The Muong people account for over 63% of the population in Hoa Binh province. Over the time, the ethnic group has innovated and preserved its rich and diverse folk culture. Within this cultural background, there is a prominent, unique, and deeply humanistic art form known as Mo Muong.
To preserve and
promote the cultural heritage of Mo Muong, Hoa Binh province, in coordination
with other localities, is compiling a national dossier for the art to be
included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent
Safeguarding.
Mo practitioners perform rituals at the Khai ha (going down to the
field) festival of the Muong people in 2023.
Bui Van Rum, a Mo practitioner from Rom Co hamlet, Thuong Coc commune,
Lac Son district, talks about Khot, tools used in Mo Muong performance.
Mo Muong reflects the unique worldview and cosmology of the Muong ethnic group,
containing profound educational significance for the community. It is
associated with folk rituals imbued with sacred elements used in funerals or
ceremonies to wish for the best for the Muong people.
Over the time, Mo Muong has been diminished, and many traditional values of the
art are gradually fading away. Mo Muong in Hoa Binh is undergoing significant
changes, including both new and positive aspects. However, it still holds an
important position in the spiritual life of locals.
Bui Van Noi, a researcher and meritorious artisan from Phong Phu commune, Tan
Lac district, highlighted epic, art, language, moral and spiritual values of Mo
Muong.
Since 2010, the province has taken specific solutions to preserve Mo Muong,
including the establishment of five clubs in Lac Son, Tan Lac, Cao Phong, Yen
Thuy, and Kim Boi districts.
In addition, the title of people's and meritorious artisans conferred to Mo
practitioners has encouraged them to work harder to preserve and promote the
heritage values of the art.
In 2015, Hoa Binh received the sponsorship of the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO
Associations for its Mo Muong. One year later, the Ministry of Culture, Sports
and Tourism issued a decision bringing it into the national intangible cultural
heritage list. In 2020, the Prime Minister ordered building a dossier for Mo
Muong to seek the UNESCO recognition.
The provincial People’s Committee issued a plan dated November 25, 2021, on
coordination in building the dossier, and established steering and organising
committees for the work.
Dr. Pham Minh Huong, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Musicology, said the
dossier has been completed and presented to competent authorities in line with
regulations, noting the inclusion is expected to facilitate the preservation
work.
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.
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