Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.


The Keng Loong performing art of the Thai ethnic group in Mai Chau district was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage element, helping preserve and promote this heritage's values. 

Between 2022 and 2024, several of Hoa Binh's cultural assets gained national recognition, with the folk knowledge of bamboo calendar, the Khai Ha festival of the Muong people, and the Keng Loong performing art of the Thai ethnic group in Mai Chau district inscribed as national intangible cultural heritage. The archaeological sites of the Trai hamlet cave and the Vanh village stone shelter in Lac Son district were classified as special national relics. Previously, two other cultural heritage elements, the Muong gong art and Mo Muong, had already been added to the national intangible cultural heritage list. 

The province is now home to 45 cultural practitioners bestowed with the People’s Artisan and Meritorious Artisan titles, with ethnic minority artisans accounting for 94% of them. 

Hoa Binh province has particularly focused on the project to conserve and promote the Mo Muong cultural heritage for 2019–2025 and beyond, especially since the Prime Minister ordered a dossier be built to seek UNESCO recognition of Mo Muong as part of the intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. Meanwhile, it has also accelerated efforts to collect and document intangible cultural heritage.Currently, it has submitted two dossiers to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, proposing "thuong dang" and "bo meng" singing of the Muong people and the Muong skirt waistband weaving techniques to be added to the list of the national intangible cultural heritage. 

Furthermore, the province has worked to raise public awareness of local historical sites. For the archaeological sites of the Trai hamlet cave and the Vanh village stone shelter, it has directed planning and implemented conservation measures while popularising the archaeological values of the world-renowned Stone-Age Hoa Binh Civilisation. Steps are also being taken to nominate the Tien Pagoda historical - cultural relics and landscape complex in Phu Nghia commune, Lac Thuy district, as a special national relic site. 

With efforts to restore and preserve cultural identity, many traditional festivals have been revitalised, with the Muong people's Khai Ha (going down to the field) festival and the Tien Pagoda festival in Lac Thuy organised at the provincial level. Besides, more than 70 festivals are held annually, primarily folk celebrations of ethnic minority groups. 

The province currently has 1,482 village-level musical teams that contribute to teaching, preserving, and bringing into play local cultural heritage. 

The conversation efforts have been intensified with the groundbreaking of the Mo Muong cultural heritage conservation space connected with tourism services in Hop Phong commune, Cao Phong district, in January. Besides, the province has directed relevant sectors and localities to develop the Muong ethnic cultural space conservation and tourism development project in Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district, along with a restoration project for the Trai hamlet cave and the Vanh village stone shelter. The locality is also planning renovation for many historical and revolutionary sites.

Related Topics


Women's clothing of ethnic minorities in Hoa Binh

The clothing of women reflects the culture of the Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao, and Mong ethnic groups in the northern province of Hoa Binh.

Hoa Binh’s cultural heritage: Muong Gongs, a timeless cultural treasure

Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.

Preserving, promoting Muong cultural heritage: Upholding Muong culture into contemporary life

Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.

Preserving essence of Muong culture: tradition meets modernity

The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.

Preserving Muong community’s identity – Journey from tradition to modernity: Part 1 – Exploring Muong culture region

The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.

Traditional festivals of Hoa Binh: A rich cultural heritage

For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.