The lifeblood of Hmong culture - preserving the 'breath of life' of heritage.

During the winter months, the mountains and forests seem to fall silent in the deep cold and stillness, with gentle breezes rustling through the rooftops. For the Hmong people, this time of year is not only a change of seasons, but also a time when people's hearts enter a special phase: the Lunar New Year, a season of reunion, of memories, and of cultural roots being brought to light.

The students had their first experience with the Tet (Lunar New Year ) cuisine of the Mong ethnic group.

In a small corner on the banks of the Cau River, Phan Dinh Phung ward, Thai Nguyen , Noong Homestay becomes warmer on a winter day with the constant sounds of laughter, flutes, and reed pipes.

The Mong ethnic group's cultural exchange program, organized by the Mong Cultural Source Club, brought young people from various regions together in one space to meet, share stories about Tet (Vietnamese New Year), their villages, and themselves amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life.

The program featured lecturers from the Viet Bac College of Culture and Arts, along with members of the Mong Cultural Source Club. The presence of these teachers not only held professional significance but also served as silent companionship, instilling confidence in young people to steadfastly preserve their cultural identity.

The opening musical performances were presented by the students themselves: a flute duet, the song "Sound of the Forest," a solo performance of "Come Back to the Northwest," and the resonant, rustic yet poignant sound of the Hmong flute, like a self-narrative about life and childhood memories in the mountains.

The atmosphere of the program became more intimate as everyone joined in experiencing the Mong New Year culture: making sticky rice, pounding rice cakes, grilling meat, and cooking thang co (a traditional stew). Amidst the lingering kitchen smoke, the students' still-clumsy hands gradually became accustomed to the rhythm of the pestle and the collective work.

Through this program, Noọng Homestay continues to affirm its role as a "living space" of culture, connecting school and life, learning and experience. It is a place where young Hmong people can actively participate in preserving and promoting their cultural identity, not through orders or coercion, but through voluntariness and pride.

In the context of a rapidly changing modern society, many folk cultural values ​​are at risk of fading away or being confined within performance patterns. Therefore, cultural preservation cannot simply stop at collecting, documenting, or recreating on stage; it requires ensuring that heritage continues to be present in community life.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung, a folklore researcher and member of the Thai Nguyen branch of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, intangible cultural heritage consists of living practices closely linked to the social environment and the community it pertains to. Effective preservation means protecting the people who practice, teach, and create this culture every day.

Traditional folk games connect cultural memories with the joys of today's young people.

In reality, as urbanization, labor migration, and mass cultural products become increasingly dominant, many spaces for practicing traditional culture have shrunk. If heritage is only presented on stage, detached from community life, its core value will gradually fade. The profound value of folk culture lies in indigenous knowledge, socio-spiritual significance, and the connection between generations.

Renewal should be limited to the way it is expressed, and should absolutely not alter the inherent nature and function of the heritage. This is a crucial principle to prevent culture from being overly commercialized or ostentatious.

Programs like the Mong ethnic cultural exchange and gathering at Noọng Homestay are vivid examples of the path to sustainable preservation – where culture is not only preserved but continues to spread, thrive, and be meaningful in contemporary life.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202601/mach-nguon-van-hoa-mong-giu-hoi-tho-song-cua-di-san-8547bcf/