If Tan Lac is considered the core of the cradle of Muong culture in Hoa Binh, Phong Phu commune is the cultural centre of Muong culture in Tan Lac district. Luy Ai hamlet in Phong Phu commune is where customs and traditions of Muong Bi are preserved. Luy Ai hamlet was chosen to build a space to preserve Muong ethnic culture. The district is seeking support from the province and coordinating with relevant agencies to devise a plan on preservation of Muong cultural spaces associated with developing tourism products and improving the lives of local residents.



Competent agencies of Hoa Binh province and Tan Lac district give feedback to the planning of Muong ethnic cultural conservation spaces in Phong Phu commune.


Previously, the ancient Muong village in Ai hamlet, Phong Phu commune has 34 households and 165 people, all of them are Muong people. In 2008, Ai hamlet was recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a typical traditional village of minority ethnic groups and a representative of Muong ethnic hamlet. It is also the oldest Muong village in Hoa Binh province which still maintains unique cultural traditions and the beauty of Muong ethnic culture. In 2017, Luy Ai hamlet was merged with Luy hamlet and renamed Luy Ai. Currently, Luy Ai hamlet has 207 households and 936 residents, with 97% of households being Muong people. Former Ai hamlet still retains 19 out of 34 traditional stilt houses, with the rest being stilt houses with concrete floor and single storey houses. Luy Ai hamlet is now a three-star community tourism destination, with two households offering homestay services. Local residents have utilised landscape and culture for developing community-based tourism, along with new-style rural area building. 

To preserve the cultural values of Muong Bi ethnic people, the provincial People's Committee assigned Tan Lac district to devise a plan on preservation of Muong ethnic cultural space associated with tourism, aiming to complete the planning dossier for reviewing and approval in the third quarter of this year. 

Dinh Anh Tuan, Secretary of the Tan Lac District Party Committee, said the district People’s Committee was asked to conduct a survey on current status, determine boundaries, scale of planning areas, select planning options, and estimate funding sources. The planned Muong ethnic cultural conservation space will cover about 125ha, includes a conservation area, a service area, a high-end hotel and area designated for organising festivals as well as residential zones, landscapes and nature reserve zones. 

According to the district People's Committee, the space is essential for preserving and promoting the distinctive cultural values of the Muong people associating with the development of unique tourism products based on cultural identity, environmental landscapes, and branding of Muong tourism, thereby sustainably improving the lives of residents. 

During an inspection on planned Muong ethnic cultural conservation space, Nguyen Phi Long, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee suggested Tan Lac district closely coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to ensure its quality and long-term vision in line with State regulations. Focus should be placed on preserving the traditional cultural values of the Muong people, the landscape, architecture, customs, way of life, intangible cultural heritage of households living in the former Ai hamlet. 

Attention should be paid to planning new items to expand tourism space; studying mechanisms and policies for mobilising investment resources for infrastructure; building and exploiting Muong cultural values for sustainable tourism development and improving residents' livelihoods, he said.


Related Topics


Hoa Binh province preserves and promotes Muong singing values

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.

Vibrant Gau Tao Festival of Mong community

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.

Mysterious ancient engravings in valley of My Thanh commune

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.

Hoa Binh works hard on cultural value preservation

Preserving and promoting unique cultural identities of ethnic communities in Hoa Binh province is considered a crucial task amid in the international integration trend.

Muong cultural heritage museum contributes to sustainable tourism development

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.

Efforts made to preserve Muong people’s “Bi doi” instrument

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.