Suoi Ben is a remote village located about 40km away from Luong Son town, bordering Kim Boi district, with the majority of its households being Dao.
Phung Thi Thanh, who resides in Suoi Ben village, Lien Son commune, Luong Son district still preserves the traditional embroidery of Dao ethnic people.
A new cultural house was built in Suoi Ben village last year with funding from the National Target Programme for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas. Covering an area of 180 sq.m, the project had a total investment of 1.3 billion VND (about 52,900 USD). Of which, 1.1 billion VND came from the State budget and the rest was raised among the community through labour contribution.
Duong Tai Phu, secretary of the village’s party cell said the village is home to 70 households with a population of 300. The main source of income for local residents comes from forest and agricultural production. Previously, its cultural house was too small, so village meetings or community activities had to be held at the village chief’s house or those with larger houses. This inconvenience made it difficult to carry out many tasks, especially the dissemination of the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State, which require gathering people in one place.
Dinh Manh Dong, an official of the Ethnic Affairs Division of Luong Son district, said as a district that has been recognised as meeting new-style rural standards, Luong Son prioritises investment in the most disadvantaged villages. Suoi Ben villagers contributed workday to build a new cultural house, along with support from the State budget, he said, elaborated that it was put into use in November last year, creating favourable conditions for community activities.
Duong Tai Chinh, a local resident, said that since the cultural house was put into use, it has hosted numerous cultural and sports events, along with meetings and dissemination campaigns to raise legal awareness among ethnic minority people, thus contributing to strengthening community bond. It also serves as a playground for children in the village to organise recreation activities, he added.
The secretary of the village’s party cell said that thanks to the new cultural house, organisation of community activities has become more convenient, therefore fostering connection among residents and encouraging them to actively pursue socio-economic development and sustainable poverty reduction.
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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