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.
Authorities in Luong Son district have officially recognised Sau communal house in Thanh Cao commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic site.
Hoa Binh province, renowned as the cradle of the Muong ethnic group and the celebrated Hoa Binh Civilisation, boasts rich and distinctive cultural heritage. Numerous local traditions and cultural assets have been recognised as part of the national tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
With flexibilities in preserving heritage in recent years, the Museum of Hoa Binh province has contributed to preserving and promoting the diverse historical and cultural values of the ethnic minority groups in the province.
In recent years, Hoa Binh has prioritised cultural diplomacy as a tool to promote the local image and cultural identity nationally and internationally. Cultural heritage preservation efforts and cultural exchanges have so far played a key role in driving sustainable tourism growth.
The headscarf worn by Muong women is called ‘bit tlooc’ (in the Muong language, ‘tlooc’ refers to the head, meaning the cloth worn on the head of a Muong woman). Nowadays, many Muong people do not fully understand that, in addition to its practical function of protecting the hair from dust, the ‘bit tlooc’ also carries messages and meanings that the ancestors left for future generations.
Held biennially on the seventh and eighth days of the Lunar New Year, the Coi communal house festival in Vu Binh commune, Lac Son district, honours Hoang Ba Quoc Mau, her sons - King Cun and King Hai - along with local deities who contributed to agricultural and social development. Beyond its spiritual significance, the festival offers visitors an immersive experience of Muong ethnic culture.
The Hoa Binh Cooperative Alliance held a New Year meeting with its member cooperatives on February 25 to review past achievements and outline future goals.
The Khai Ha (Going down to the field) Festival of the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province is a vibrant cultural event that draws thousands of local people and tourists each year. Held in Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district, this festival is deeply rooted in the spiritual and agricultural traditions of the Muong people.
On February 9, at Hoa Binh Conference Center, the Provincial Literature and Arts Association organized the 23rd Vietnam Poetry Day in 2025 with the theme "The bright land of Poetry”. The event has attracted the participation of many artists, artisans, poetry clubs and poetry lovers in the province, along with other artists from Hoa Binh who are living and composing outside the province and the representatives of some Central Professional Associations from Hanoi.
From February 9th to 13th (i.e. Lunar January 12th to 16th), in Yen Tri Commune, Yen Thuy District A Cultural Week was organized to celebrate the Party and At Ty Spring, 2025 with a series of the cultural, artistic, sports and culinary festival activities.
On February 9th, i.e. the 12th of Lunar January, the People's Committee of Van Son Commune (Lac Son) organized the opening ceremony of the Festival of Khenh Communal House of the Year of the Snake 2025. There was the attendance of the delegates from the districts and the city in the province, along with a large number of tourists and the local people.
On February 12th (i.e. Lunar January 15), the People's Committee of Hop Tien commune, Kim Boi district organized the Festival of Sim Pagoda Festival in At Ty Spring, 2025. The festival welcomed many people and tourists to visit the pagoda and enjoy the scenery.
The palanquin procession to Sim Pagoda.
As Hoa Binh province is set to host 115 spring festivals, local departments, sectors and localities are joining hands to ensure safety for the events.
In many major cultural events in Hanoi, the sound of the Muong people's gongs has become a special tone, contributing to the unique harmony that praises the cultural values accumulated over thousands of years along with the sacred soul of the capital city.
On the first day back to work and school after the Lunar New Year holiday, thousands of female officials, civil servants, and students from grade nine and above in Lac Son district proudly wore the traditional Muong attire. The vibrant brocade patterns created a striking cultural display, reinforcing the community's commitment to preserving and promoting their heritage.
The provincial-level Khai Ha festival 2025 of the Muong ethnic minority group took place at Phong Phu commune’s stadium in Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province on the morning of February 5 (the 8th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Snake).