Lung Van- the Roof of the Muong Area

Lung Van- the Roof of the Muong Area

Lung Van (Muong Bi), about 40km from downtown Hoa Binh City, is famous for its spectacular natural scenery and the unique culture of the Muong people.

Located at an altitude of 1,200m above sea level, Lung Van in Tan Lac District looks like a fairyland amidst white clouds so it has another name, the Cloud Valley. Lung Van is considered “The Roof of Muong Bi,” one of the four major and the most ancient cultural cradles of the Muong ethnics in Hoa Binh Province, including Muong Bi, Muong Vang, Muong Thang and Muong Dong.

According to the “Land and Water” epic of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh, Lung Van was once a peaceful village which was then completely destroyed by a devastating flood and no one survived after the flood except for a couple who was saved by being stuck in a giant tree, called Bi. The tree had deep roots in 9 rivers and ten mountains so it was not swept away. Having no place to live, the couple built a tent under the tree to live and they reclaimed new land for farming, tamed wild animals for raising, made containers to get water and then established a hamlet and named it after the tree to show their gratitude to the tree that saved their lives. The present-day Muong Bi is a vast mountainous area of many communes in Tan Lac District and Lung Van is the highest place where the Muong ethnic people are living and it is believed to be the place where the Bi tree grew.

Lung Van is now still unfamiliar to many people because it is surrounded by deep blue mountains and is very far from the main road. It has still kept intact many traditional cultural and architectural features, such as tortoise-shaped roofs and Muong women’s dresses which are black and decorated with colourful patterns. Today their dresses are made shorter, suitable for working, however all delicate patterns remain unchanged.

This land is related to many fairy tales and is called the land of longevity because there are many people more than 100 years old who are still healthy. At the age of 90-100, they still work to help their grandchildren. It is believed that the locals’ longevity is due to the water from streams in the region, their good and simple lifestyle and airy and pure atmosphere.

In his notes about culture of Muong areas, culturist Phan Cam Thuong emphasised the difficulties in travelling to the region and the locals’ self-sufficient life. The locals go to their market for entertainment and sometimes exchange their products, such as brocade, woven products, fruit and vegetables. The locals have little money and some have no money.

Lung Van is most beautiful after Tet, from February to April, because at that time it is covered by white clouds. It is also the time the Muong people prepare for a new crop on terraced fields - “A Giant Mirror of Muong Bi”. So far, they have maintained their traditional farming method. Ha Van Binh, an elder in Lung Van said: “We live rather separately so the method of growing rice is quite different from those who live in lower areas. We only start the crop when it rains and the terraced fields are submerged in ‘heaven’s water’. We sow rice by hand that results in low productivity, but is famous for its high quality and delicious taste. Therefore, in the past rice made in Lung Van was used as an offering to hamlet lords, so it is also called ‘the rice of the hamlet lord’.”

With a pure atmosphere, spectacular scenery and peaceful life, Lung Van is really an ideal place for those who want to escape the noisy urban life and discover the unique cultural features of the Muong ethnic people.

Source: VNP

Bài viết liên quan

	Thanh Hoa opens additional display house of Ho Dynasty Citadel An additional display house of the Ho Dynasty Citadel was opened in Vinh Loc district of central Thanh Hoa province on April 21. Detail >>

	Viewing Nha Trang City from Co Tien Mountain Undoubtedly, Nha Trang is renowned as the city of the sea and for its many pristine beaches, and a trip to the peak of Co Tien (Fairy) Mountain will help visitors understand why the central coastal city can magnetize many tourists. Detail >>

	Food&Hotel Viet Nam supports growth of country's hospitality sector Food&Hotel Viet Nam 2015 opened on April 21 as the sourcing and networking platform for the food and hospitality industry in Viet Nam and the surrounding Indochina regions. Detail >>

	Annual int'l kite festival opens in Vung Tau Viet Nam's annual International Kite Festival opened on April 22 in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province's southern beach city of Vung Tau. Detail >>

	Vietnamese tourism popularised in India A delegation from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and 15 leading tourism agents are showcasing their products at the Global Exhibition on Services GES-2015, which is taking place in India from April 23-25. Detail >>

	Hung Temple Festival 2015 opens The 2015 Hung Temple Festival casting the spotlight on the tourism potential of eight north-western localities kicked off on April 25 in the northern province of Phu Tho. Detail >>

	Minister Hoang Tuan Anh meets the EU’s Independent Expert (TITC) – On 22 April 2015, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh had a meeting with the European Union (EU)’s Independent Expert, Ms. Patricia Magaret. Detail >>

	Tourist attractions crowded on reunification holiday Vacationers, at home and abroad, swarmed around places of attractions across Viet Nam during the six-day holiday starting from April 28th to celebrate the 40th anniversary of southern liberation and national liberation (April 30th). Detail >>

	Ben En, home to many rare species We arrived at Ben En National Park, one of the most relaxing parks in north Viet Nam, early this month to join a reforestation programme with people in Thanh Hoa's Nhu Thanh District. Detail >>

	Five holiday travel hotspots Here are five of the top holiday destinations in the north of Vietnam to visit during the upcoming six-day Reunification Day holiday filled with historical artefacts. Detail >>