Suoi Ben is a remote village located about 40km away from Luong Son town, bordering Kim Boi district, with the majority of its households being Dao.
Phung Thi Thanh, who resides in Suoi Ben village, Lien Son commune, Luong Son district still preserves the traditional embroidery of Dao ethnic people.
A new cultural house was built in Suoi Ben village last year with funding from the National Target Programme for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas. Covering an area of 180 sq.m, the project had a total investment of 1.3 billion VND (about 52,900 USD). Of which, 1.1 billion VND came from the State budget and the rest was raised among the community through labour contribution.
Duong Tai Phu, secretary of the village’s party cell said the village is home to 70 households with a population of 300. The main source of income for local residents comes from forest and agricultural production. Previously, its cultural house was too small, so village meetings or community activities had to be held at the village chief’s house or those with larger houses. This inconvenience made it difficult to carry out many tasks, especially the dissemination of the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State, which require gathering people in one place.
Dinh Manh Dong, an official of the Ethnic Affairs Division of Luong Son district, said as a district that has been recognised as meeting new-style rural standards, Luong Son prioritises investment in the most disadvantaged villages. Suoi Ben villagers contributed workday to build a new cultural house, along with support from the State budget, he said, elaborated that it was put into use in November last year, creating favourable conditions for community activities.
Duong Tai Chinh, a local resident, said that since the cultural house was put into use, it has hosted numerous cultural and sports events, along with meetings and dissemination campaigns to raise legal awareness among ethnic minority people, thus contributing to strengthening community bond. It also serves as a playground for children in the village to organise recreation activities, he added.
The secretary of the village’s party cell said that thanks to the new cultural house, organisation of community activities has become more convenient, therefore fostering connection among residents and encouraging them to actively pursue socio-economic development and sustainable poverty reduction.
Hoa Binh’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 18, hosted a conference to present the outcomes of a research study on the traditional costumes of the Muong ethnic group.
Along with the activities of Project 6 - the national target programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas for the 2021 – 2026 period, efforts to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in Lac Son district have received additional momentum.
In the context of globalisation and deeper integration, preserving and promoting the national cultural identity is of utmost importance. Aware of their pioneering and proactive role on all fronts, over the years, the youth organisations at all levels in Hoa Binh province have implemented various concrete and practical activities to preserve and promote the cultural identities of ethnic groups in the locality.
Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province is home to seven ethnic groups, six of which are minorities. The cultural identities of the ethnic minority groups have been preserved well. One of the district’s effective preservation efforts is the establishment of a cultural preservation club at the Mai Chau Boarding Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minority Groups.
Within the framework of Project 6 on preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development, Lac Son district of Hoa Binh province organised a training programme and experimental competition of "danh mang” – a folk game played by the Muong ethnic group during their festivals – on November 26-27.
The Muong ethnic minority community, with a nationwide population of over 1.4 million, are primarily concentrated in Hoa Binh province, which is home to more than 500,000 Muong people who make up over 63% of the locality's total population. The promotion of the Muong language and script is crucial for preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Muong people, as well as bolstering socio-economic development, thus contributing to the effective implementation of the national target programme on boosting the socio-economic development of ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous regions.
