Late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s view on culture has served as the lodestar and a source of encouragement for Hoa Binh in cultural development.
Many cultural
houses have been completed and put into operation in Hoa Binh. In photo: The
cultural house of Doi hamlet in Tay Phong commune, Cao Phong district.
Hoa Binh is home to the six ethnic groups of Muong, Dao, Tay, Thai, Kinh, and
Mong, with the Muong accounting for more than 64% of the local population. Each
of the groups has its own cultural traits, contributing to the province’s
unique cultural tapestry. Over the past years, the province has continued allocating resources to
cultural development.
Cultural preservation, promotion – a key
task
The resolution adopted at 17th provincial Party Congress sets the task of
preserving and promoting the unique culture of ethnic minority groups in tandem
with tourism development, and seeking the dossier of Mo Muong to be included in
the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Quach Thi Kieu, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and
Tourism, said local cultural values and heritage have been both preserved and
nurtured.
Numerous cultural activities have been scaled up, generating new products and
values in service of local residents and visitors alike.
Notably, in 2023, the province launched a project aimed at preserving and
promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group and the Hoa Binh
civilisation for the 2023-2030 period. With a total funding of over 500 billion
VND (201,249 USD), this initiative provides significant resources to advance
the cultural sector.
joining hands in cultural development
Following the direction of the Standing Board of the provincial Party
Committee, various departments, agencies, and localities in Hoa Binh have
focused on cultural development.
Despite a host of challenges, Tinh villagers in Tu Ly commune, the mountainous
district of Da Bac, have joined hands in building a cultural house, and
supported the locality’s cultural development policy.
Dinh Van Khuyen’s family has donated hundreds of square metres of land for the
construction of the cultural house. Inspired by his family, many others have
also donated land, workdays, and materials to the project.
A gateway to Hanoi, Luong Son district stands out for its efforts in mobilising
the engagement of different economic sectors in cultural development, turning
itself into a fourth-tier urban area.
Nguyen Duc Dung, Secretary of the district Party Committee, noted that in
recent years, the locality has intensified the movement "All people stay united
to build new-style rural areas and civilised urban areas”.
Vo Ngoc Kien, head of the provincial Party Committee's Information and
Education Board, said such efforts have help create resources for cultural
activities and raise public awareness of the cultural development in 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.