"Xuong Dong” (going to the field) festival opened in Yen Phu commune of Hoa Binh’s Lac Son district on February 5, or the eighth day of the Year of the Snake, drawing thousands of locals and visitors to partake in a variety of activities.


 Ritual offerings to the gods at the Mai Da Lang Vanh (the stone roof of Vanh village) special national relic site in Yen Phu commune, Lac Son district.

Revived in 2005, the "Xuong Dong” Festival, also known as the Yen Phu Khai Ha Festival, is held every three years and is closely linked to the archaeological site of Mai Da of Lang Vanh (the stone roof of Vanh village), which was officially recognised as a special national relic site. The festival aims to promote and raise awareness of the archaeological site's value, while also praying for a prosperous year with favourable weather, bountiful harvests, and good health for the people. It honours the gods and ancestors who cleared the land and taught the local community the art of rice farming.

The festival features a range of ceremonial rites, including offerings at Mai Da Lang Vanh and the New Year ploughing ritual. Following major rituals, Yen Phu residents participated in a variety of cultural activities, performances, sports, and traditional games, including a Muong ethnic costume contest, tug-of-war, the traditional game of "danh mang” (bringing "mang” seeds into holes), and "day gay” (stickpushing).

Meanwhile, in Vu Binh commune of Lac Son, from February 3–5 (the 6th-8th day of the Lunar New Year), the Coi communal house festival was celebrated on a local scale. According to Muong ethnic folklore and the accounts of village elders, Coi communal house was built in the early 19th century, located near the foot of Mount Khu Bay, in the Coi Khua rice fields. The house has the traditional Muong stilt house style, with three main rooms, two side rooms, and six stone-supported columns. Its thatched roof spans around 8 metres in length, 5 metres in width, and 7 metres in height, featuring a main entrance, a side door, and seven smaller openings. The temple’s floor is raised 1.4 metres above the ground, facing south. The structure primarily uses wood.

The primary deities worshipped at Coi communal house include Queen Mother Hoang Ba, King Ca (Saint Tan), King Cun, King Hai (Cao Son and Quy Minh Lords), the tutelary gods, and the village’s ancestral spirits.


 A Muong gong performance during the Coi communal house festival Vu Binh commune of Lac Son.

The communal house festival, held annually, is a way for the community to express gratitude to Queen Mother Hoang Ba and Saint Tan Vien for saving the people from severe floods, teaching them how to farm, raise livestock, weave, and ensure the prosperity and well-being of the village.

In addition to rituals such as processions, offerings, and the "Com moi” (new rice) ceremony, the festival creates a vibrant and festive atmosphere, featuring activities like song contests, a Muong ethnic costume display, local OCOP (One Commune - One Product) product booths, volleyball competitions, and popular folk games such as tug-of-war, "danh mang”, rope skipping, and "nem con” (throwing the cloth balls).


Related Topics


Promoting Hoa Binh cultural heritage values: Part 3 - Reviving traditional values

Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.

Exploring Hoa Binh Culture

The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.

Promoting Hoa Binh cultural heritage values: Part 2 - Rich cultural heritage in Vietnam’s northwest gateway

Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.

Receiving the certificate of the historical and cultural site at the provincial level for Sau Communal House, Thanh Cao Commune

The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.

Motivation for community to enhance cultural heritage preservation

Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.

A journey through time: Exploring rich history, formation of Hoa Binh province: Article 1: Major features of Hoa Binh province formation

Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.