Month: January 2022

Le Mung Com Moi (New Rice Celebration), a festival held in late eighth month and early ninth month of the Lunar year among ethnic minority groups in the northern province of Ha Giang, has been a unique cultural practice of local ethnic minority people to celebrate bumper crops.

Mung com moi is an agricultural practice that reflects the spiritual life of local residents and their respect to rice, an important crop in their production.

Normally, the ritual takes place several weeks before the rice harvesting season. A respectful shaman chooses a good day for all families in their village to celebrate the festival together. They offer their fruitful outcomes of labour to gods and ancestors, praying for favourable weather, bumper crops, good health and prosperity.

The festival is well organised to show respect for their ancestors who accumulated and transferred them rice growing techniques. On behalf of the family, the shaman reads the prayer to thank the Rice Genie and invite the ancestors’ souls to come home to share the happiness of a good crop with their children.

The shaman tells a story of the earth formation, rice growing techniques, and people’s effort and time to tend rice fields. He thanks genies for giving them rice and advises people to work hard and unite in production and life.

Hoang Su Phi, having a total area of 3,700 hectares of terraced rice fields, is one of the two border districts in the west of Ha Giang, which is home to 13 ethnic minority groups, including Dao, Tay, Nung, Co Lao and La Chi. Local ethnic minority groups have maintained their traditional practices, especially agricultural rituals.

Celebration by Dao, Nung, La Chi people

Dao ethnic families in Ho Thau Commune, Hoang Su Phi District, often hold a new rice festival when entering the harvest, around the 5th to 10th day of the ninth Lunar month every year.

With the custom of worshiping polytheists, the Dao people of Ho Thau Commune believe that the rice plant also has a soul. So according to traditional rites, the most important thing is to bring the new rice soul home.

In the early morning, women of the family go to the rice field to cut biggest rice ears in the fields and tie them up in small bunches for sun drying. Then the best rice ears tied in small bunches are hung on the wall of their houses and the remaining will be used to make green glutinous rice flakes and cook steamed glutinous rice for offerings to deities and ancestors.

Dao people believe that first rice of a harvesting season should be given to the elderly of the family, the ancestors, and gods who have helped them enjoy a bumper crop.

During the event, Dao people will pay tribute to their ancestors, while the shaman will help the family get rid of evils and bad luck.

Similarly, the new rice offering ceremony is one of the rituals bearing strong agricultural beliefs of the Nung ethnic group in Po Lo Commune.

This ritual depends on the season of ripe rice, which is held by families in the eighth or ninth month of the lunar calendar every year.

To perform this ritual, in the early morning, the woman of the family goes to the rice field to prune the largest and newly ripened rice in the field, usually sticky rice. If the sticky rice has not yet ripened, they have to use plain rice. The rice is tied into bundles to carry home. From these rice grains, the largest seeds will continue to be selected and tied into two bundles and hung on the wall at both ends of the altar.

The rest is used to make green rice or cook into sticky rice to offer to ancestors, heaven and earth. If for some reason, the family does not have enough new rice, they can mix some old rice to cook or use a few new rice grains to put in a pot of sticky rice to get the essence of new rice and offer it to the ancestors.

In the long-standing tradition of the La Chi people in Ban Phung commune, Hoang Su Phi District, the new rice offering ceremony is a very important ritual.

Before the event, the host’s wife, who is considered the “Mother of rice”, will have to get up very early to prepare baskets and tweezers to pluck the first grains of rice and cook them to give thanks to the ancestors.

The picking of the first grains of rice also has a very sacred meaning, because this is also the ceremony of “receiving” the soul of the rice, with the desire to pray for the family’s new crop to be lucky and favourable.

Only after offering new rice can families bring the newly harvested rice into their home and eat. Before the new rice offering ceremony takes place, families are not allowed to burn rice straw because the rice spirit is still on the straw, if burned, next year, the crop will be lost./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A pair of stone lion statues at Ba Tam pagoda-temple complex is a symbol of the pinnacle of stone carving technique during the Ly Dynasty, showing the skillfulness and high aesthetic sense of artisans.

The site is a well-known relic of Hanoi associated with the life and career of Nguyen Phi Y Lan (Empress Mother Linh Nhan).

