A rarely seen scene inside a village in Mang Den

The quiet life of the Xơ Đăng people

Photographer Dodo (living in Mang Den commune, Quang Ngai province) had the opportunity to visit Kon Tu Ma village and witness the daily life of the Xo Dang ethnic group. The village is situated beside the Dak S'Nghe river, surrounded by rice paddies and forests. Here, wooden stilt houses, some decades old, are home to many generations, their architecture resembling traditional rice granaries. Their days unfold quietly: women care for their children, clean the house, and weave. Men tend the fields, raise poultry, and make their own tools from natural materials. All villagers, especially children and the elderly, still bathe in herbal remedies to cleanse their bodies. The elderly often sit on the porch, tending to their tobacco pipes, which are made from herbs grown in the village and lime. In the evening, the charcoal stove in the middle of the house blazes to cook rice and roast corn. "The villagers say they don't know sadness, because there's nothing to be sad about. The ethnic communities here have maintained many traditional customs and practices for generations. Even the granaries used to store rice are considered symbols of abundance and gratitude to their ancestors," he shared.

The women who keep the village

Women in Kon Tu Ma village still practice homebirth, a traditional method passed down through generations. Previous generations of the Xơ Đăng people believed that giving birth at home maintained the warmth of the family, helping both mother and baby recover quickly. Women were typically cared for by their mothers, midwives, or older women in the village. Besides caring for their children, they also maintained the family's warmth, managed the household, and were skilled in farming, rice cultivation, and weaving. Currently, the Xơ Đăng and some other ethnic communities here are developing community tourism with homestay models, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the local way of life and culture. During overnight stays, the women will take visitors wading in streams to catch fish, weaving, and basketry. Throughout the day, they will prepare meals using sticky rice, pork, free-range chicken, stream fish, and various wild vegetables. "The women here are simple, gentle, deeply connected to the community, and enjoy participating in traditional festivals. They are friendly to tourists, especially when someone comes to watch them weave brocade or ask about the village," Dodo said.