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

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 the Muong alcoholic beverage known as Ruou Can, with long straws. Weaving, dancing and singing teams become established and the house becomes a common place for them to practice in. As well as this, it allows them to share experiences of how to develop their household economy every week.The above 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. Approximately 80 villagers from Cu hamlet took part in the construction of the house. They did not only contribute their labour 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 and festivals can and welcoming tourists takes place.