Hallmarks in the history of the Ly Dynasty were partly attributed by Nguyen Phi Y Lan – a talented woman who replaced the king as regent to look after the country. She was the pride of the nation in the resistance war against invaders of China’s Tang Dynasty, as well as in the cause of building a strong country in terms of politics, economy, culture, and expanding Buddhism in peacetime.

Construction of the complex was initiated by Empress Mother Y Lan and inaugurated in March 1115.

Located next to Highway 5 with high traffic flows, the complex still retains the quietness of a spiritual place.

From afar, the complex stands out with the pure bronze statue of Empress Mother Linh Nhan Y Lan which is 9.1m high and weighs 30 tonnes. Behind it is an embossment made of green stone covering an area of 140 sq.m.

Entering the gate is a space bearing the impression of Ly Dynasty style with a floating pavilion and a pair of dragon statues which were restored in 2000.

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The Ba Tam pagoda-temple complex in Duong Xa commune in Hanoi’s outlying district of Gia Lam. (Photo: Vietnam Pictorial)

The Ba Tam temple is a place dedicated to Nguyen Phi Y Lan. It was built in the Ly Dynasty style with 72 gates, the oldest type in Vietnam.

It is also frequented by visitors as it is home to two national treasures which are a pair of stone lion statues and a gilded wooden altar.

In particular, the pair of stone lions – the original artifacts associated with this relic since its construction – were carved very delicately from a sandstone block. With a large size of 110cm high and 140cm wide, they are solemnly placed in the pagoda’s Buddhist trinity palace.

The work shows delicate carving lines, carrying the significance of Buddhist philosophy, and at the same time, clearly shows the majesty and power of a mascot in the history of the Vietnamese fine art in the 12th century.

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Statues are made from sandstone with skillful techniques. (Photo: Vietnam Pictorial)

Another unique feature is the mixture of round statues and embossment, a strength in the sculpture art of the Ly Dynasty.

According to Buddhism, lion is the embodiment of intellectual power, but with stars on the body, the stone lions of the Ba Tam pagoda-temple also have the meaning of carrying the moving sky.

Instead of sticking to a certain pattern, artisans really created works of art bearing contemporary hallmarks.

Such requires a convergence of wisdom, imagination, affection and craftsmanship of master artisans.

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The pair of stone lions are placed in the main compartment of the temple (Photo: Vietnam Pictorial)

Another national treasure at the complex is gilded wooden altar dating back to the 16th century. As a unique original artifact, it represents wood carving and gilding industry of the country and the Mac Dynasty in particular.

Measuring 170cm in height and 62cm in width, it is one of the three earliest known altars in art deco style, a typical product of the traditional 16th-century lacquer art.

In addition to its artistic value, the treasure offers an insight into architectural model of the Mac Dynasty, bringing the national art back to its traditional essence./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Apart from praying for a bumper crop and wealth, the forest worship ceremony of the Mong ethnic people in Si Ma Cai is also meant to cultivate a love for nature and the awareness of environmental protection in the community.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has listed the forest worship ceremony of the Mong ethnic people in Si Ma Cai district, the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, as part of the national intangible cultural heritage.

The recognition is hoped to be a driving force for the local Mong community to continue upholding the tradition of protecting forests, water resources, and the environment.

Ly Seo Vang, Vice Secretary of the Si Ma Cai Party Committee, said people in the district are all happy that the forest worship ceremony of the Mong people has been named national intangible cultural heritage, which is a valuable title, and the district will work harder to preserve and bring into play these cultural values so as to better protect the forests.

The forest worship ceremony is a long-standing practice that has been passed down from generation to generation in the Mong community in Si Ma Cai.

It is associated with the polytheism of Vietnamese farmers throughout history. People believe that there is a forest god who protects locals and endows them with good health, peace, wealth, and happiness.

The Mong people in the district hold the forest worship ceremony in the second and sixth lunar months every year to pray for good weather, bumper crops, prosperity, and solidarity. The practice also aims to cultivate a love for nature and the awareness of environmental protection in the community.

Local patriarchs said this ceremony dates back hundreds of years, noting that it is also intended to enhance the solidarity among Mong people in different villages in border areas so as to safeguard peace and assist one another in the face of foreign invaders.

A sacred forest is called “lung san” in the Mong language.

