Lesson 2 - Preserving the "soul" of Muong culture in the Central Highlands

Muong people of Phu Tho in the Central Highlands

Traditional cultural features still exist

Living and working in Dak Wil commune (Lam Dong), sometimes, Mrs. Dinh Thi Trung (born in 1955) still rides her motorbike more than 30 km back to Tan Lap ward (Dak Lak) to visit relatives. According to Mrs. Trung, her father was from Muong Dong commune. Before stabilizing the economy in Lam Dong, her family lived in Hoa Thang village 2B for a while. Many brothers and sisters in the same clan are living here. The relationship between Muong people in their second homeland is always strong.

Lesson 2 - Preserving the

Lac Son Communal House in Tan Lap Ward ( Dak Lak ) retains traditional stilt house architecture and is a cultural living space of the Muong community in the Central Highlands.

During the visit, we were fortunate to meet Ms. Dinh Thi Tuong Vi - a Muong girl born and raised in the Central Highlands. Ms. Vi said that since she was very young, her parents often reminded her: When going out, speak the Tao language (common), when entering the door, speak the Mol language (Muong). Thanks to the oral tradition in each family and clan, the next generations of Muong people in the Central Highlands still preserve the Muong language. A few people in the community can still speak the ancient Muong language.

Mr. Quach Tat Dung in village 2B Hoa Thang, Tan Lap ward still cherishes the administrative boundary map of the old Hoa Binh province as a "deeply engraved" sentiment for his old hometown. He said that Muong culture and Muong origin are always a source of pride, and even after thousands of years, they have not changed. His family's tradition on Tet holiday still follows the old custom of "sticky rice, water on a basket, roasted pig", displaying and enjoying the culinary feast; at the wedding, the bride wears Muong dress.

Through the process of cultural exchange and transformation, the Muong people in the Central Highlands provinces still preserve part of their identity through traditional stilt house architecture, ethnic costumes and customs and practices in ancestor worship rituals, cuisine on holidays, Tet, weddings, funerals... The beauty of the intangible cultural heritage of Muong mo and the art of performing Muong gongs are preserved and promoted in life.

Building a united and sustainable Muong community

Since the early years of migration to the new economic zone of the Central Highlands, the Muong community in Tan Lap ward (Dak Lak) has established communal houses as places of worship. Today, the communal houses have been rebuilt to ensure the architecture, cultural space, and the place where important activities of the residential area take place. In particular, the names of the communal houses are named after the old homelands, such as: Cao Phong, Lac Son, Tan Lac...

In the common living space, the Muong Phu Tho community in the Central Highlands often organizes rituals and ceremonies to worship the village's tutelary god, festival activities or gather to discuss common work and cultural exchange. Thereby, the spirit of solidarity and neighborly love is enhanced, and the cultural identity of the Muong people is consolidated.

The Muong community throughout the Central Highlands also retains beautiful and valuable cultural customs, expressing deep solidarity and mutual support, such as initiating and promoting the movement of participating in "hang phe" games. According to the Muong people, "hang phe" is a joint fundraising activity with the purpose of helping families in difficult situations or happy or sad events that need encouragement and sharing of joy and sadness.

Mr. Quach Vy - the manager of the communal house in 2B Hoa Thang village, Tan Lap ward, said: The reason why the Muong people in Phu Tho preserve and promote their national cultural identity is thanks to the communal house which is like a spiritual support, creating a space for community activities. With increasingly prosperous life, people actively contribute funds to build a spacious communal house. The local Party Committee and government also pay attention to organizing festival activities, encouraging the participation of the Muong community. For the Party Committee and government at the village level, the annual Khai Ha Festival is periodically organized, with full rituals, ceremonies and festival activities, such as: Muong gong performance, antiphonal singing, and folk game exchange. On the communal house festival day or National Great Unity Day, all the old, young, girls and boys who are Muong children wear traditional costumes.

In the Central Highlands today, generations of Muong Phu Tho people are promoting the spirit of solidarity to build a cultural life, build a progressive, civilized, and sustainably developing residential community.

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Muong people of Phu Tho in the Central Highlands
In the late 50s of the last century, hundreds of Muong households in Phu Tho province left their "native land" to new lands. In the early 90s, Muong people in the Da River reservoir area had another "mass migration" to make way for the Hoa Binh hydroelectric project. The destination of the Phu Tho Muong community was Dak Lak and Lam Dong provinces in the Central Highlands. In particular, Tan Lap ward (Dak Lak) is an area where many Muong people came to reclaim land, settle down, and build a new economic zone.