Rice-pounding tradition of the S’tieng and M’nong ethnic groups recognized as national heritage

Amid modern life, the sound of wooden pestles pounding rice still echoes through S’tieng and M’nong communities in Dong Nai, reflecting a cultural tradition that has been preserved for generations.

The traditional practice of hand-pounding rice of the S’tieng and M’nong ethnic groups is recreated and performed by artists of the Dong Nai Art Theatre through the musical work Tieng chay tren soc Bom Bo (The sound of rice-pounding pestle in Bom Bo hamlet), serving local audiences. Photo: My Ny

What began as a daily labor activity has gradually evolved into a symbol of diligence, community solidarity and cultural pride for people across the Southeastern region of Vietnam.

A pride of the S’tieng and M’nong people

The traditional practice of hand-pounding rice of the S’tieng and M’nong people dates back generations and has been passed down through family and community-based agricultural activities. The custom reflects the history, culture and social life of the S’tieng and M’nong ethnic groups who once lived in Binh Phuoc province, now part of Dong Nai City.

Village elder Dieu Do, 106, from Bu Mon hamlet in Bu Dang commune, said the tradition was once practiced throughout all 11 districts, towns and city of the former Binh Phuoc Province. Among the S’tieng community, the custom was most prevalent in localities such as Bu Dang, Bu Gia Map, Tan Quan, Tan Hung, Tan Khai, Minh Duc, Phu Rieng and Loc Ninh. Meanwhile, among the M’nong people, the practice was concentrated mainly in Bu Dang and Bu Gia Map.

However, cultural surveys show that the practice has gradually declined among most S’tieng and M’nong communities over the past two decades. Today, it is maintained primarily in several localities of former Bu Dang district, including Phuoc Son, Bu Dang, Bom Bo, Nghia Trung, Tho Son and Dak Nhau.

“The rice-pounding activity is also reflected in the long-standing cultural life of the S’tieng and M’nong communities through traditional festivals such as new rice celebrations, friendship ceremonies, rain-praying rituals and harvest-praying festivals. In particular, the New Rice Festival remains closely associated with the rice cultivation practices that have sustained generations of S’tieng and M’nong families,” Dieu Do said.

According to cultural researchers, the hand-pounding rice tradition is also deeply connected with Vietnam’s revolutionary history, especially during the resistance war against the American imperialism. During the resistance war, S’tieng and M’nong communities made significant contributions to the revolutionary cause despite tremendous hardship and sacrifice. In villages and hamlets across the region, families increased agricultural production and donated rice to support liberation forces, leading to the emergence of the “rice-pounding for the troops” movement, most notably in Bom Bo hamlet, Bom Bo commune.

Driven by patriotism and support for the revolution, many S’tieng and M’nong people also participated in campaigns to dismantle strategic hamlets and return to their ancestral villages to cultivate crops and supply food for resistance forces. During the Phuoc Long–Dong Xoai Campaign in 1965, residents of Bom Bo hamlet responded to the slogan “The entire Bom Bo hamlet pounds rice to support the troops.” Within just three days and nights, the local S’tieng community processed five tonnes of rice and delivered it to Nua Lon Base to provide food supplies for soldiers participating in the campaign.

A ceremony is scheduled for June 24 at the National Historical Site of Bom Bo hamlet in Bom Bo commune to announce the national heritage designation of the site and the inclusion of the hand-pounding rice tradition of the S’tieng and M’nong people in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Promoting the value of national intangible heritage

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Toi, Head of the Dong Nai branch of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, said the rhythmic sound of rice pounding resonating through the forests amid flickering firelight reflects the resilience, vitality and solidarity that characterized both daily life and wartime experience among the S’tieng and M’nong people. The rhythmic sound of the pestles later inspired late musician Xuan Hong to compose the well-known song Tieng chay tren soc Bom Bo.

According to village elder Dieu Ho of Tan Hung commune, local S’tieng and M’nong communities are delighted that the tradition has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage element. The recognition, he said, provides an important foundation for local authorities and community members to continue preserving the practice, organizing traditional festivals and passing cultural knowledge on to younger generations, thereby strengthening and promoting the unique cultural identity of Dong Nai.

To preserve and promote the heritage, Nguyen Ngoc Yen, Director of the Dong Nai Museum, said the museum will continue organizing heritage performances, exhibitions and public awareness programs while expanding promotion through traditional media channels and digital platforms. At the same time, the museum will intensify efforts to inventory and digitize heritage data and coordinate with local authorities and related organizations to develop heritage-based programs linked to sustainable tourism development.

Through these efforts, the heritage's cultural values will be promoted more widely, helping preserve traditional cultural identity while enriching the spiritual life of local communities.

By My Ny – Transalted by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha