Thecultural heritageThe recognized events this time include: the Púng Hiéng Festival (Summer New Year Festival) of the Dao Tien people in Moc Chau, Son La province; the Xen Lau No Festival of the Black Thai people in Yen Chau, Son La province; and the paper-making craft of the Mong people in Moc Chau, Yen Chau, Mai Son, Thuan Chau, Muong La, Bac Yen, and Phu Yen, Son La province.

Artists perform at the Púng Hiéng Festival (Summer New Year) of the Dao Tien people. Photo: Nguyen Nga.

FestivalPúng Hiéng (New Year's Festival) is the biggest ceremony of the Dao Tien people, holding significant importance, especially in their ethnic beliefs. It emphasizes the role of the clan leader and helps to unite members of the clan and community. The festival is held every 3-4 years, lasting 4-6 days during the Lunar New Year, with the meaning of giving thanks to ancestors and deities and praying for a prosperous new year.

The festival originates from the story that: In the old days, the ancestors of the Tang, Ban, Dang, Ly, and Trieu families in Moc Chau were very wealthy, enjoying bountiful harvests every year and a prosperous life. They believed that such a life was due to the blessings of nature and the protection of the gods. Therefore, they were always ready to help their neighbors. During Tet (Lunar New Year), they would celebrate and invite relatives and villagers to share in the festivities, give thanks to their ancestors and deities, and pray for a more prosperous year ahead.

Although it is a family ritual,FestivalPúng Hiéng is a village festival, signifying strong community cohesion and becoming a shared celebration for everyone, with the right and responsibility to participate to pray for good fortune and luck for their families. Throughout the festival, members of the clan, as well as people from within and outside the village, gather at the clan leader's house to dance day and night, the sounds of drums and gongs resounding throughout the area.

The Xen Lau FestivalTypically held in the spring, the festival is a time to thank ancestors, river gods, and mountain gods, and to express gratitude to shamans for their healing deeds. The festival combines ceremonial and celebratory elements, reflecting people's faith and resilience in the face of illness, challenges, and difficulties; it encourages people to strive for goodness, avoid evil, learn proper conduct, and uphold national unity.

After completing part of the ceremony, everyone dances together around the "Xang Bok" (ceremonial pole) with the wish for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, good health, happiness, and prosperity for everyone. This is also an opportunity for the Black Thai ethnic community to meet, interact, learn from each other's experiences in production and raising children, and immerse themselves in the sounds of drums, gongs, and the traditional Xoe dance.

PapermakingThe Hmong people have a long-standing tradition of using paper. The paper they produce isn't for writing, but for use during festivals, holidays, and religious ceremonies. On these occasions, small pieces of paper are cut and pasted onto corners of houses, pillars, and household items, symbolizing sealing the end of the old year and welcoming the new one, with the hope of bringing good fortune, peace, and luck to everyone in the family.

The addition of three more intangible cultural heritage items to the national list of intangible cultural heritage is a source of pride not only for the ethnic communities directly involved in preserving and promoting them, but also affirms Son La province's efforts in the conservation and honoring of intangible cultural heritage. This is also an important foundation for integrated development.culturewith sustainable tourism and socio-economic development in the new era.