Tan Lac district preserves the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group

Muong Bi - Tan Lac is one of the four major Muong regions of Hoa Binh province. The district has about 85% of the population being Muong ethnic people and still preserves quite intact the unique cultural beauty. Therefore, in recent years, Tan Lac district has always paid attention to the work of preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of the Muong ethnic group.

The traditional stream fishing festival of Lo Son commune (Tan Lac) is a unique cultural and religious activity of the locality.

The ancient Muong village in Luy Ai hamlet, Phong Phu commune is a place that still preserves many cultural values such as: stilt houses, customs, beauty in daily life, culture... Mrs. Bui Thi Cai, who has lived in Luy Ai hamlet for many years, shared: "Currently, the Muong ethnic people in the hamlet still preserve the unique cultural features of their ethnic group. Personally, I have the habit of wearing ethnic costumes and communicating in Muong language every day. At the same time, I also encourage my children, grandchildren, and the younger generation to preserve the ethnic cultural identity so that it does not fade away...".

To achieve high efficiency in preserving and promoting national cultural identity, Tan Lac district has implemented many synchronous solutions. In particular, focusing on propaganda work to raise awareness, responsibility, and change the actions of cadres, party members, and people. Along with that, meaningful and practical activities are organized... In 2023, the district's Department of Culture and Information (DOC) supported and trained 5 grassroots art troupes associated with community cultural tourism spots in the district to preserve the intangible cultural heritage of the nation. Established 3 folk cultural activity clubs in the highland communes of Van Son and Ngo Luong. Determining the important role of educating and teaching traditional cultural identity, especially for the younger generation, the district organized training courses to teach Thuong Dang singing, the ancient Mang set of the Muong ethnic group. In addition, an activity that has been effective in educating young people to preserve national cultural identity is the organization of the District Ethnic Minority Arts Festival in 2023, attracting nearly 400 actors and artisans from 16 communes and towns to participate. In addition to elderly actors and artisans, there are also young faces. This is an opportunity for young people to appreciate the unique traditional cultural values of the nation.

Speaking of the outstanding cultural events of Tan Lac district in 2023, it is impossible not to mention the Khai Ha Festival of the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province organized by the Provincial People's Committee. Khai Ha Festival, also known as Going to the Fields Festival, Forest Opening Festival, is the largest traditional folk festival of the Muong people in Hoa Binh. In 2022, the Khai Ha Festival of the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2023, the Khai Ha Festival of the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh was held for the first time at the provincial level. In recent years, Tan Lac district has maintained a number of traditional folk festivals such as the Khai Ha Muong Bi Festival, the Traditional Stream Fishing Festival of Lo Son commune, and the Ke Pagoda Festival of Phu Vinh commune. Not only are festivals important in preserving and conserving national culture, they also create an attraction to attract tourists, thereby developing the local economy, culture and society.

Currently, Tan Lac district preserves many valuable traditional tangible cultural heritages, such as: stilt houses, costumes, handicrafts; intangible cultural heritages, such as: language, writing, Muong mo, Muong gong, ethnic musical instruments, Muong folk songs. In recent times, the district has effectively implemented the Project to preserve and promote the value of typical intangible cultural heritages of Hoa Binh province in the period of 2018 - 2030. The Department of Culture and Information has advised and proposed to compile a dossier to rank provincial-level relics for 2 relics: Khu Che Temple, Dong Lai Commune and Loc Pagoda, Man Duc Town; decentralize relic management to communes and towns. Inspect and review 100% of relics in the district, open professional training courses for relic management boards, etc.

Comrade Bui Minh Hong, Head of the district's Department of Culture and Information, said: In the coming time, Tan Lac district will continue to do a good job of preserving and promoting tangible and intangible cultural values in the locality; develop a plan to preserve and promote Mo Muong cultural values throughout the district; maintain and organize well a number of festivals associated with preserving Muong ethnic cultural values; effectively implement the Project to preserve and promote Muong ethnic cultural values and "Hoa Binh Culture" in the period of 2023 - 2030...

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