The beauty of Muong culture in Nho Quan, Ninh Binh

Muong ethnic minority in Ninh Binh Province have nearly 20,000 people living intermingled with Kinh people in Cuc Phuong, Ky Phu, Quang Lac, Phu Long, Thach Binh, Yen Quang, Xich Tho in Nho Quan mountain district. Coming to the villages of Muong people, we see all the great changes taking place each day on the lives of Muong people here, having a rich cultural life with its own characteristics but always harmonious with the flow of national culture.

Unlike the Muong people in Thanh Hoa, Muong Tang in Hoa Binh, Muong people in Ninh Binh belong to Muong Giua ethnic group with specific characteristics of traditions, customs and clearer interference with Kinh people. In each commune, Muong people is also divided into different groups: Muong Vang people in Thach Binh, Xich Tho, Yen Quang; Muong Ram people mainly in Cuc Phuong, Van Phuong; Muong Bo people in Quang Lac; Muong Ky Lao in Phu Long, Ky Phu.

One of the quintessence of Muong culture is the Muong calendar. There is even a sensational legend about the birth of Muong calendar. Calendar Muong was born based on the cycle of the moon with 3 weeks of the calendar Muong. Every week has 10 days and the first week is called "cây” (tree) which means cool, green, birth and suitable for planting. The next week is the "lồng" refering to the moonlit night with shing moonlight to welcome the talented to contribute more for the village homeland. The third part is "Cối" refering to the unlucky things. "Muong Calendar" is based not only on Lunar calendar but also on "Hau van calendar" factor depending on the growth of trees to anticipate the luck or unluck in the future.

The wedding ceremony of the ancient Muongs must have betel leaves, and areca, 12 pairs of Bánh dày (Round sticky rice cake) symbolizing the 12 lunar weeks with the meanings of full and complete.

When a Muong person die, there is usually worshiping ceremony called Mo Tang. The contents of the Mo amulets and songs in the funeral of Muong people are presented under the circumstances of the family having funeral so they are quite diverse into a massive epic with the spirit of traditional spirituality.

Muong folk music is the traditional folk songs of the ancient Vietnamese, including Hát nói (singing while speaking) combined with Hát cúng lễ (singing together with worship), for example, Mo Muong singing and Rằng singing. There is often an interference between the two elements, "Tục" and "Thanh", which combine with traditional folk rituals on the occasion of the festivals. Đúm singing is also a common type of songs which is a kind of love exchange like Quan họ singing of Kinh people, usually in the spring when peach flowers and plum blossoms bloom in Nho Quan. When Tet and the spring come to villages in Thach Binh, Ky Phu, Cuc Phuong, Yen Quang, Quang Lac ... There are not only Nêu tree, Còn ball but also the Sắc bùa singing throughout the day, making the spring atmosphere here more cheerful with the only instrument used is Cồng chiêng (Gong). There are 8 types of gongs of different sizes (Big gong, medium gong, small gong)

Nowadays, the life of Muong people in Ninh Binh is increasingly improved. The cultural and artistic activities of the Muong here is also developing. Beside gong night festivals, Dum singing, Mo Muong singing, love song exchanges, there are many young men and women Muong sings and dances modern melodies. Muong ethnic people always love to preserve the priceless cultural values ​​that have created their own identity and contribute to enrich the cultural identity in Nho Quan. Experiencing and immersing in Muong lives and culture will surely leave an unforgettable impression for visitors.