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 archaeological site of the Vanh village stone
shelter in Yen Phu commune, Lac Son district, designated as a special national
relic, is an epitome of the Hoa Binh Civilisation and an invaluable tourism
resource.
Home to nearly 900,000 people, Hoa Binh is
predominantly populated by ethnic minorities, who make up 74.31% of residents,
mostly Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao, and Mong. The Muong, long-time inhabitants, have
crafted a rich legacy of tangible and intangible heritage, enriching Vietnam’s
diverse cultural landscape.
A 2021 provincial inventory catalogued 786
intangible cultural heritage elements across seven categories: language,
script, folk literature, folk performing arts, social customs, traditional
crafts, and folk knowledge. Hoa Binh claims five nationally recognised cultural
heritage elements. Among its 115 State-recognised relic sites, the Trai hamlet
cave and the Vanh village stone shelter – archaeological gems in Lac Son
district, are special national relics, alongside 39 national and 75 provincial
relics. Hundreds of other sites await classification.
Distinctive cultural assets such as traditional
festivals, folk performances, beliefs, and social customs imbued with ethnic
minorities' cultural identities form a crucial resource for developing Hoa
Binh’s cultural industries and local cultural landscape. Local authorities and
communities have ramped up preservation efforts, yielding notable progress.
Director of the Department of Culture, Sports
and Tourism Quach Thi Kieu highlighted the province’s success in safeguarding
its diverse tangible and intangible cultural heritage. These efforts have helped
deepen cultural values and power socio-economic growth.
She noted that cultural heritage has become a
catalyst for progress, contributing to Vietnam’s goal of building an advanced
and national identity-rich culture vital to national development and defence.
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.
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, 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.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
