Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province is endowed by nature with picturesque landscapes. It also boasts traditional culture and arts of local Thai, Muong, Mong, Dao ethnic minority groups to help the locality to develop tourism associated with cultural conservation and promotion.
The art of "keng loong” dance of the Thai ethnic group in Mai Chau district was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2023.
The art of folk dances and singing is an indispensable part of the ethnic minority groups’ culture. To date, ethnic dances and musical instruments still retain their values in the spiritual life of local ethnic people. The dances are restored at traditional festivals, mass cultural performances, and amateur art shows.
Khap singing artisan Ha Thi Bich in Xam Pa village shared that folk singing clubs not only bring spiritual significance and connect the community but also contribute to promoting and preserving the art of Thai ethnic’s folk singing, particularly among young generations.
Currently, Mai Chau district has 183 art groups, of which 138 teams have been established under decision of the district People's Committee. They have regularly organised exchanges and performances in communes and hamlets in the district, attracting the participation of a large number of people, creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere, promoting local socio-economic development.
In order to preserve and promote folk performing arts widely, every year, the district’s culture, sports and communication centre coordinates with relevant authorities to organise cultural and sports festivals among ethnic people such as Gau Tao festival of the Mong people, Xen Muong festival of the Thai people to help bolster exchanges and strengthen solidarity among ethnic groups in the locality.
To preserve the folk arts of all ethnic groups, in addition to the attention, leadership and direction of administrations at all levels, it is necessary to have the participation of people from all walks of life in preserving and promoting the values of national culture. This not only helps preserve traditional cultural beauty, but also contributes to promoting the image of Mai Chau and its people to domestic and foreign tourists.
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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