As of October 2024, Binh Phuoc province has 7 heritages listed as national intangible cultural heritages. Of which, Bu Dang district has 4 heritages including: Folk knowledge, traditional handicrafts and wine processing techniques of the Stieng people; Cau Bong festival of the Kinh people; brocade weaving of the M'nong people; basket weaving and brocade weaving of the Stieng people. In addition, Bu Dang is also the place to maintain the art of gong playing, which is an indispensable part of the space of gong culture in the Central Highlands (intangible cultural heritage of humanity).
Bu Dang is holding within itself the precious gems of the multi-ethnic culture of Vietnam; contributing significantly to the 50-year journey of building and developing the district.
Every heritage is an interesting story
Bu Dang district currently has 13 gong teams with about 70 artisans who know the art of gong performance. The art of gong performance is called Goong Xon Gant by the Stieng and M'nong people. The art of gong and cymbal performance is different. Each piece has a different rhythm, so team members must understand it to coordinate smoothly and harmoniously. Associate Professor, PhD, senior lecturer Buon Krong Tuyet Nhung, Tay Nguyen University said: Gongs not only have musical significance but are also considered the "sacred soul of the nation", the "identity", the "origin" that needs to be respected, preserved and promoted. Along with the efforts of local authorities, the subject of gong culture in the Central Highlands has been and is continuing to preserve and promote this unique value.
On August 4, 2022, the brocade weaving craft of the M'nong people in Binh Phuoc was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage. The M'nong people in Dak Nhau, Dong Nai, Tho Son, Phu Son communes, Bu Dang district are very proud that their traditional handicraft weaving craft has been honored. After more than 15 years of instructing and teaching brocade weaving to local women, artisan An De in Son Hoa village, Tho Son commune shared: "To pursue this profession, one must be persistent and passionate. Many of my students now follow their husbands to other places, some go to work far away..., only a few remain in the village to maintain the weaving craft". Ms. An De hopes to teach weaving to many women to preserve and promote the beauty of ethnic culture.
Currently, in Bu Dang district, there are more than 100 M'nong households with women who know how to weave brocade and are maintaining the craft. For them, weaving brocade is not only to create products but also to sit together, chat, share joys and sorrows in life, and strengthen the relationship between the village and the community around the colorful weaving loom. This is also a practical way to preserve the traditional craft of the nation.
For the Stieng people, the profession of basket weaving and brocade weaving is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, which has an important meaning, honoring traditional occupations and cultural heritage subjects. Thereby, raising people's awareness, responsibility of all levels and sectors, encouraging organizations and individuals to join hands to preserve and promote the value of national intangible cultural heritage in the locality.
Bu Dang currently has a number of basket weaving and brocade weaving cooperatives. Products from these cooperatives and craft villages not only meet the daily needs of local people but also promote tourism development. Mr. Dieu Lon, Head of the Craft Village Group, Stieng Ethnic Cultural Conservation Area in Bom Bo Village, said: Almost all the elders in the village and hamlet know the craft. Those who know a lot and are good at it teach those who know little or nothing. This way, products are created and traditional crafts are preserved for future generations.
In addition to the heritage of folk songs, folk music, and traditional crafts, Bu Dang also contains a heritage of folk knowledge. According to the village elders, in the past, the god Le Lon taught the Stieng people how to go to the forest to find leaves to ferment, and how to ripen wine in jars. At that time, people did not know how to drink wine like today, but only knew how to eat wine. Later, the god Uy Uong - the god of thunder and lightning - told people how to whet the bamboo tube and pour water into jars to drink. For the Stieng people, wine is not only a simple drink but also associated with legends and sacred things. Wine is always present in daily cultural activities as well as in festivals and events of families and communities. Therefore, many people believe that drinking wine in Stieng is drinking a long-standing cultural feature.
Preserve and promote heritage values
In 2019, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized “Folk knowledge and wine processing techniques of the Stieng people” as a national intangible cultural heritage. The locality has stepped up communication and product promotion not only in the province but also nationwide. In particular, in 2022, the Stieng Ethnic Cultural Reserve in Bom Bo had the opportunity to promote the wine brand to Cambodian and Korean friends at a cultural exchange program with other countries.
The People's Committee of Bu Dang district has issued a tourism development plan for the period 2020-2025, including the formation of a 2-day, 1-night tourist route, connecting tourist destinations in the district. And the Stieng people's rice wine is a product in that chain of tourism activities.
Unlike other art forms, gong performances have ritual and spiritual significance. In recent years, Bu Dang district has surveyed and consolidated gong teams, built them into typical tourism products of the district and performed at the S'tieng ethnic cultural conservation area in Bom Bo. From 2018 to present, the district has organized more than 150 gong performances at the S'tieng ethnic cultural conservation area in Bom Bo and in districts, towns and cities in and outside the province. In particular, the district has brought the gong performance team of Bom Bo to participate in the ethnic cultural exchange program with Korean culture and toured at the Cultural Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups (Hanoi). In addition, the district's Department of Culture and Information has organized ethnic minority cultural festivals, restored traditional festivals, etc.
Mr. Vu Van Muoi, Chairman of Bu Dang District People's Committee, said: In recent times, Bu Dang has always prioritized and devoted many resources to investing in the preservation of ethnic cultures, especially the Stieng people; invested in building brocade weaving, wine making, and basket weaving villages, and opened training courses for members of the craft villages... In particular, this year, the festival "The sound of pestles echoes forever on Bom Bo village" was organized, with many special programs, taking place over 3 days from November 8 to 10.
With the efforts of all levels and sectors in recent times, the people here have built a solid foundation of awareness in preserving, conserving and promoting the cultural values of their nation; making Bu Dang a unique "heritage museum", an ideal destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
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