Nestled at the foot of Hua Ta Mountain in Muong Luan Commune, Dien Bien Dong District, Dien Bien Province the ancient Muong Luan Tower has stood resilient against the passage of time. This region is home to a vibrant mosaic of ethnic communities, including the Thai, Lao, Kho Mu, and Xinh Mun, who have coexisted in harmony for generations.
Lo Van Lam talks with Thai and Lao villagers about the preservation of the Muong Luan Tower.
Constructed in the mid-16th century, the Muong Luan Tower, located in Muong Luan 1 Village, has withstood the test of time, standing nearly 500 years later as a testament to Viet Nam’s rich historical and cultural heritage. It also symbolises the enduring friendship between Viet Nam and Laos.
"I’ve travelled to many places and experienced life in various regions, but I’ve never encountered people as friendly and united as those in Muong Luan," said Dao Huong Lan, a resident of Tay Ho District, Ha Noi, during her visit to Dien Bien and the Muong Luan Tower to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory. "Life here is so peaceful. When I interacted with the locals, I felt an immediate sense of closeness, as if we’d been friends for a long time."
This sentiment is common among visitors to Muong Luan. The people here are genuinely warm and hospitable, with a natural kindness that transcends formalities.
Situated within the Mekong River basin and at the headwaters of the Ma River, Muong Luan’s fertile alluvial plains provide ideal conditions for settlement and agriculture. During the flood season, the rivers bring fish, irrigation water, and nutrient-rich silt that enriches the soil, fostering a thriving community. The Lao people here are industrious, cultivating rice and cotton. Elders pass down the traditional skills of selecting cotton, spinning yarn, and weaving durable, beautiful brocade garments for significant ceremonies such as the New Rice Festival, Water Splashing Festival, and Tower Worship Ceremony.
The Lao community coexists harmoniously with the Thai, Mong, Kho Mu, and other ethnic groups, creating a blended cultural fabric through intermarriages between the Thai, Kho Mu, and Xinh Mun communities in Luan Gioi and Chieng So and Lao families. Historically, Muong Luan was predominantly inhabited by the Thai people, with the Lao arriving later, but they have always lived in unity, treating each other as family.
According to village elder Lo Van Lam, the Muong Luan Tower has significantly influenced local culture, customs, and the spirit of unity among the people. Generations of Muong Luan residents have passed down the story that in 1569, when Myanmar attacked Laos, a group of Laotian refugees fled to Dien Bien Province. By 1594, after the war ended, some of these Lao people settled in Dien Bien, becoming Vietnamese citizens of Lao descent. It was during this period that the Muong Luan Tower was constructed.
"The land in Muong Luan is beautiful, resembling a person standing with their face towards Viet Nam and their back towards Laos, symbolising the solidarity between the two nations. This inspired them to build a special architectural work together, the Muong Luan Tower," said Lo Van Lam.
Each year, about five days before Tet (Lunar New Year), a shaman selects an auspicious day for a ceremony to worship the spirits. The villagers contribute local produce for the ceremony, which takes place at the foot of the tower. Together with the village shaman, they pray for favourable weather, bountiful crops, prosperity, healthy offspring, and happiness. In early spring, couples and residents from surrounding areas gather at the Muong Luan Tower to celebrate the “Hot Nam” festival.
The Muong Luan Tower is a cultural relic in the remote northwestern region of Viet Nam, recognised as a national heritage site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 1991. Experts have praised it as a valuable architectural work of significant artistic merit. Beyond its historical, cultural, and artistic value, the Muong Luan Tower stands as a powerful symbol of the long-standing solidarity and friendship between Viet Nam and Laos. Today, this bond continues to be strengthened and nurtured.
Currently, the Lao community in Muong Luan accounts for over 30 per cent of the commune’s population. Known for their diligence and expertise in rice cultivation, cotton weaving, and fishing, the Lao people here enjoy stable livelihoods. Lo Van Mai, chairman of the Muong Luan Commune People’s Committee, noted that alongside other ethnic groups, the Lao community has actively contributed to economic growth, cultural preservation, and rural development. Their efforts were instrumental in making Muong Luan the first commune in Dien Bien Dong District to meet the basic criteria for a new rural area by the end of 2018.
Tu Anh
