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Held every three years, the swing festival in Muong Voi, Vu Ban town in Lac Son district is "one-of-a-kind". From the 5th to the 7th day of the first lunar month in the Year of the Dragon, thousands of residents and tourists flocked to the locality to experience the unique cultural festival.
Visitors join the swing festival in the Lunar New Year Festival 2024.
Accordingto thelegendpassed down by the local elderly, gods
worshipped at the Cay Si temple were credited with teaching people of Muong Voi
how to cultivate fields, build embankments to control water flow, and conduct
water to fields. They also taught the people how to cultivate rice, and cotton
for weaving fabric. In gratitude for the merits and teachings of the gods,
residents built a temple to worship them.
The Muong village usually holds the swing festival immediately after completing
rituals at the Cay Si temple to invite the gods to join them.
The two old people start the game first. Following them, a young couple chosen
by villagers will join in, marking the beginning of the festival. Winning teams
are usually couples that have the same mindset, strength, courage, and
confidence.
Nguyen Duc Giang, a tourist from Nam Dinh province, said the festival offers a
chance for him to experience and immerse himself in the festive atmosphere in
the locality.
In addition to swinging, visitors can also join many other
unique folk games of the Muong ethnic people, such as tug-of-war, and Nem con
(shuttlecock throwing). Notably, this year's Muong Voi swing festival featured a Muong gong performance
by 150 artisans, a "dum” singing performance by elderly artisans, and an art
exchange night.
According to Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Vu Ban town Bui Thi
Thi, the festival is a pride of locals in particular and those in Lac Son
district in general.
Along with others, this unique festival has contributed to preserving and
promoting the unique historical and cultural value and heritage of the Muong
ethnic group, and attracting visitors to the locality.
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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