Thecultural heritageThe festivals recognized this time include: Pung Hieng Festival (Ha Nien New Year) of the Dao Tien people in Moc Chau, Son La province; Xen Lau No Festival of the Thai Den people in Yen Chau, Son La province; and Papermaking of the Mong people in Moc Chau, Yen Chau, Mai Son, Thuan Chau, Muong La, Bac Yen, Phu Yen, Son La province.

Artists perform the Pung Hieng Festival (Ha Nien Festival) of the Tien Dao people. Photo: Nguyen Nga.

FestivalPung Hieng (Ha Nien Festival) is the biggest ritual of the Dao Tien people, which has an important meaning, especially in the ethnic beliefs, promoting the role of the clan leader and helping to unite the members of the clan and community. The festival is held every 3-4 years, for 4-6 days on the occasion of Lunar New Year with the meaning of thanking ancestors, gods and praying for a more favorable business year.

The festival originates from the story: In the past, the ancestors of the Tang, Ban, Dang, Ly, and Trieu families in Moc Chau were very rich, with bumper crops every year and a prosperous life. They believed that having such a life was a blessing from nature and the gods. Therefore, they were always ready to help the people around them. When Tet comes, they celebrate Tet and invite relatives and neighbors to join in the fun, thank their ancestors and gods, and pray for a more favorable business year.

Although it is a family ritual,FestivalPung Hieng is for the whole village, so it has a high sense of community cohesion and becomes a common festival of the village, everyone has the right and responsibility to participate to pray for luck and fortune for their family. During the festival, people in the clan, inside and outside the village gather at the head of the clan's house to dance all day and all night, the sound of drums and gongs is always bustling, resounding throughout the area.

Hot Pot FestivalIt is usually held in the spring to thank ancestors, river gods, mountain gods and is an occasion to thank the shaman for curing people's illnesses. The festival consists of a ritual and a festival, expressing people's faith and will to live in the face of illnesses, challenges and difficulties in life; helping people to know how to do good, avoid evil, know how to behave and promote national solidarity.

After completing a part of the ceremony, everyone dances together around the “Xang Bok” (pole) with the wish for favorable weather, good crops, health, happiness and prosperity for everyone. This is also an opportunity for the Black Thai ethnic community to meet, exchange, learn experiences in production, raising children, and join in the sound of drums, gongs and traditional Xoe dance.

Paper makingThe Mong people have been making paper for a long time. Paper is not made for writing, but is used in holidays, worshiping... On these days, small pieces of paper are cut and pasted on the corners of the house, pillars, and household items, with the meaning of sealing, ending the old year and welcoming the new year with the wish for good things, peace, and luck for everyone in the family.

The addition of 3 heritages to the list of national intangible cultural heritages is a source of pride not only for the ethnic minorities directly preserving and promoting them, but also affirms the efforts of Son La province in preserving and honoring intangible cultural heritages. This is also an important premise for linking development.culturewith sustainable tourism and socio-economic development in the new period.