(HBO) – An interesting cultural relic of the Mong ethnic group in the northwestern region of Vietnam is that of the "ném pao” or ball throwing. It is not merely a folk game but represents much more to the ethnic traditions of the Mong. Nem Pao is a unique form of partnership and happiness that can lead to much more for ethnic Mong couples.
Mong ethnic women in Hang Kia commune,
Mai Chau district are throwing the ball (Nem Pao) on a spring day.
Images of Mong women busily sewing the last stiches on clothes and colourful
pao flow into the spotlight as visitors drop by the Hang Kia and Pa Co communes
in Mai Chau district. Colourful pao is made from linen cloth, stuffed with
flaxseed. According to Mong ethnic beliefs, the linen and flax balls are
colorful symbols of happiness and represent fertility and future partnership
within the community.
Pao making has been passed down through generations. Trumpet and khen (pan-pipe)
dances help men to find their partner, and pao are the equivalent symbol of
partnership for women.
A simple game, pao throwing carries great cultural value in that it allows men
and women to introduce and meet each other around the pao symbol of happiness.
The cultural phenomenon results in couples first meeting and transitioning into
becoming husbands and wives.
According to Sung Thi Mua, a local in Hang Kia hamlet, Hang Kia commune, it is
the Mong ethnics’ tradition that women should yield their paos in the spring to
start a season of fertility and partnership.
"We are passing down the making of pao and ball throwing festivities to younger
generations, and in doing so, perpetuate the Mong cultural traditions”, Mua
said.
Sung Y Mai, a brocade weaving artisan in Hang Kia commune, said Mong men want
to marry a woman who is good at weaving, embroidery and sewing pao.
"A good Mong woman must know how to make a good pao”, she said, explaining a
good pao must have tight stitches and it should be the perfect shape.
Nem
Pao is held at the yard of the local cultural houses or at the pitch, during
which two teams, each with three-to-ten men or women, throw the linen ball and
ensure it does not fall to the ground. While playing, women and men exchange
glances, smiles, and affection. After the game, if the woman and man feel the
love, the man will keep her pao and express his admiration on a subsequent
visit to her home. The goal, of course, is a lifelong partnership between them,
based on sewing skill and enjoying the cultural festivities together.
Nowadays,
life in Mong villages has changed drastically. The Mong people are paying due
attention to preserving their cultural values by integrating traditional games
into extra-curricular activities at the local schools.
According to Vang Y Sai, a teacher of Hang Kia Primary and Secondary School, in
a bid to preserve and develop folk games, the school carries out a wide range
of measures to encourage both students and parents to join folk games on regular
afternoons.
Together with ball throwing, other folk games like "đánh yến” (rooster feather
shuttlecocks), tu lu (traditional version of spinning tops), "đẩy gậy” (stick
pushing) and "ném còn” (còn throwing) have been well preserved by the Mong
ethnic in Mai Chau.
The games are not only a vivid illustration of Mong men’s strength and bravery
and the skillfulness of Mong women, but they also raise hope for a happy and
prosperous life./.
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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