(HBO) - The gongs in Muong land resounded, delighting thousands of people present at the stadium of Tan Lac district’s Phong Phu commune on the morning of the eighth day of the first lunar month. The Muong gong performance by 500 artisans and actists from four major Muong regions of Bi, Vang, Thang and Dong was the highlight in the art programme to celebrate the Khai ha (going down to the field) festival of the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province in 2023.
Artists in Phu Cuong
commune (Tan Lac) practice before entering the official competitions at Khai ha
(going down to the field) festival in 2023.
This year, the most important traditional festival, a
national intangible cultural heritage, of the Muong people in Hoa Binh was held
at the provincial level for the first time, attracting the participation of all
the four Muong regions. Many activities were held in honour of the unique
values of the Muong ethnic culture in general, and the group’s traditional
music in particular.
According to meritorious artist Bui Ngoc Thuan in Thu Phong
commune (Cao Phong), through the traditional musical genres, the soul of the
Muong ethnic group is expressed intact in contemporary life. like other Muong
regions, Muong Thang, his hometown, in recent years has actively preserved the
ethnic cultural identity with the determination to maintain and promote
traditional cultural values. Through many practical activities such as cultural
and artistic exchanges, organisation of inter-generational clubs, he said he
was pleased to see that the soul of the Muong ethnic culture has been preserved
and honoured. That is the solid spiritual foundation for generations of Hoa
Binh people to continue to build a new cultural life in their beautiful
homeland.
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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