The ancient Muong area of Muong Dong – Kim Boi is experiencing a cultural resurgence, becoming a popular source of spiritual enrichment and drawing locals from walks of life.
Kim Boi district prioritises teaching of
traditional culture to younger generations
Cultural and art activities have flourished not
only in Vinh Dong commune but across the district, fully meeting local creative
and recreational needs. Traditional folk performances such as Muong gong
ensemble performances, and folk songs and dances of the Muong and Dao ethnic
groups, as well as Mo Muong rituals and other spiritual activities in
festivals, are being increasingly preserved and promoted. The annual Muong Dong
festival, held on the 8th day of the Lunar New Year in Vinh Dong commune,
attracts numerous amateur performers to cultural activities, processions, and
gong performances.
Having recorded these achievements, yet
community-based cultural and art activities are facing hurdles such as limited
funding, lack of land for cultural houses, recreational spaces, and training
grounds, as well as inadequate infrastructure and equipment, especially in
remote areas.
Looking ahead, Kim Boi district plans to enhance
the leadership and direction of Party Committees and local authorities in
promoting grassroots cultural activities. Key focuses include improving the
quality of community cultural life through the movement for national solidarity
in building cultural lifestyles, completing cultural facilities and supporting the
formation of cultural and art clubs and performance troupes, promoting
traditional folk arts to create cultural products rich in ethnic identity;
effective management, planning, training, and nurturing of staff responsible
for cultural affairs; proposing policies and investment levels for public art
activities, and arranging specialised training and political education for
artists and folk artisans, renewing the activities of relevant clubs and
professional associations to unify and inspire creativity among artists and
artisans, while encouraging public engagement in preserving and passing down
traditional cultural values.
Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province, is widely regarded as the cultural heartland of the Muong ethnic group. Among its many traditional communities, Luy Ai hamlet (formerly Ai hamlet) stands out as a rare location where the customs and way of life of the Muong Bi people remain largely intact.
The Truong Kha temple festival, a distinctive cultural event held every three years in Vu Ban township, Lac Son district, returned recently with vibrant rituals and folk traditions of the Muong people. Located next to the Buoi River in the Muong Trao fields, the Truong Kha Temple is dedicated to the three Kun Dol deities, revered for teaching farming techniques, irrigation, weaving, and protecting the harvest.
The demand for spaces serving community activities of residents in various areas across Hoa Binh city has been satisfied as local cultural houses now feature modern, spacious facilities thanks to the effective implementation of Resolution No. 49/NQ-HDND issued on December 28, 2021 by the city People's Council, which approved the plan for reorganising, converting, and allocating land for the construction, repair, and expansion of cultural houses in Hoa Binh’s villages and residential areas until 2025.
At the end of May, the Hoa Binh Provincial Ethnic Arts Troupe organized a series of performances for residents in Region 2 and Region 3 communes across the province. Bringing art to ethnic communities in remote, isolated, and especially disadvantaged areas has become a meaningful activity. These are not merely artistic performances but also journeys to disseminate cultural values, enrich spiritual life, and contribute to preserving the cultural identity of ethnic minorities.