(HBO) - The Muong Thang new crop festival opened on February 10 in Dung Phong commune, Cao Phong district of the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh.
A unique gong performance
at the Muong Thang newcrop festival
The Muong Thang newcrop festival, also called the ploughing festival,
includes the ritual and festive activities. The rituals take place at the shrine of Dong Nhat hamlet, where the
village’s tutelary gods are worshipped. They include the palanquin procession
from the shrine to the place where the festival is held and vice versa. The procession
is solemnly held with flags, parasols and offerings with the participation of the
elderly, monks and crowds of local people.
The festive activities include folk
games such as ‘con’ ball throwing, duck catching and other sports, as well as a
singing contest, gong and folk music performances which are deeply imbued with the
Muong people’s cultural identity.
The festival offers a chance for
locals to express their gratitude towards and respect for gods who contributed
to forming the Muong land. Through the festival, local residents pray for a happy
and successful New Year, with positive achievements in socio-economic
development.
It is also a good opportunity
for Muong Thang people to meet and join together in exchange activities, thus tightening
the solidarity in the community./.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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