Through ups and downs, many unique cultural features of the Muong ethnic minority group are facing risks of falling into oblivion. However, with a strong determination, Lac Son district of Hoa Binh province has deployed synchronous solutions to preserve and promote the locality's cultural heritage values.
An art programme to honour and spread the Muong ethnic minority group’s cultural values
Recently, the district has issued nine resolutions, including Resolution No. 08-NQ/HU dated December 20, 2021 on preserving and promoting the Muong ethnic minority group's cultural identity.
Currently, the district has 196 relic sites, including three national and 13 provincial-level sites. The relic sites have been restored to meet the spiritual and cultural demands of people, contributing to the locality’s socio-economic development.
In 2023, the district submitted a dossier to the provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for recognition of Trai cave in Tan Lap commune and stone roof of Vanh village in Yen Phu commune as special national relic sites.
The mobilisation of resources for the protection and promotion of relic values from the state budget, revenues from relics' activities and social sources have been stepped up. The activities of collecting, inventorying, preserving and displaying artifacts have made positive changes.
Bui Van Duong, Vice Chairman of the Lac Son district People's Committee, said that currently, there are nine traditional folk festivals in the area that have been restored and maintained to attract tourists. Since 2020, the district has proposed all levels submit 15 applications to the State Council. The State President conferred titles on eight artisans, including seven meritorious artisans and one people's artisan.
In the period of 2019 - 2023, the district People's committee directed relevant agencies to open more than 10 cultural heritage teaching classes on Muong gong, mo Muong, and brocade weaving, helping to preserve and promote cultural heritage values of the local Muong ethnic people 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.