Unique Cultural Identity of the Muong People in Kha Cuu Commune

Kha Cuu Commune was formed by merging three former communes: Dong Cuu, Thuong Cuu, and Kha Cuu, with the Muong ethnic group accounting for over 90% of the population. Here, the Muong community of Kha Cuu has preserved its distinctive and appealing cultural identity, creating a foundation for developing tourism and related services.

The Department of Ethnic Culture of Vietnam (under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), in coordination with the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People’s Committee of Kha Cuu Commune, has developed a cultural–culinary experience model associated with the traditional culture of the Muong people. The model features the preparation of local specialties such as five-colored sticky rice, five-colored bamboo-tube rice, stream fish, fermented sour pork, along with traditional folk games and sports including tug-of-war, con throwing, stilt walking, crossbow shooting, and various forms of folk performing arts. These activities significantly contribute to the preservation and promotion of traditional culture, laying the groundwork for developing unique tourism products and fostering sustainable community-based tourism.

Artisans from Dau hamlet perform cham duong (drum-pounding) folk melodies.

The cham duong repertoire is creatively expressed through diverse musical variations.

Gong performance is an indispensable cultural activity during festivals and the Lunar New Year.

Gong performances often take place next to traditional stilt houses in Chuoi hamlet.

The Senh tien dance is a distinctive cultural feature of the Muong people.

Cham ong and dam duong are unique forms of traditional folk performance.

Elderly residents still wear their traditional clothing in daily life.

Local residents prepare ingredients for making five-colored sticky rice.

Five-colored sticky rice includes red, green, purple, yellow, and white—natural colors symbolizing the five elements, representing luck, prosperity, and harmony between heaven and earth.

Ingredients are prepared for the traditional leaf feast tray, featuring signature dishes such as grilled stream fish, meat, nom cu nau (forest root salad), rau xoi, and sour bamboo shoots.

Fermented sour pork is meticulously prepared, from selecting ingredients to marinating and choosing the right bamboo tube for fermentation.

Residents enthusiastically participate in the con throwing competition,

and crossbow shooting contests between neighborhoods in the commune.

Teams also compete in stilt-walking events.

Phuong Thanh