“Keeping the Flame Alive”: Preserving Muong Ethnic Culture in Dai Dong

Dai Dong Commune is home to a vibrant Muong ethnic community of 22,332 people, accounting for 91.3% of the total population. Beyond its serene mountainous landscape, this land is a cultural stronghold where core material and spiritual values are meticulously preserved by the locals.

The cultural beauty of traditional costumes and folk games is meticulously preserved by the Muong community in Dai Dong Commune.

For generations, traditional brocade weaving has been a source of pride for Muong women in Dai Dong. Hundreds of women participate in this craft village. Artisans like Ms. Duong Thi Bin and Ms. Bui Thi Lan from Luc Hamlet have played a crucial role in reviving the craft and promoting the “Luc Nghiep Thanh Traditional Brocade Weaving Cooperative” brand to wider markets.

Recently, the commune’s brocade products and weaving techniques were showcased at the Cultural Camp during the 2026 Hung Kings' Commemoration and Ancestral Land Culture-Tourism Week. The vivid re-enactment of the craft village atmosphere attracted significant interest from both domestic and international tourists.

Muong women from Dai Dong re-enacting traditional brocade weaving at the 2026 Hung Kings' Festival. (Photo: Bui Minh)

Dai Dong is a cradle of folk music, including Thuong Rang – Bo Meng melodies, Sac Bua singing, and nursery rhymes. The commune maintains two clubs dedicated to Muong identity preservation, and 100% of hamlets sustain grassroots art troupes. Notably, artisan Quach Thi Lon from Khanh Hamlet has been honored as a Meritorious Artisan in Muong folk singing.

In Khanh Hamlet, a community tourism model has successfully emerged. The natural landscape of mountains and rivers, combined with the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage, has created a unique tourism product.

Foreign tourists experience a traditional campfire and immerse themselves in the cultural life of the Muong people at the Khanh Hamlet community-based tourism site in Dai Dong Commune.

Ms. Bui Thi Lieu, Head of Khanh Hamlet, shared: "Our community tourism site has welcomed many groups, including foreign visitors. We have three households providing homestay services. Tourists love experiencing crop harvesting, fishing on the Buoi River, enjoying Muong cuisine, and engaging in ethnic musical exchanges."

Over 70% of households in Dai Dong still live in traditional stilt houses.

Following modern trends, many of these are now constructed with reinforced concrete to ensure durability while strictly adhering to traditional Muong architecture.

The commune is also home to the Muong Khoi Revolutionary Base, a national historical relic. This “red address” is famous for the “Truong Son Guerrilla School against the Japanese” (1945) and is considered the revolutionary cradle of the Muong Vang region. The base’s traditional house displays precious artifacts, including bronze drums, ancient gongs, weapons, and tactical maps from the resistance era.

The Muong Khoi Revolutionary Base relic is a source of traditional pride for the people of Dai Dong Commune.

Mr. Bui Van Huy, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Division of Dai Dong Commune, affirmed: "The local government consistently prioritizes the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values, integrating them into the daily lives of our residents. In addition to encouraging the establishment of clubs for culture, folk singing, and folk dancing to safeguard unique cultural traits, the commune has increased the frequency of traditional festivals and folk games. We have also developed and implemented community conventions and codes of conduct to promote a civilized lifestyle in weddings, funerals, and festivals, all linked to the movement: “All people unite to build a cultural life”."

Furthermore, the commune has stepped up communication efforts to disseminate preservation policies and foster national pride in heritage among the people. There is a strong focus on encouraging students and youths to participate in cultural activities, explore local history, and preserve folk melodies and traditional games. The commune also recognizes and rewards individuals, artisans, and prestigious community members for their roles in heritage safeguarding. Notably, Dai Dong has leveraged various resources to build and upgrade cultural houses and sports grounds in its hamlets, providing dedicated spaces for community activities. By restoring historical-cultural relics and harnessing the values of traditional crafts and ethnic costumes to develop community-based tourism, the commune is helping residents increase their income while creating a sustainable incentive for cultural preservation.

Bui Minh