"Reviving" Ede culture through community tourism.

The development of community-based tourism not only opens up new avenues for the local economy, improving people's lives, but also contributes to reviving traditional cultural values ​​that seemed to have faded over time, especially for the Ede community.

In Kmơng Prông B village (Tân An ward), Y Bhiông Buôn Yă (43 years old) is developing a community tourism model in his family's longhouse. Initially, only a few small groups came to learn about and experience the culture and life of the Êđê people, but word spread, and more and more visitors came. Not enough space, he borrowed longhouses from relatives in the village to accommodate them. Now, he is building a new, more sturdy and spacious longhouse to meet the growing demand from tourists.

This model not only helps Y Bhiông's family earn extra income but also creates livelihoods for many people in the village. Cooks, vegetable vendors, tour guides... everyone participates in tourism activities. Importantly, tourism also contributes to changing the community's perception.

“Previously, due to the need to earn a living, many families gradually drifted away from traditional lifestyles and paid little attention to their ethnic culture. However, since seeing tourists eagerly exploring the architecture of the longhouses and marveling at the traditional dishes of the Ede people, the villagers have begun to realize the value of things they once took for granted. From merely going through the motions, they now proactively preserve the longhouses and wear traditional clothing on special occasions,” shared Y Bhiông.

Mr. Y Bhiông Buôn Yă (on the left) is putting the finishing touches on his new longhouse to accommodate tourists.

In Tuôr village (Hòa Phú commune), Ms. H Belly Êban (40 years old) also nurtured a dream of developing tourism stemming from her childhood memories. As a child, her family frequently welcomed friends from abroad to visit the village. They were fascinated by the unique living space, captivated by stories around the fireplace, and always curious about the Êđê people's way of life. These images silently instilled in her a love for traditional culture and a desire to preserve it in her own way. In 2023, she began building a longhouse to accommodate guests and organized tours offering experiences of Êđê life, such as cooking, farming, and riding in a tractor.

“Before, the villagers were used to living in isolation, rarely talking to strangers. But since starting tourism and interacting with many tour groups, they have gradually become more open. What started as conversations were just about meals and family traditions, gradually turned into heartfelt sharing about customs, traditions, and daily life. Conversely, tourists also bring many new things; some teach children a few English phrases, while others tell the villagers about preserving culture and developing tourism in the places they've visited. These simple interactions have created a special connection, making the village atmosphere lively and full of life,” Ms. H Belly expressed.

Ms. H Belly Êban and her husband are renovating their traditional longhouse to accommodate tourists.

In the villages of the Ede people, the sound of gongs and drums is no longer a silent memory of past festivals. More and more visitors are coming, eager to learn about and appreciate this unique traditional culture. As a result, the sacred sound of the gongs and drums resonates throughout the land.

Mr. Y Brin Niê, a member of the Kô Tam village gong ensemble (Tân An ward), shared: “Previously, we only played gongs during village festivals and ceremonies. But now, with the development of tourism, whenever tourists come, they invite us to perform, sometimes up to ten times a month. Not only are tourists delighted and excited, but even the children in the village are starting to pay more attention. Seeing us perform so often, being appreciated by guests, and getting paid, the kids ask to learn, start trying, and then fall in love with it without even realizing it.”

Community-based tourism not only brings visitors from afar closer to the life of the Ede people but also creates opportunities for the local people to rediscover and cherish the cultural values ​​of their ethnic group.

When traditional longhouses are renovated to welcome guests, traditional dishes become specialties, and the sound of gongs resonates in everyday life… cultural identity is no longer something ancient but has become more vibrant and closer to life in every breath of today. However, for this journey to develop more sustainably, more systematic investment is still needed, from infrastructure and tourism skills to appropriate promotional strategies…

But above all, the growing desire to preserve and spread traditional values ​​in the hearts of each child of the village is the most solid foundation for the "revival" of Ede culture.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202507/hoi-sinh-van-hoa-ede-tu-du-lich-cong-dong-5130bfc/