HBO – For members of the Muong ethnic minority group, gongs are a valuable treasure and the soul of the region. They are preserved in every house and used in many major events in Hoa Binh province. In most of the cases, festivals are not started until the gongs sound.
Gong team in Ngoi hamlet, Ngoi Hoa commune,
Tan Lac district rehearses before participating in a team to pay Tet visits to local
households.
The
Muong ethnic group has 37 big festivals, of which 26 use gongs. Gong
performances have left deep impressions on locals and tourists. Gongs are
descended from one generation to another. Preserving ancient gongs and gong
performances is an important mission of every Muong ethnic. At present, the
province has more than 10,000 gongs.
Some
districts pioneered opening classes and inviting artisans to teach how to beat
gongs such as Kim Boi, Lac Son and Tan Lac. Each class has about 30
participants. In addition, to preserve the value of Muong gongs, local authorities
have stepped up disseminations, and encouraged and supported locals to develop
amateur art movements, thus attracting the participation of more than 2,000
locals who work as farmers, artists and communicators to make traditional gong
performances of the Muong ethnic group, contributing to the maintenance of the
sound of gongs.
During
the New Year festival, in each home, gongs are beaten to invite ancestors to return
home for Tet. The sound of gongs, combined with "sac bua” singing, heats up the
festive atmosphere. Normally, each gong team has 12 gongs symbolizing the 12
months in a year and is called a "Phuong bua”. Each "Phuong bua” is headed by
an old person called "trum phuong” who is an expert in gong types and knows
numerous Muong folk songs.
According
to the custom, "Phuong bua” plays gongs in its procession, visits each
household, and sings a song to wish the host prosperity. "Phuong bua” paying
Tet visits must be experts in gong beating. Girls must wear traditional
costumes of the Muong ethnic group. Gong performances used on this occasion are
cheerful and suitable for the spring atmosphere. An important thing is that
members of the gong team must have radiant faces and be well-spoken. When they
concentrate on gong beating, the sound will be attractive and pervasive,
according to Bui Thi Bach Kim in Cao Phong district’s Xuan Phong commune.
In
addition, the sound of the gong is a signal to open the region’s festival./.
On February 12th (i.e. Lunar January 15), the People's Committee of Hop Tien commune, Kim Boi district organized the Festival of Sim Pagoda Festival in At Ty Spring, 2025. The festival welcomed many people and tourists to visit the pagoda and enjoy the scenery.
The palanquin procession to Sim Pagoda.
As Hoa Binh province is set to host 115 spring festivals, local departments, sectors and localities are joining hands to ensure safety for the events.
In many major cultural events in Hanoi, the sound of the Muong people's gongs has become a special tone, contributing to the unique harmony that praises the cultural values accumulated over thousands of years along with the sacred soul of the capital city.
On the first day back to work and school after the Lunar New Year holiday, thousands of female officials, civil servants, and students from grade nine and above in Lac Son district proudly wore the traditional Muong attire. The vibrant brocade patterns created a striking cultural display, reinforcing the community's commitment to preserving and promoting their heritage.
The provincial-level Khai Ha festival 2025 of the Muong ethnic minority group took place at Phong Phu commune’s stadium in Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province on the morning of February 5 (the 8th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Snake).
"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.
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