(HBO) - From February 12th to 13th (i.e, January 12th and 13th of the lunar calendar), the People's Committee of Van Son commune (Lac Son) held the Festival of Ken Communal House in 2022.

The spiritual rituals of Khenh
communal house are fully implemented.
Located at the foot of Khu Khenh
mountain, Khenh communal house worships the ancestors who have contributed to
Muong ethnic people, helping Muong Khen people to be peaceful with good crops,
helping the people, to be healthy and the animals breeding. The legend tells
that Ngo invaders came to invade Muong land in the past, Mr. Chuong Tin - Ms.
Trieu An used Khu Kheh mountain as a base to recruit Muong soldiers and train
them, then they brought the troops to fight against Ngo invaders. They defeated
the enemy and killed them. They decapitated the enemy general's heads and
brought them to Khu Khenh to sacrifice to heaven and earth. Later, they turned
into Khu Khen. Muong people remember their merits, so they set up a communal
house to worship. The worshiping figures in the communal house include Mr.
Truong Tin, Ms. Trieu An and the village gods...
Being restored and held annually
since 2018, the Festival of Khenh Communal House in 2022 - the traditional
event of folk belief of the People of ethnic groups in the area is held
separately for the ceremony, not for the festival part as every year in order
to ensure the prevention and control of Covid-19 epidemics. However, it can
maintain and promote the values of the traditional cultural identity of Muong
ethnic group. In addition to fully performing the spiritual rituals, the
organizing committee conductes the ceremony of bestowing lucky rice at the
beginning of the year with the desire to bring luck, fortune and wealth to the
families.
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.