The procession group of the Saint palanquin from the temple to the festival grounds at the Khai Ha Festival in Muong Bi (Tan Lac) in 2019.

Each festival has its own beauty of identity, belief, and tradition, bearing the mark of each ethnic group, each region, such as the Khai Ha festival of Muong Bi (Tan Lac), Muong Dong Festival (Kim Boi), Muong Thang festival (Cao Phong), Du Voi festival (Lac Son), De Rice Tet of Muong Ram (Yen Thuy), the festival of Xen Ban - Xen Muong of Thai people (Mai Chau), Gou Tao festival of Mong ethnic people (Mai Chau), the festival of spraying for rice crop of Tay ethnic people (Tay Bac), dancing Tet, Cap Sac Ceremony for men (A ceremony to acknowledge the men’s maturity)... Besides, at temples and pagodas the traditional festivals at the beginning of the year are organized for the people’s spring travel, sightseeing and worship such as: the festival of Tien pagoda (Lac Thuy), the festival of Bo temple (Da Bac), the festival of Ngoi communal (Hoa Binh city), the communal festival of Voi village (Lac Thuy) ), the festival of Coi temple (Lac Son) ...

The features in the folk festivals often show the connection of the community, the solidarity and the attachment of a village and a region. The festival is usually divided into 2 parts, the ceremony and the festival. The ceremony is often solemnly and respectfully held with the religious colour. The festival is organized with many cultural activities, arts, sports, folk games, cuisine ... Depending on each region, each ethnic group, the ritual performance is different, but all activities are solemnly and respectfully organized, expressing the tribute, the respect for the ancestors, the gods, the people who have built the villages and Muong, giving thanks and praying for favourable rain and wind, good crops, a new year full of warmth, happiness and peace.

Mentioning the special festivals of the province, it is impossible not to mention Khai Ha festival. It is also known as the ceremony to go to the field, the opening ceremony of the forest, the folk festival associated with water rice agriculture, bearing a lot of marks relating to the ancient Vietnamese civilization. This festival is an indispensable activity of Muong ethnic people. Khai Ha festival is a start for a new year, because after this ritual, the local people start the farming work or forest gathering and hunting ...

The festivals are often associated with the specific geographic, natural and social characteristics of the long-existing resident communities. The restoration, conservation and promotion of the traditional festivals, especially at the beginning of spring not only honour and preserve the historical and cultural values to meet the people's need to enjoy culture, but also contribute to promoting and introducing the cultural identity of the ethnic people in Hoa Binh province to domestic and international tourists.

Related Topics

Lac Son district preserves Muong ethnic people’s cultural heritage

Building space to preserve Muong ethnic culture in Tan Lac district

Outstanding young artisan promotes national cultural heritage values

Gov’t agrees to submit Mo Muong heritage dossier to UNESCO

---

Building a special national archaeological relic in Lac Son district

The mobile propaganda contest “Returning to Dien Bien”

In the evening of March 28th, in Hoa Binh, the Department of Grassroots Culture (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) coordinated with the provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the city to organize a mobile propaganda contest to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7th, 1954 - May 7th, 2024) with the theme "Returning to Dien Bien”. There ứa the attendance of Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; the representatives of the leaders from a number of departments, branches and numerous veterans and Hoa Binh people.

Kim Boi district boosts cultural lifestyle building movement

In responding to the movement of "All people stay united to build cultural lifestyle”, over the years, Kim Boi district has conducted many practical and effective activities to promote solidarity and mutual support among the local community in sustainable poverty reduction and building cultural lifestyle and a healthy cultural environment, and maintaining national cultural identity.

119 officials, civil servants and public employees were trained the language of Muong people

Hoa Binh Pedagogical College has just held the closing ceremony of the training class and issued the certificate of the language of Muong ethnic people to the oficials, civil servants and public employees of courses I and II in 2023.

Hoa Binh works to preserve values of world-famous civilisation

Hoa Binh is an ancient land home to limestone mountains running along the southeast direction and in parallel with Truong Son Mountain Range in the West, forming many basins and valleys with a rich diversity of fauna and flora. Humans came to reside here in the pre-historic period, creating the world-famous Hoa Binh Civilisation.

Dance festival – traditional ritual of Dao ethnic minority people

The Dao ethnic minority group in Hoa Binh province has preserved many unique cultural identities, especially rituals and belief. In particular, Nhay (dance) festival is the most important ritual with a long history, vividly reflecting the religious life of the local Dao people.