Lac Thinh commune, Yen Thuy district, is home to 1,635 households, of which 82% are ethnic minorities, mainly Muong people. In recent years, the commune has prioritised to developing cultural clubs, aiming to both enrich the community's spiritual life and preserve traditional cultural values.
Artist Quach Thi Kieu (left) guides and teaches Muong gong playing techniques to club members.
With the view that "people stay alive when their culture
stay alive,the local authorities have paid heed to preserving and promoting
the Muong folk cultural identity. In this spirit, the Women's Union of Lac
Thinh commune has encouraged residents to wear traditional Muong attire during
festivals and community events. They also established two cultural preservation
clubs in Trac and Dinh Van hamlets.
With 31 members when founded in 2021, the Trac hamlet club now has 49,
including both male and female artisans. It maintains practices of traditional
Muong music, dance, and cultural performances every Saturday and Sunday. These
activities have garnered attention from professional units at district and
provincial levels. The club has been invited to participate in numerous
cultural exchanges and festivals, including performances for Vietnam's national
television.
Quach Thi Kieu, head of the Trac hamlet club, explained that members are taught
to play traditional Muong instruments, sing folk songs, and perform Muong
dances. The club also holds workshops on traditional brocade weaving and the
significance of traditional Muong clothing.
In November 2022, recognising the success of the Trac hamlet club, the communal
Women's Union established anotherclub in Dinh Van hamlet, with 45
members. The club has been actively involved in local cultural exchanges,
festivals, and workshops, helping to preserve and promote Muog traditions.
The establishment and development of the club model are of significance in
preserving and promoting the cultural heritage value, thus creating best
possible conditions for ethnic people to directly engage in protection and
promotion as well as enjoy results of these activities. foster a sense of
community, ensuring that cultural traditions are passed down to future
generations.
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.
.jpg)
.jpg)
