Xen Muong festival impression

2/29/2024 - 11:26:25 AM

The Xen Muong festival was held on a district-wide scale this year. It was even more special because the event of receiving the certificate of National Intangible Cultural Heritage for the social practice and belief of Keng Loong took place within the festival space.

Residents of Tong Dau commune showcase the Keng Loong ritual at Xen Muong festival.

The Xen Muong festival is held annually in spring in Chieng Chau commune, considered the first capital and the origin of the Thai people who migrated from Lao Cai’s Bac Ha to Mai Chau in the 13th century. Through historical upheavals, generations of Thai tribal leaders have played a significant role alongside the population in cultivating and establishing villages and hamlets.

From the early hours, the Bon village shrine in Chieng Chau commune saw a bustling crowd of locals and tourists offering incense. Prior to this, ritual masters conducted solemn ceremonies, inviting village elders and envoys to partake in the festivities, receiving heartfelt offerings from the villagers. The ritual praised the patriotic spirit, expressing profound reverence and gratitude to the ancestors, seeking favourable weather and national prosperity, ensuring abundance for all.

Vice Chairman of the Mai Chau district People’s Committee Hoang Duc Minh said Xen Muong festival is a cherished folk tradition and cultural practice deeply ingrained in the local community. Through organising the festival, the aim is to honour the cultural identity of the ethnic community, and promote and introduce the history, cultural and tourism potential, contributing to developing a healthy cultural and spiritual life, and fostering a joyful and vibrant atmosphere at the onset of the Year.

In addition to the captivating Keng loong performances, the festival atmosphere was further enlivened by a variety of communal activities, including folk costume contests and cultural exchanges, culinary competitions, and traditional ethnic sports tournaments. The event attracted thousands of domestic and international tourists. Nguyen Hai Quang, a tourist from Hanoi, enthusiastically shared: "I look forward to returning to Mai Chau to experience more of its traditional beauty and the wonderful cultural heritage that the locals are diligently preserving and promoting".

3.6 Billion VND Allocated to Preserve Traditional Cultural Values of Ethnic Minorities in Lạc Sơn District

As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."

Mobilizing the power to preserve and promote the cultural heritage values

After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.