It is said that the ceremony was first held in the era of King Tu Duc, who reigned from 1848 to 1883. At that time, local residents and two patriarchs named Giang Chan Min and Giang Chan Hung chose the forest in Lung San hamlet of Lung Than commune to hold an oath-taking ceremony, promising to join people of ethnic groups to rise up against the Co Vang enemy, which came from the area which is now Ha Giang province to rob villagers’ assets.

Under the two patriarchs’ command, ethnic communities in Si Ma Cai succeeded in defeating the Co Vang enemy and winning back peace.

Cu Seo Sung, a patriarch in the district, said to commemorate Giang Chan Minh and Giang Chan Hung, local residents selected the days of the dragon in the second and sixth lunar months to pay tribute to them and pray for forest development, bumper crops, prosperity, safety, and happiness.

Tran Hoai Long, deputy head of the division for culture of Si Ma Cai district, said Pho Cu hamlet in Si Ma Cai commune and Lung San hamlet in Lung Than commune have the largest forest worship ceremonies in the district.

The biggest ancient trees are the venues for the ceremony, which consists of rituals and festive activities.

Offerings in the ceremony will be divided evenly for all participants, who will later listen to patriarchs, village leaders, and shamans disseminating local rules on forest protection.

Practiced for centuries, the forest worship ceremony of the Mong people in Si Ma Cai has contributed to the richness of the country’s traditional cultural values./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

An enhanced cold air will affect the north and central regions on January 31, causing light rain in the former and showers and thunderstorms in the latter.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the lowest temperatures in the North will range from 10 – 13 degrees Celsius, even dropping to below 3 degrees Celsius in high mountainous areas with a possibility of frost and snow.

Meanwhile, the lowest temperatures for the north central region are expected at 11 – 14 degrees Celsius.

The biting cold conditions in the two regions are forecast to last until February 4./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

In the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year (Tet), Vietnamese communities in Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, Cuba, the Czech Republic and France have cheerfully celebrated the important traditional festival of their home nation.

In Sri Lanka, the Vietnam Embassy on January 30 organised a programme that gathered more than 100 Vietnamese expats.

Meanwhile, the Vanuatu friendship association held a Tet celebration hosting about 200 Vietnamese people and nearly 100 guests, including Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman Weibur, Finance Minister Johny Konapo, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities Jay Ngwele, as well as Australian and New Zealand ambassadors to the nation.

In his remark, the Vanuatu PM took note of the Vietnamese community’s significant contributions to his country. He said he supports the building of the Vietnamese community house and pledged to make a donation for the project.

The Vietnamese embassies in Cuba and the Czech Republic also organised cozy Tet gatherings for Vietnamese expats and businesses in the nations.

The Vietnamese students’ association in Paris, France, mounted an event spotlighting banh chung (square glutinous rice cake) – a traditional dish of the Vietnamese people on Tet. For the Vietnamese, making banh chung is an ideal way to express their gratitude to their ancestors and homeland./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

According to ancient traditions, on the last day of a lunar year, a typical Vietnamese family puts aside everything to prepare a feast to worship their grandparents and ancestors, praying for a brighter year ahead.

The Lunar New Year’s Eve meal is an opportunity for Vietnamese to invite ancestors and deceased family members to celebrate Tet and reunite with their children and grandchildren. It also connects generations in the family to see off the old year and welcome a new year full of happiness and good things. According to Tran Huu Son, deputy head of the Vietnam folk arts association, each family normally prepares two offering trays of food on the occasion. The oldest man in the house will burn incence and read prayers inviting gods and ancestors to come to celebrate Tet with his family.

In the past, an offering tray, particularly in the north, often had six bows and eight plates of different traditional culinary delights for Tet. As time flies, the feast now sees less of traditional food and includes more modern specialties.

The trays also present different dishes according to regions. Northern people hardly forget to place banh chung (square glutinous rice cake), gio lua (sausage made of pork and traditionally wrapped in banana leaves), and nem ran (spring rolls) on their strays; residents of the central region prefer banh tet (round glutinous rice cake) and boiled pock; while braised meat and shrimp and meat salad are the must-have traditional food for people in the South. In addition to these food trays, there are a five-fruit tray, incence, flower vases, candles, tea, and votive offerings, among others placed on the alters of Vietnamese families on the special eve./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

With three major tourism routes, the northern border province of Cao Bang is giving visitors opportunities to explore all landscapes and cultures of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark, one of the most impressive attractions of the province, which has been recognised as a UNESCO global geopark, the second of its kind in Vietnam.

