Nguyen Manh Tuan, a Muong ethnic man in Ba Hang Doi town, Lac Thuy district, is known as a young, dedicated, and outstanding artisan who has made significant contributions in collecting, restoring, and preserving national cultural values.

(Photo: Outstanding artisan Nguyen Manh Tuan, Ba Hang Doi town,
Lac Thuy district, introduces artifacts to visitors at Muong cultural space).
Tuan was raised up and nurtured with Mother Goodness worship tradition in his
childhood. In 2012, after working for nearly 13 years in the armed forces, Tuan
demobilised and returned to the locality and, with a great desire to preserve
cultural values of the ethnic group, he restored the Muong stilt house and
studied the ancient and present Muong ethnic customs in funerals, weddings,
festivals, singing dances, gongs, stork instruments, flute pipes, and Muong
language, among others to teach young generation to understand the culture of
their people.
In November 2022, Tuan established a Muong ethnic cultural heritage club where
he can spread the love to his compatriot. The club has attracted the
participation of more than 200 regular members.
Covering an area of 750 sqm, the space displays more than 2,000 artifacts which
are familiar in the daily life in the Muong ethnic people, including 100 gongs;
120 bronze, 200 pottery, and 250 wooden items; 45 animal horn pieces; 150
fabric products, blankets, brocade pillows, costumes; 250 rattan products; 55
ethnic musical instruments; nearly 150 Muong cultural books; and nearly 200
other widgets and composite products, among others.
Besides, Tuan has directed many events of the locality and he has effectively
maintained the training on Muong gong culture, songs, dances, folk games, and
language for young generation. With tireless efforts, the artisan was awarded the title of Excellent Artisan
in the field of social practices and beliefs in 2022.
With numerous contributions to the preservation and promotion of the racial
cultural identity, he is also an outstanding example in charity and social
security work in the locality.
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.