Preserving essence of Muong culture: tradition meets modernity

4/12/2025 - 11:10:55 AM

The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.

The Khai Ha Festival of the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province is held to help promote the beauty of Muong culture to visitors.

In the early morning mist of Kim Boi district, the rhythmic echoes of Muong gongs ring out from a small corner of Bo village. On a wooden porch, Dinh Thi Kieu Dung patiently guides a group of children through traditional Muong songs and dances. For nearly two decades, Dung has offered free cultural classes, motivated by a deep love for her heritage. Dung said she began these lessons to help young people embrace their roots and strengthen their bond with the homeland. Since 2004, over 500 children aged between 8 and 15 have taken part in her classes, many of whom have gone on to promote Muong music and dance in wider cultural settings.

A similar passion for preservation can be found in Lac Thuy district, where artisan Nguyen Manh Tuan began collecting traditional Muong handicrafts in 2012. He explained that his work is driven by a desire to protect the legacy of his ancestors from fading. Tuan has also reconstructed a traditional Muong stilt house, offering future generations a link to the spiritual life of the past.

Meanwhile, Bui Thanh Binh, director of the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum in Hoa Binh city, has spent years collecting artefacts that celebrate Muong traditions. He has helped transform the museum into a cultural site that draws both domestic and international visitors.

Hoa Binh province is home to more than 221 recognised cultural heritage sites linked to the Muong people, including four at national level and 43 at the provincial level.

Archaeological discoveries, such as the ancient tombs of Dong Thech (Kim Boi district), Dong Bay (Tan Lac district), and Doi Thung (Lac Son district), have been carefully excavated and preserved, shedding light on the rich history of the Muong people.

Traditional stilt houses, an iconic feature of Muong architecture, have also been preserved. Today, these homes serve not only as places of residence but as key attractions in community-based tourism, allowing visitors to experience Muong culture firsthand. In addition, local authorities have encouraged the wearing of traditional clothing among civil servants and students at least once a week to promote cultural identity.

The Muong gongs – often described as the soul of the people – continue to play a central role in the cultural life of the community. These instruments accompany every major milestone, from births and weddings to funerals. Hoa Binh is currently home to nearly 10,000 ancient gongs, a testament to the enduring strength of the tradition. In 2011 and again in 2016, the province hosted large-scale Muong Gong Festivals, the latter earning national recognition for hosting the largest gong performance in the country. Also in 2016, Muong Gong Art was officially recognised as part of Vietnam’s national intangible cultural heritage.

Hoa Binh province has also prioritised the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. A comprehensive inventory conducted in recent years has identified 267 cultural elements, including oral traditions, performing arts, folk festivals, social customs, and traditional crafts.

Among the most notable are the Mo Muong ritual, the Khai Ha Festival, and the Muong calendar – all of which have been recognised nationally.

The Khai Ha Festival, honoured as intangible heritage in 2022, continues to be celebrated annually and will be featured again in 2024 and 2025 as part of efforts to promote Muong heritage to both locals and tourists.

Language preservation has also seen significant progress. In 2016, the Muong script was officially recognised, offering a written foundation to help protect and promote the Muong language. Traditional knowledge, such as the community’s herbal medicine practices and the use of the bamboo calendar, also remain integral to Muong life.

Muong cuisine adds another layer to the cultural identity. With 69 traditional dishes and beverages crafted from locally sourced ingredients, Muong food reflects the close relationship between the people and their environment, and the essence of Muong community living.

Despite increasing modernisation, Muong culture continues to thrive thanks to folk music classes and grassroots collectors to vibrant festivals filled with drums and gongs. These efforts serve not only to preserve the past but to connect it with the present – ensuring that Muong's heritage continues to shine for generations to come.

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.