With its spectacular beauty, the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark has become a highlight of Cao Bang province, helping the locality boost its tourism development and promote its unique culture.

Unique geological heritage

Located in the north of Vietnam, 300km from Hanoi, the Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark covers 3,000 sq.km. It covers six districts of Ha Quang, TraLinh, Quang Yen, TrungKhanh, Ha Lang, PhucHoa, and part of Hoa An, Nguyen Binh and Thach An districts. The geopark is home to nine ethnic groups including Tay, Nung, Mong, Dao and San Chay.

The geopark is an exceptional territory which offers insights into the history of our planet across more than 500 million years through protected sites. Fossils, marine sediment, volcanic and plutonic rocks and minerals are witness to the remarkable evolution and changes of our planet, and they constitute an exceptional geological heritage.

It is also a land of tangible and intangible cultural heritage sites and special historical monuments. The area is also well-known for its high biological diversity with abundant endemic plant and animal species and ecosystems.

There are three main routes to explore the geopark, including going to the east to experience traditional cultures, north to see history and freedom, and west to experience PhiaOac, the mountain of transformations.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark is home to various famous landscapes, including PhiaOac, Phia Den, Thang Hen lake complex, NguomNgao cave and Ban Gioc Waterfall.

Located in Dam Thuy commune of TrungKhanh district, the Ban Gioc Waterfall is one of Vietnam’s most impressive natural sights. Thirty metres high and 300 metres across, it is the widest, but not the highest, in the country. The falls occur on the beautiful jade-blue water of the Quay Son River, as they flows through a pastoral landscape of rice fields and bamboo groves, surrounded by limestone mountains. In 1997, Ban Gioc waterfall was officially recognised as a national scenic spot. Ban Gioc waterfall is the world’s fourth largest border waterfall. World renowned travel magazines have honored Ban Gioc as one of top ten most majestic waterfall on earth.

Ban Gioc waterfall is most beautiful between June and October, especially in September and October when it is full of water.

Ma Phuc Pass and “Mat Than nui” (Mountain God’s eye) in QuocToan commune of TraLinh is also among famous landscapes of Cao Bang, along with PhiaOac-Phia Den national park in which more than 90 rare faunal and 58 animal species are living.

Exploring local culture

Cao Bang is home to nine ethnic minority groups, including Tay, Nung and Giao. The groups mostly concentrate in TraLinh, QuangUyen, PhucHoa and TrungKhanh districts. Their unique cultural identities have become an attraction for Cao Bang tourism.

Visitors will have a chance to experience the craft of making incense of Nung An people in PhiaThap village. Handed down from generations to generations, all villagers in the village know how to make incense from natural materials found in the locality.

They can also enjoy dozens of folk festivals such as QuangUyen firework festival, Nang HaiPhucHoa Festival, and “long tong” (going to the field) Festival of TaymNung, Dao and San Chi people, along with special dishes.

Major tourism routes

Currently, Cao Bang is developing three major tourism routes – the northern route called “Journey to the root”; the western routes entitled “Exploring PhiaOac – the mountain of changes”; and the eastern route themed “Exploring local culture of the fairy land”.

The “Journey to the root” will bring visitors to Hoa An and H Quang district to explore the land that is rich in cultural and historical values typical for the tradition of national defence, including the Le King temple, De Doong temple, Kim Dong historical relic site, and Pac Bo national special historical relic site in which President Ho Chi Minh live from 1941 to 1944.

The journey will take tourists through the 500-year history of the formation of the Earth with geographical heritage of global value.

Meanwhile, the PhiaOac tour comprises 16 destinations in Nguyen Binh district. The highlight of the tour is the PhiaOac-Phia Den ecotourism site, including the 1,931m PhiaOac peak, which is considered the roof of Cao Bang.

At the same time, the eastern route goes through four districts of TraLinh, QuangUyen, TrungKhanh and Ha Lang, giving a chance for visitors to experience the unique cultures of Tay, Nung, Mong, Dao and San Chay ethnic minority people through traditional craft villages and folk festivals. They will have the opportunity to enjoy special cuisine of the northern mountainous region.

With the three major tourism routes, visitors to Cao Bang can have a panorama of the global geopark and an insight of local life. The beauty of nature and culture have made Cao Bang a worth-to-visit destination./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency