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./.
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.
.jpg)
