to competent authorities in line with
regulations, noting the inclusion is expected to facilitate the preservation
work.
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.
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