The Government Office with Document No. 2082/VPCP-KGVX, dated March 29, 2024, sent out the opinion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha regarding the submission of the "Mo Muong" and "Cheo art" dossiers to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Mo master Shaman Bui Van Rum from Rom Co hamlet, Thuong Coc commune, Lac Son district, introduces a set of items used for rituals.
Specifically, along with the "Cheo art", considering the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST), the assessment opinion of the National Cultural Heritage Council on requesting permission and submitting the national dossier "Mo Muong" for consideration and registration on UNESCO's Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Deputy PM Ha expressed the following opinion:
Agree to submit to UNESCO for consideration and inclusion of the "Mo Muong" intangible cultural heritage, covering the provinces of Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Son La, and Dak Lak, and Hanoi city, into the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding; authorise the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to sign the documents as required.
The Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO will preside over and coordinate with the MoCST to carry out necessary procedures to submit heritage dossiers to UNESCO, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and cultural heritage laws.
Mo Muong is a folk performance activity expressed in rituals associated with the spiritual life of the Muong people. The space for performing ritual activities and the mo chants takes place in community life and within each family organising a ceremony. The practitioners of Mo Muong are Mo masters who speak, recite, and sing mo chants during rituals. Mo Muong comprises many mo chants and sections used in specific ceremonies.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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