Receiving the National Intangible Cultural Heritage status for the Muong Kho Festival.

Photo caption — Nearly 300 Muong girls, dressed in traditional costumes and carrying almost 300 gongs, walked and performed, singing and dancing.

Authorized by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province, Dau Thanh Tung, presented the Certificate recognizing the Muong Kho Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage to the leaders of Ba Thuoc district and Dien Trung commune.

The Muong Kho region is home to the Ha Cong clan, one of the most prestigious clans of the Muong people. During the reigns of Emperors Gia Long and Minh Mang, Mr. Ha Cong Thai distinguished himself in fighting invaders in Hung Hoa province and suppressing bandits in the Vietnam-Laos border region, especially in helping the Nguyen dynasty unify the country. Mr. Ha Cong Thai was granted the title of Duke by the court, with the authority to govern from Eo Le slope, Mau market, Bai market, Muong Ne to the source of the Ma River.

As a tradition, every year on the 10th day of the first lunar month, the people of Muong Do village, Dien Trung commune, and surrounding areas of Ba Thuoc district organize the Muong Kho Festival to pay tribute to Duke Ha Cong Thai and the generals of the Ha family who helped quell rebellions in the western border region of Thanh Hoa province.

The Muong Kho Festival, initially a family or clan worship event, later became a major regional festival, showcasing the beauty of the emotional and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in the highlands of Thanh Hoa province. Today, Muong Kho is divided into four communes: Dien Trung, Dien Lu, Dien Quang, and Dien Ha in Ba Thuoc district. The Muong Kho region still preserves many unique traditional cultural values of the Muong people, including spiritual festivals, folk games and performances, and traditional musical instruments such as gongs and drums.

The 2024 Muong Kho Festival holds great significance for the spiritual life of the people of Dien Trung commune in particular and the people of Ba Thuoc district in general. The inclusion of the Muong Kho Festival in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism demonstrates the Party and State's concern for preserving and promoting the value of national cultural heritage.

At the Muong Kho Festival 2024, visitors can immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere of the highland market, enjoy characteristic dishes of the Muong ethnic people such as rice wine, bamboo-cooked rice, bitter soup, etc., and participate in unique games and performances such as throwing the ball, playing the mang game, cockfighting, swinging, and playing gongs and drums.

In particular, the festival features a performance of the "Séc bùa" ritual and a concert of 460 gongs and cymbals. Muong girls in traditional costumes, carrying 460 gongs and cymbals, performed and sang while walking, creating a large-scale choral performance rich in ethnic identity, attracting many viewers. The resounding sound of gongs and cymbals echoing through the mountains and forests is an indispensable part of the Muong Kho festival, showcasing the strength and aspirations of the Muong people.

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