In the highland villages of Son La, the Kho Mu community still persistently preserves the traditional cultural values of their nation. From the soft Au eo dance, the echoing khen sound to the sacred community rituals, all contribute to creating the unique identity of the Kho Mu people in the great forest.
One of the typical cultural features of the people is the Au eo dance, also known as hip-shaking dance. The movements in the dance recreate familiar labor images such as harvesting rice, picking vegetables, scooping shrimp, planting corn... both soft and healthy, showing the bond between humans and nature and the community.
Accompanying the dance is traditional costumes with a strong unique imprint. Kho Mu women often wrapped in colorful embroidered "piêu" scarves, wearing black "cóm" shirts studded with silver buttons and colorful decorative beads. Not only is it everyday clothes, it is also a symbol of the desire for a full and peaceful life.
Besides dancing and singing, the Kho Mu people also preserve many folk musical instruments such as khen, flute, drums and especially monkey gongs - a type of musical instrument made from bamboo tubes arranged horizontally, creating pleasant sounds during festivals. Traditional cuisine also carries the characteristic flavor of the mountains and forests with Doong Uong soup, bamboo rice, five-color sticky rice or sour bamboo shoot chicken.
In spiritual life, the Kho Mu people still maintain many traditional customs and rituals. The most prominent is the Xen Cung festival - a large community ritual held in March of the lunar calendar to pray for favorable harvests and peaceful villages. After the ritual part is the bustling atmosphere of folk games, dances and singing echoing throughout the village.
Not only preserving, the Kho Mu people today also focus on teaching culture to the younger generation. Many art troupes and folk cultural clubs are established to teach dance, folk singing and playing traditional musical instruments. In some villages, Kho Mu language classes are also opened to help teenagers know how to speak and use their mother tongue.
Amidst the current of modernity, Au eo dances, Xen cung festival or the sound of folk instruments are still passed down by the Kho Mu people through generations. That is not only a cultural beauty but also a source of community connection in the mountains and forests of Son La.
