Sound of Muong gongs echoes in Hanoi

2/11/2025 - 5:57:04 PM

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.

Members of the culture, arts, and sports club for the elderly in Hamlet 5, Yen Binh commune, Hanoi's Thach That district regularly practice playing Muong gongs, contributing to the preservation of the nation’s cultural heritage.

Cultural harmony in Thang Long - Hanoi

Women dressed in traditional Muong costumes stand in two long rows, playing gongs to welcome delegates and visitors attending the 70th anniversaryof theLiberationDay of Hanoi (October 10, 1954-2024) and Thach That district. The sound of the gong echoed, harmonising with the the enduring spirit of the ancient Thang Long capital.

For many years, this image and sound have been familiar at important events in Thach That district, and it is also a performance deeply rooted in ethnic identity that the locality has chosen to participate in major cultural events in Hanoi.

That Muong gong troup gathers dedicated members of the culture - arts - sports club for the elderly in Hamlet 5 of Yen Binh commune, which was established in October 2010, two years after Yen Binh commune (formerly part of Luong Son district, Hoa Binh province) was merged into Thach That district and the entire Ha Tay province was merged into Hanoi. The club was founded out of the passion of those who love the Muong gong culture. For nearly 14 years, this activity has connected members and created a distinct identity for the club.

The Muong people make up the majority of ethnic minority people in Thach That, which account for 5.68% of the local population. Sharing a common passion, those who love the Muong gong culture have brought the sound of the instrument to cultural events in the capital city such as the Hanoi Autumn Festival 2023 and the Hanoi Tourism Festival 2024, among others.

At those events, the sound of the Muong gong has proven its attractiveness, which resounded to praise the capital city, where the essence of the national culture converges.

Efforts made for Muong gongs to resound amidst Hanoi's cultural diversity

In Ba Vi district, where there are seven communes with ethnic minorities, the Muong ethnic group accounts for a high rate with over 26,160 people. After many efforts, 59 cultural preservation teams were established in these communes.

Specifically, for Muong culture, these teams have regularly organised Muong gong practicing and performing programmes, collected folk dances and songs of Muong people, and actively participated in cultural and art exchange events. Notably, in early 2024, the district established a traditional culture and arts club of ethnic groups.

According to president of the club Nguyen The Vinh, the club’s establishment promises to create more prominent marks in preserving and promoting cultural values of Ba Vi district.

He emphasised the need to tap into cultural values in a way that is closely aligned with the locality’s tourism development strategy.

like Ba Vi, districts with a large number of ethnic minority people are heading in the right direction by leveraging cultural values linked to tourism development. This is a right approach for the localities to become part of the development of the capital city, using cultural values as a core factor for integration and as a motivation for socio-economic development.

Building a cultural conservation area for Muong ethnic group in Luy Ai hamlet

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.

Truong Kha temple festival celebrates Muong cultural heritage

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.

Hoa Binh city residents enjoy upgraded cultural houses

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.

Enhancing cultural and spiritual life in remote and ethnic minority areas

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.

Preserving the traditional brocade weaving craft of the H’Mong people in Pa Co commune

In recent years, alongside the development of a tourism-oriented economy, the traditional brocade weaving craft of the Mong people in Pa Co Commune, Mai Chau district has been gradually preserved and promoted. It has become a unique indigenous cultural feature, contributing to improving the livelihoods of the ethnic minority community.

Hop Tien commune preserves and promotes the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group

Hop Tien commune, Kim Boi district, Hoa Binh province is home to nearly 1,260 households with a population of over 5,700 people, 98% of whom are of the Muong ethnic group. Besides economic development, the commune places special emphasis on preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Muong people.