Promoting traditional attire of Muong people

2/11/2025 - 5:56:02 PM

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.

1,050 women wear the Muong attire in a traditional dance performance at Lac Son Stadium to welcome 2025.

According to Vice Chairman of the Lac Son People’s Committee Bui Van Duong, traditional attires reflect the customs, traditions, and unique cultural traits of ethnic groups. Home to over 157,000 people, Lac Son district is predominantly Muong, making up 92% of its population.

The district People’s Committee on January 22 sent a document to agencies, schools, and organisations, encouraging the use of the Muong attire during festivals, Tet celebrations, and the first working day of the new year, thus raising public awareness of the preservation work.

Bui Thu Thuy, President of the Tan Lap commune Women’s Union, shared her pride to showcase the beauty of the Muong attire while promoting a vibrant and healthy cultural life. It also reflects the image of modern Muong women strong, confident, and dedicated to their families and society, she added.

In recent times, the provincial authorities have actively implemented the project on preserving and promoting the traditional attires of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities. Efforts to encourage and integrate traditional dress into daily life have been strengthened, ensuring its practical application across agencies, organisations, and localities.

Additionally, the project on preserving and enhancing the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities in connection with tourism development, part of the 2021-2025 national target programme on socio-economic development in ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas, has been carried out with various meaningful activities.

These include training sessions and experimental competitions in Muong ethnic bamboo rafting, traditional Muong singing, as well as performances of sac bua rituals. Wearing traditional Muong attire has also been made a mandatory aspect of these cultural events.

Throughout the first lunar month, numerous cultural, artistic, and sports programmes celebrating the New Year have taken place across the district. The widespread embrace of the traditional Muong dress by people of all backgrounds has reinforced it as a cultural symbol, helping to revive and honour the rich heritage of ethnic minority communities.

Headscarf in Muong women's clothing

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.

Coi communal house festival showcases unique Muong culture

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.