Independence Day Celebrations Among the Muong People in the Borderland
On September 2, the Muong community in Dak Huyt Hamlet, Quang Truc Border Commune, came alive with celebrations for Independence Day. For the Muong people, the occasion is a major community festival and an opportunity to meet, reflect on history and honor their ethnic cultural values.
Independence Day in the Memories of the Muong People
The Muong community in Dak Huyt Hamlet celebrates Independence Day every year on September 2. After the Lunar New Year, it is one of the most anticipated community occasions, bringing people together in the shared space of the Muong village.
During the celebration, milestones of the August Revolution in 1945, including the moment when the people seized power and President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence are recalled, helping younger generations better understand the nation's struggle for independence.
In 2007, more than 50 Muong households from Hoa Binh Province came to Quang Truc to settle and build new lives. Over time, the new land gradually became their second home. Today, the customs, traditions and cultural practices they brought from their former homeland continue to be preserved and remain an integral part of community life.
Independence Day is an opportunity for people to meet, socialize and strengthen community solidarity, while remembering our national history, September 2 National Day and the values of peace and independence we enjoy today.
Bui Van Mien, Head of the Muong Hamlet, Dak Huyt Hamlet, Quang Truc Commune
From the first generation of settlers to the younger generation born and raised in Dak Huyt Hamlet, Independence Day has gradually become deeply rooted in community life. Each year, stories about their homeland, national history and the significance of National Day are recalled, helping different generations better understand their roots and appreciate the value of the peaceful life they enjoy today.
Preserving Muong Cultural Identity in the Borderland
Bringing songs, dances, traditional costumes and folk games from their former homeland, the Muong people in Dak Huyt Hamlet continue to preserve familiar cultural traditions in their new home.
Independence Day provides an opportunity for these cultural values to be brought to life in the community's shared space. The celebration becomes even more vibrant with the participation of different generations, each contributing to the preservation of cultural traditions that have long been part of community life.
Everyone is happy to take part in Independence Day, wear traditional costumes, sing and dance together and play folk games. Events like this help our children better understand their ethnic culture and learn about what their grandparents and parents have preserved so that they can continue to promote it.
Bui Van Ninh, a resident of the Muong Hamlet, Dak Huyt Hamlet
Alongside musical performances, folk games such as crossbow shooting, stick pushing and tug-of-war, as well as various sports activities, attracted large numbers of residents. People from other hamlets in the commune also joined the festivities, strengthening connections among ethnic communities in Quang Truc Commune.
The participation of different generations creates a continuous thread in the community's cultural life. Young people have the opportunity to learn about and directly participate in their ethnic cultural activities, while older generations continue passing these traditions down to them.
Vu Thi My Duyen, Head of Dak Huyt Hamlet, said: “Young people today have many opportunities to experience modern life, so we need to create more opportunities for them to learn about and participate in their ethnic cultural activities. When they take part directly and learn about the customs and cultural beauty of their homeland, they will understand them better and become more conscious of preserving them. I hope these activities will continue so that generations of Muong people here can become increasingly connected.”
After nearly two decades of building their lives in the new land, the Muong community continues to preserve the cultural values brought from their former homeland, contributing to the diverse cultural identity of the Quang Truc borderland. According to Doan Minh Thuan, Standing Vice Chairman of the Quang Truc Commune People's Committee, every community in the area has its own cultural values that should be respected and promoted.
“Quang Truc is home to many ethnic groups. Each has its own cultural identity, and when they interact and share with one another, these cultural traditions become more widely known. Activities such as Independence Day celebrations also provide an opportunity for residents to meet, strengthen bonds and work together to build a strong cultural life in their communities. We hope traditional cultural values will continue to be preserved and passed down to younger generations,” Thuan said.
From a community festival, the Muong people's Independence Day celebration in Quang Truc has become an occasion for cultural values to be passed down and embraced in contemporary life. In this borderland, Muong traditions and customs remain alive, evoking memories of their roots and adding to the rich cultural tapestry of Quang Truc.