With the desire to preserve, honor and promote traditional Muong cultural values, in 2016, Quoc Oai district implemented Project No. 12/DA-UBND-DT dated March 23, 2016, on conservation and promotion of Muong people’s cultural identity. After 5 years of implementation, the spiritual life of ethnic minorities in the district has been significantly improved.
Implementing Resolution No. 15/2008/QH12 by the National Assembly, Quoc Oai district became one of the 5 localities with a large concentration of Muong ethnic people living in the capital. Quoc Oai district has 02 communes belonging to ethnic minority areas, namely Phu Man commune and Dong Xuan commune.
In addition to socio-economic development, improving the spiritual life of the people based on preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values has always been paid special attention by Quoc Oai district. Preserving and promoting national cultural values has always received the attention and direction of the District Party Committee, People’s Council and People’s Committee. Implementing the Project has created close coordination and enhanced roles and responsibilities among all levels and sectors for the protection and promotion of the traditional culture of the nation.
After 5 years of implementing Project No. 12, the spiritual life of ethnic minorities in the two mountainous communes of Dong Xuan and Phu Man has been gradually improved. In the 2016-2020 period, Quoc Oai district has effectively implemented the Project on preserving and promoting the value of Muong ethnic cultural identity, the Gong and National Costume sections. Specifically, 6 training classes have been opened with more than 300 trainees participating and teaching Gongs among ethnic minorities. Gong classes have attracted a large number of people of different ages.
Every year, Quoc Oai district organizes training on gong performance for the Muong people.
Up to now, Dong Xuan and Phu Man communes have established gong and folk songs clubs, especially young gong clubs in villages such as Lap Thanh, Cua Khau (Dong Xuan commune) and Dong Vi (Phu Man commune) with members of high school age.
The district People’s Committee has purchased 18 sets of gongs to equip two communes, of which 01 set of gongs for each village. The district People’s Committee also procured and provided traditional costumes for the two main gong and folk songs teams of the two communes.
The gong team of the two communes as well as of Quoc Oai district participated in many activities, programs and welcome shows at events such as: District Sports Festival; The Congress of Ethnic Minority Deputies in Hanoi, at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, etc.
To attract and further spread the national cultural identity, every year the District People’s Committee organizes cultural contests and events such as: Beauty contest in Muong village; ethnic minority sports competitions; cultural and sports festival of ethnic minorities; performances of gongs, folk songs… attract a large number of people to participate and cheer, contributing to educating the community’s consciousness, preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity of the nation.
The gong performance of the Dong Xuan and Phu Man commune art teams at the exchange program to welcome the 3rd Congress of Ethnic Minority Deputies in Hanoi.
Along with that, the People’s Committees of mountainous ethnic communes also organized many activities to preserve and promote traditional cultural identities such as: Organizing the Great National Unity Festival in residential areas (November 18) annually; Spring Festival with many folk games such as Throwing Ball, Shooting Crossbow, etc; integrating folklore activities in festivals, sports congresses, etc. In particular, Phu Man commune organized a competition to perform Gongs and folk songs and display typical products of the Muong ethnic group.
In 2020, Quoc Oai District People’s Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to 5 collectives and 10 individuals with outstanding achievements in preserving and promoting Muong ethnic cultural identity, period 2016 – 2020.
In recent years, the cultural and spiritual life of ethnic minorities in Quoc Oai district has been improved markedly. Ethnic sports and folk games were restored and developed. Festivals, cultural contests, arts and sports are organized rich in both content and form. In particular, the young generation has a sense of care, preserving and spreading the beauty of traditional culture.
Ngan Ha