Commitment to protecting heritage

Na Hau Commune is located in the core area of ​​Na Hau Nature Reserve, with a natural area of ​​over 5,640 hectares, of which special-use natural forests are over 4,500 hectares.

Na Hau forest is like a common roof of more than 500 households with over 2,500 people. Although the lives of the people are still difficult, this common roof has been preserved by generations of villagers through traditional laws passed down from generation to generation, always maintained and organized annually on the last days of January.

With the efforts in preserving, maintaining and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation by the Party Committees and authorities at all levels from the province to the grassroots; with the respect and love for the heritage of the Mong people in Na Hau commune, Van Yen district - the Forest Worshiping Ceremony is the 10th Intangible Cultural Heritage out of 11 intangible cultural heritages in Yen Bai province, honored to be included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

This is an important event, an opportunity to propagate, promote and widely introduce the content and cultural values ​​of the Forest Worship Ceremony; raise awareness of preserving and promoting cultural values ​​in the area associated with tourism development, contributing to promoting local socio-economic development.

At the ceremony, the leaders of the Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism of the province announced Decision No. 3980/QD-BVHTTDL dated December 10, 2024 of the Minister of Culture - Sports and Tourism deciding to include in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage "Social customs and beliefs of the Forest Worship Ceremony of the Mong people in Na Hau commune, Van Yen district, Yen Bai province".

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Hoang Viet Hoa, Chairman of the People's Committee of Van Yen district, Yen Bai province emphasized: "Receiving the Decision to certify the National Intangible Cultural Heritage for the Forest Worshiping Ceremony of the Mong people in Na Hau commune is not only a great honor for the Mong community here but also a great responsibility for the Party Committee, government and people of Van Yen district in preserving and promoting the value of this precious heritage".

To promote the heritage value, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Van Yen district committed to preserving intact the traditional values ​​of the Forest Worship Ceremony, strengthening research, collection and documentation programs on the Forest Worship Ceremony, ensuring the full preservation of the rituals, prayers, offerings and sacred space of the ceremony; supporting artisans, village elders and village chiefs in teaching the cultural values, language and customs associated with the ceremony to the younger generation.

Along with that, bring the Forest Worship Ceremony into community life and educate the young generation; integrate heritage conservation with the development of ecotourism and community tourism; protect and develop forests associated with the tradition of forest worship; promote propaganda about the importance of forests in community life, encourage people to strictly implement the convention of forest protection associated with the Forest Worship Ceremony custom; strengthen forest management and protection, strictly handle acts of forest encroachment, illegal exploitation and impact on the local ecological environment.

Oath to protect the forest

Along both sides of the road to the commune center are majestic green forests with large trees that can be hugged by 2-3 people. This proves the long-standing existence of this conservation area.

In 2006, Na Hau Nature Reserve was newly established, however, people have lived here for a long time. Villagers have established village covenants and regulations on protection and issued clear rewards and punishments for violators. Thanks to that, forest protection work has been strictly implemented, and encroachment and deforestation have decreased significantly.

Mr. Doan Giao Luong - Head of the Forest Protection Department of Van Yen district, Yen Bai province said: "The history of Na Hau Nature Reserve is a primeval forest with a long history, the forest structure has not been broken, the forest flora has nearly 400 species, of which 27 are rare plants listed in the Vietnam Red Book. Regarding animals, there are more than 70 species of animals, 240 species of birds, 48 ​​species of reptiles, many species listed in the Vietnam Red Book and the World Red List such as mountain goats, bears, black gibbons, gray langurs, big-headed turtles, and flower monitor lizards.

Mr. Sung Nha Pao in Ban Tat village was one of the first people to settle in Na Hau commune when this locality was newly established. He said: “In 1986, when we arrived here, it was still wild, with many wild animals, surrounded by old forests with hundreds of years old trees. At that time, the whole village only had a few houses, but gradually people saw that this place was fertile, so they migrated here in increasing numbers.

At first, life was very difficult, everyone survived thanks to the forest, many people also went into the forest to cut down trees to build houses, cultivate fields to grow cassava, corn, and hunt animals for food.

Most of the people in the commune understand the importance of forests to their lives and the village. Therefore, through many generations of living in harmony with the forest, the villagers have set up regulations and village covenants that the community respects, implements, and maintains from generation to generation in preserving and protecting the forest.

Mr. Vu Xuan Ba ​​- Secretary of the Party Committee of Na Hau commune, Van Yen district, Yen Bai province said: “The Forest Festival is not only a unique ritual with spiritual significance to pray for blessings, contributing to the preservation of material and spiritual values ​​in the ethnic community, but also practically contributes to the management and protection of forest resources as well as the protection of the ecological environment. During the Forest Festival, the villages will organize a Forest Protection Oath to evaluate the results of forest protection work, commend families who have done well and remind and criticize households who have not done well. Everyone pledges to unite to protect the forest, no one is allowed to violate the common regulations of the village.”

In each village of the Mong people in Na Hau commune, there is a forbidden forest, a sacred forest, where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converges to worship the Forest God with inviolable regulations.

Mr. Giang A Senh, a shaman who often represents the Forest Worship rituals, said: "According to the Mong people's concept, it is a place to protect the villagers from the wind, flash floods, and provide them with food, water to drink, and to irrigate the fields.

The ceremony begins with a procession of offerings, including a pair of roosters and hens, and a pig carried by two men and two women from the commune center to the forest gate. The ritual takes place under the ancient tamarind tree. At the auspicious hour, the shaman respectfully offers incense, turns to the four directions, knocks on the wooden fish and prays to invite the gods to witness, enjoy the offerings, bless and bestow forest blessings on the people, pray for favorable weather, good trees, and bountiful crops.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/le-cung-rung-cua-nguoi-mong-na-hau-duoc-chung-nhan-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-quoc-gia-192250226225144962.htm