Building the Muong’s style cultural house in Cu hamlet, Tu Ne commune, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province

One of the objectives of the project on Livelihood Improvement,  Cultural Identity Preservation and Environmental Protection in  Tu Ne Commune, Tan Lac District, Hoa Binh Province is to preserve the Muong cultural identity and indigenous knowledge. A number of activities have been carried out to preserve and strengthen the Muong traditions. One of which was to build a Muong-style cultural house in order to perform Muong dances and songs for guests in the evening while drinking with long straws the Muong alcoholic beverage called Ruou Can. The weaving, dancing and singing teams have been established. And the house has become a common place for them to come to practice and share experience of how to develop the household economy every week.

It is a collaborative activity between the local cadres, the villagers of Cu hamlet and the project staff based in the CECAD’s office in Tu Ne commune with the financial support from ICCO. About 80 villagers from Cu hamlet took part in the construction of the house. They did not only contribute their labor days but also the ideas as to how to construct a traditional Muong style house. 

On 26 December the opening ceremony of the cultural house was held by the Cu villagers, the Tu Ne People’ Committee and the CECAD staff members. Since then the house has become the place where all community activities, such as forestry, agricultural extension training, Youth Association’s and many other associations’ meetings, festival and welcoming tourists take place.

(Source: cecad)