The Muong people is a unique ethnic group which can be found at Giang Mo Village, Ca Phong District, Hoa Binh Province. Known for its simple yet one-of-a-kind culture, it has attracted tourists for more than 20 years now.

Despite the province being near the capital, 85 kilometers North West of Ha Noi and 10 kilometers from Hoa Binh City, Muong has chosen and made sure to preserve its own identity. They own gardens, raise poultry, weave and cook. They also have a unique gong culture based on a belief that the musical instrument is their connection to their ancestors. Thus, each Muong family owns at least one gong that has been handed down through generations and which they play every New Year's Eve believing that it will call upon their descendants to join in the celebration.

The gong holds an important and powerful part in Muong culture as it is also used to scare away evil. This practice is performed by the women in the village who go around beating on their gongs loudly to ward off evil and anything considered bad in their society. But all throughout the year, the gong is used in almost every occasion like weddings, festivals and parties. Learning to play the gong itself is easy, but gong players have to work with each other in order to create a harmonious and balanced music.

Aside from its ceremonial significance, the gongs also serve a utilitarian purpose in Muong culture. When someone is building a house, neighbors volunteer to help and the musical instruments are played to make the work seem easier and even enjoyable. In the hunting season, the gongs are used both during and after. The gongs are used to ward off wild animals when the men go out to hunt and when the season ends, the instruments are also played this time to celebrate victory for a successful mission. A long sound means that the hunters caught a lot of animals and everyone in the village is invited to join in the festivity.

Like its gong culture, Muong food is unique as well. Almost all of their dishes are steamed as influenced by their living environment of valleys, lime mountains, rivers and streams. Living among nature has taught them to make use of what's around them. Moreover, steaming retains the freshness and even adds a natural sweetness to the ingredients. Muong's steamed rice is one of its famous dishes since it is unique as it is delicious. After the rice is cleaned well, it is mixed with peanuts, put in a bamboo trunk, covered with a banana leaf and then steamed. Most of Muong's food is served on a bamboo tray with banana leaves. Its steamed fish, pork and vegetables are also among its specialties. Rice wine is the traditional drink which is immersed with leaves from the tro thang tree.

The Muong people express their love through words and show their respect through their eating habits, two important values that they live by. This is why their elders are seated in a higher place than the younger ones when eating to manifest their authority while visitors are expected to finish their drink in one go to show their sincerity to the hosts.

Giang Mo Village may look and feel like any ordinary province with rice fields, farm animals roaming around, stilt houses, children playing with folk games, and fresh air, among others, but it stands apart with its unique Muong culture which is clearly above the rest.