(HBĐT) - Although her parents are Muong people, Mrs. Dinh Thuy Ha was born and grew up in Hoa Binh city. She can only speak a little Muong language. Even through her teenage years, she has never been worn a Muong dress.
Muong women dress traditional costume.
Ha participated in many big events,
including performances of Muong gongs and Muong costumes on the occasion of the
province's 130th founding anniversary, the Muong Culture Festival, and the
Culture and Tourism Week of Hoa Binh province in 2019, and the Hoa Binh Culture
and Tourism Festival in Hanoi with the performance of Muong gongs by 100
artisans.
She was determined to learn more Muong language,
and bought a traditional costume of Muong women. The costume of the Muong ethnic people in
general and Muong women in particular are quite simple, not brilliant, but they
boast unique characteristics.
In the past, the costume of Muong women was
usually a white or light-coloured shirt, and a strapless skirt made of dark
fabric or dyed indigo black. The most prominent part of a skirt is its
waistband, which is divided into three parts. The decorative art pattern on the
waistband creates a contrast to the black and white on the shirt.
Muong cultural researchers have listed 37
pattern motifs on skirt waistband, including 25 animal pattern motifs. Particularly, many of patterns on the Muong
skirt waistband are also popular motifs on Dong Son bronze drums. This shows
that the patterns have both artistic and historical values, relating to a
period of the civilisation of ancient Vietnamese. This is the most unique art
product of the Muong ethnic group.
Short shirts, bibs, belts, and head scarfs are
indispensable to form a complete costume of Muong women. Accessories are a set
of silver straps wrapped around the abdomen and hips, silver necklaces or those
made of silver-coloured materials.
Today, the trend of Muong women's costumes is
slightly stylized. Muong women use brightly coloured bibs, belts, and head
scarfs. The skirt waistbands are sewn with a buckle. Basically, the costume
still retains the traditional pattern of the Muong ethnic people.
Although it is not brilliant, but the costume
can help exalt the beauty and curves of women's body as well as the Muong
culture. Therefore, more and more women equip themselves with traditional
costumes./.
The clothing of women reflects the culture of the Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao, and Mong ethnic groups in the northern province of Hoa Binh.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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