(HBO) - There are 6 main ethnic groups living together in the province. Muong ethnic group is the largest, accounting for 63%; Kinh people account for 27.7%; Thai, Dao, Tay, Mong and other ethnic groups account for 9.3%. The ethnic groups have not only the common cultural characteristics and beliefs, but also the unique and diverse traditional culture and beliefs of each ethnic group. The majority of ethnic groups still retain the basic features in their national customs and beliefs. The heritage values of literature and art, language and hand writing are preserved; the folk knowledge and costumes are kept at an average level.
The women in Thinh Lang ward (Hoa Binh city) often use
gongs in important local festivals or events.
Over the past years, the appropriate uthorities have developed programs and action plans on the culture and conservation, promoting the values of the intangible cultural heritage. Specifically, up to now, they have invested in the restoration, embellishment, preservation and
construction of a traditional cultural village, dozens of cultural and
community villages at the provincial level; nearly 30
scientific topics on the culture and the ethnicity have been carried out; nearly 50
classes of folk art transmission, hundreds of ethnic minority literacy classes have been invested to be carried out; 59 festivals have been restored and maintained.
Based on the inventory results of the intangible cultural heritage of the ethnic groups in the province, from 2013 the Provincial Party Committee
and People's Committee have had a policy to allow to collect, research and set
up scientific record for 2 intangible cultural heritages, that is Mo Muong Hoa Binh and Muong Gong Hoa Binh, and they have asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to decide to recognize them in the list of the national intangible cultural heritage in 2016. The have set up the record for the intangible cultural heritage of Mo Muong Hoa Binh to submit to UNESCO as a typical intangible cultural
heritage in need of urgent protection.
Determining the the intangible cultural heritage of the Hoa Binh ethnic groups as the invaluable property left by the ancestors to the younger generation today and tomorrow, is the soul of the
national culture. The work of preserving and promoting the cultural heritages is of great importance in educating the young
generation about the national cultural and historical traditions. Besides, it
is also a means to introduce and promote the images, the land and the people for domestic and foreign tourists, creating conditions for the
implementation of Hoa Binh tourism development strategy, contributing to the growth of the province’s social economy. Recently, there have been positive signals about the conservation among the people such as the development of the traditional
festival system, the development of Muong gongs, the value of Mo Muong and the
role of the shaman are respected and honored by the people. There have been many classes of
teaching the hand writing of Dao, Tay, Thai,
and Mong ethnic people and how to perform Muong gongs and dancing..., expressing that the people's consciousness have had positive changes. People are proud of theỉ own intangible cultural values, so they have a sense of conservation and
promotion.
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.