With love and passion for the rich ethnic cultural heritage, Do Hung from Hoa Binh city's Trung Minh ward, currently working at a provincial administrative agency, has delved into studying the unique fermentation process of the ancient Muong people. He has revived the traditional method of making leaf liquor, creating exquisite beverages imbued with the aromatic flavours and cultural essence of the Muong people's cuisine.

Hung (far right) introduces the production process of
Muong leaf liquor.
Sharing his story, Hung recounted an impressive
encounter during a business trip to a remote highland commune where he had an
opportunity to taste a unique distilled liquor made from fermented leaves, a
cherished tradition among the locals. Intrigued by its distinct taste, he
discovered that it was a traditional Muong leaf liquor, distilled only on
significant occasions such as ceremonies and festivals due to its complex
process. Driven by a desire to preserve and promote the culinary cultural
heritage of traditional Muong leaf liquor, he embarked on a journey of research
and exploration, scouring ancient texts and visiting various local Muong areas
to unlock the secrets of production, bringing this precious liquor to
consumers' hands.
Continuing alongside local residents, Hung
collected leaves and herbs, presenting them to traditional medicine
practitioners, cultural researchers, and herbalists in and outside the province
to determine their names in the herbal medicine directory and their medicinal
properties. After tireless research and experiments, Hung successfully
recreated the traditional method. His exquisite leaf liquor has been warmly
received by customers within and beyond the province.
Hung's dedication extends beyond reviving the
beverage itself. He actively supported the establishment of the Thach Yen
cooperative in Thach Yen commune, Cao Phong district. The cooperative offers
four product lines, namely Thach Yen sugarcane liquor, Yen Thuong sticky rice
liquor, Yen Thuong sticky rice with golden flower liquor, and the signature
leaf liquor made from fermented sticky rice. All products have been recognised
as meeting the local One Commune, One Product (OCOP) 3-star and 4-star
standards.
To meet the stringent market requirements, the
Thach Yen cooperative boldly embraced technology, investing in modern equipment
for production in most stages, from yeast cultivation, mold formation,
fermentation, distillation, purification, and aging to packaging. With a
long-term sustainable development orientation, the cooperative will transfer
technology and establish traditional liquor production villages, fostering
local socio-economic development while creating job opportunities./.
In Lac Thuy district, communes have been succeeded in promoting their One Commune-One Product (OCOP) products while others are still struggling to position their typical farming products in market. Some communes in the district still fail to have their products met OCOP programme’s requirements, while others have seen their certifications expired.
The inspectorate agency of Hoa Binh province has issued Official Dispatch No. 1090/TTr-PCTN to provincial departments, agencies, localities, business associations, enterprises, and investors regarding measures to improve informal component indexes of the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI).
Hoa Binh is taking concrete steps to improve its investment environment, with a strong focus on supporting businesses, settling obstacles for strategic investors, and creating opportunities for robust development in the coming years.
Under the blazing early summer sun, the construction site of Nhuan Trach Industrial Park (IP) in Luong Son district is abuzz with activities from dawn to dusk, a testament to the determination of the investor to meet their construction targets on schedule.