Long Tong festival features

Weaving grass is one of the unique cultural features of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups.

Vitality on the new land

In early June, in Tan Loi commune, Dong Phu district, the Long Tong festival was held in a bustling atmosphere imbued with national identity. The event attracted thousands of people and tourists to participate, creating a vibrant and meaningful cultural festival. This is the third consecutive year the festival has been held at the district level, affirming the enduring vitality and increasingly widespread influence of a traditional cultural activity on the community, especially the Tay and Nung people from the northern provinces who came to settle in the new land of Binh Phuoc .

Long Tong Festival, in Tay and Nung languages, means “going down to the fields”, is a traditional ritual associated with the worship of the God of Agriculture, the god who governs crops. The festival expresses the desire for a year of favorable weather, bountiful crops, a prosperous life, and a happy and peaceful family. In the northern mountainous provinces, the festival is often held in early spring, from the first to the fifteenth of the first lunar month. Not only does it have a profound spiritual meaning, the festival is also an opportunity for people to temporarily put aside their farming work, gather together, exchange, strengthen village relationships, and foster community sentiment.

“The Long Tong Festival brings back many familiar memories of my homeland in the northern mountains. Being immersed in the traditional cultural space with the sound of the Tinh lute, the Then singing, ethnic dishes and folk games such as grass-laying, throwing con, and hitting cu… I am truly moved and proud. I hope the festival will continue to be maintained, so that today’s young generation has the opportunity to understand, appreciate and preserve the precious cultural values of our nation.”

Mrs. DAM THI YEN, Dong Tien commune, Dong Phu district

With many rich activities such as sli singing, then singing in ethnic languages praising the Party, Uncle Ho, homeland, country or folk games such as throwing con, jumping bamboo poles, weeding grass, playing soccer on stilts, playing tops, etc., the festival has brought a cultural space imbued with the identity of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in the heart of the Southeast region. In particular, this year's festival has some new content such as: playing soccer on stilts and weeding grass for women, attracting many participants.

This year's Long Tong Festival has new features such as women's grass weaving and soccer on stilts.

Mr. Le Xuan Nghi, Director of Dong Phu District Culture and Sports Center, Head of the festival organizing committee said: “Compared to previous years, this year the number of people participating in the festival has doubled, demonstrating the community’s interest and consensus in preserving the heritage. The innovation of some competitions also creates a vibrant atmosphere, attracting many young people”.

Not only is it a gathering of elders who understand customs, the festival is also a place for young people to learn, practice and continue the cultural values of the nation. Ms. Long Thi Thao in Tan Hoa commune expressed: “As a young generation who still does not know many things, I hope the festival will be held every year, so that we can learn more about the good cultural values of our nation. I myself will try to learn, preserve and promote the beautiful culture left by our ancestors.”

In addition to cultural, artistic and sports exchange activities, the festival also introduces many unique features of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups' lives. From cuisine such as duck pho, roasted pork with mac mat, ash cakes, mugwort cakes, and banh te... to traditional costumes and daily necessities such as fishing traps and baskets, all are vividly displayed at the festival, bearing the strong imprint of national culture.

Preserving the national soul

Dong Phu district currently has 17 ethnic groups living together, of which ethnic minorities account for 21.17%. Tay and Nung people live mainly in the communes of Tan Loi, Tan Hoa, Tan Hung, Thuan Phu, Dong Tien... following the migration from Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Kan provinces to settle down. During the process of living, many traditional customs and practices have been preserved and passed down through generations, contributing to enriching the spiritual life of the ethnic communities here.

In the context of integration and modernization, many traditional customs and festivals are at risk of fading away. Therefore, organizing and maintaining the Long Tong festival is not only a simple cultural activity but also a form of "keeping the fire" and transmitting the national spirit. Ms. Hoang Thi Oanh in Dong Bia hamlet, Tan Loi commune confided: "I am old, I just hope that my descendants will continue to maintain the traditional beauty of my people, develop and spread it more and more widely."

In recent times, the Party and the State have had many policies to support the development of culture in ethnic minority areas, especially the preservation of unique festivals and customs. The Long Tong Festival in Dong Phu is a testament to the connection between the correct policy from the higher levels and the efforts to preserve culture from the community itself.

Tinh lute, then singing, and sli singing are very popular in ceremonies such as engagements, weddings, or occasions of love singing of the Tay and Nung people.

Besides cultural, artistic and sports exchange activities, the festival also introduces many unique features in the life of the Tay and Nung people.

Mr. Nghi expressed: Organizing the Long Tong festival for 3 consecutive years is a vivid proof of the attention of the Party Committees and authorities at all levels in preserving and promoting the national cultural values in the area. In the coming time, implementing the 2-level local government, there will be changes, I really hope that this meaningful activity will continue to be maintained and spread, contributing to preserving the national cultural identity.

In the flow of modern history, when many traditional values are forgotten, festivals like Long Tong become even more precious. It is like a smoldering fire burning in people's hearts, nurturing and preserving the national soul for today and tomorrow.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/543/173870/dac-sac-le-hoi-long-tong