Ba Na village "weaves" livelihoods from its identity.

No longer hidden behind barren hills, the Ba Na villages at the foot of the Ấn Sơn mountain range (Gia Lai province) are undergoing a powerful transformation. From a historical buffer zone associated with the Tây Sơn Heaven Worship Altar, the people here have chosen to promote their cultural identity and traditional heritage to develop community tourism and create sustainable livelihoods.

Following in the footsteps of Mr. Dinh Ri, Head of the Community Tourism Operations and Guidance Team of Vinh An (Binh Phu commune, Gia Lai province), we explored the community tourism model of the Ba Na people. A graduate of Hue University of Economics , and having worked in finance and real estate in Ho Chi Minh City, he decided to return to his hometown in 2023 to start a business in ecotourism.

The Ba Na villages are nestled beside the towering Hon Song mountain.

"I want to use the knowledge and experience I've accumulated to develop tourism in my hometown. Initially, I invested in thatched huts by the Gop stream to welcome guests. Many households have also implemented similar models, but they are still spontaneous and lack coordination, so they haven't fully exploited the potential," Ri shared.

The Ba Na brocade fabrics in Vinh An are intricately woven, involving many manual processes.

According to Mr. Dang Bao Toan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Phu commune, the locality still preserves many unique cultural values ​​such as gong music, Xoang dance, brocade weaving, basket weaving, crossbow shooting, along with rich natural landscapes and cuisine . To develop tourism, the commune is mobilizing village elders, influential people, and young people to change their mindset, and at the same time organizing visits for people to learn about community tourism models in Central Vietnam.

Locals in Vinh An discussed establishing community-based tourism models and groups beforehand. Photo: Dinh Ri

Children enjoyed participating in experiential tourism activities and learning to draw about the countryside in Vinh An.

The gong and drum ensemble and traditional dance troupe in Vinh An perform for tourists.

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Tourists participate in a tour to experience the traditional weaving culture of the Ba Na people.

Following practical training trips, the villages unanimously agreed to develop community tourism and established eight operational groups: operation and guidance, cuisine, brocade weaving, gong and Xoang dance, crossbow shooting experience, homestay, forest gardens, and medicinal herb hills. The gong and Xoang dance group and the weaving group alone attracted nearly 40 artisans. The local authorities also provided 20 bicycles for tourists and piloted the cultivation of cardamom plants to create experiential products and expand livelihoods for the people.

Anticipating the demand for accommodation, the family of Ms. Dinh Thi Nhe (59 years old, Kon Giot 1 village) built a homestay based on the Bahnar longhouse architecture combined with modern amenities.

"Many tourists from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City stay for several days to experience it. I only charge 135,000 VND per night, as long as the accommodation is clean and comfortable so that guests want to return," Ms. Nhe shared.

Tourists at Gop Stream

Ms. Dinh Thi Ech (63 years old, Kon Giot 2 village) said that community tourism helps people earn more income while also reviving pride in traditional culture. More and more young people are learning to weave brocade, play gongs, and perform Xoang dances to both preserve the craft and serve tourists.

Tourists experience cycling in Vinh An.

Experience the culture of crossbow shooting.

Young man Dinh Ri (in traditional Ba Na clothing) guides children on a sightseeing tour.

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The Ba Na village in Vinh An is developing rapidly.

According to Mr. Dang Bao Toan, the core value of community tourism lies not in large-scale projects but in the people and local identity.

"We are not aiming for a massive influx of tourists, but rather for using local knowledge, traditional culture, and natural landscapes as tourism products. Development must be linked to conservation, without disrupting the living space and identity of the community," he emphasized.

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Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lang-ba-na-det-sinh-ke-tu-ban-sac-post859641.html