The "mission" of the dugout canoe

In the villages surrounding Lake Lak, the image of dugout canoes has become an indispensable cultural symbol. Currently, there are approximately 25 dugout canoes in this area, owned by 21 households. Each canoe is not just a means of transportation, but also a living testament to the history and culture of the M'nong people.

Among them, the most notable is the boat belonging to Mr. Y Chông Buôn Dap (born in 1962), from Jun village, Liên Sơn Lắk commune. According to local people, this is the oldest boat in the Lắk Lake area. The boat has been passed down through three generations of Mr. Y Chông's family.

He proudly recounted, "This boat has been passed down from my grandparents as a dowry for my wife's parents, and now my wife and I are the third generation to inherit it. The boat has been an integral part of our family's daily life, production, and our livelihoods on the lake." According to him, in the past, the area around Lake Lắk was like an island, with transportation mainly by waterway. At that time, almost every household in the M'nông villages owned a dugout canoe. The boat was intimately connected to daily life and production, witnessing countless joys and sorrows of the people making a living on the vast lake. The value of a dugout canoe in the old days was immense, requiring the trade of two large buffaloes to acquire one.

The century-old dugout canoe has been passed down from generation to generation in the family of Mr. Y Chông Buôn Dap.

The process of making a dugout canoe that is durable and stable on the water requires extremely meticulous and elaborate preparation and execution. The village must select the strongest men to go deep into the forest to find teak wood, with thick and straight trunks.

Before felling the trees, they must hold a ceremony to worship the forest god, the mountain god, and the wood god to ask for permission, showing respect to nature. The boat-carving process is done entirely by hand. Without design blueprints or modern tools, through skill and generational experience, the "artisans" create unique boats. Once completed, the boat is pulled home by elephants for many hours.

In the past, dugout canoes were used by locals to transport rice, firewood, and as the primary means of fishing, ensuring a livelihood for their families. Today, with the gradual replacement by motorized vehicles, the dugout canoe's function of transporting goods is no longer suitable. However, instead of being forgotten, the canoe has taken on a new mission – becoming a unique tourist attraction, serving visitors exploring the beauty of Lake Lak.

A dugout canoe of the M'nong people on Lake Lak.

Image

: Huu Hung

At 63, Mr. Y Chông still maintains the habit of rowing his boat out onto the lake to fish for his family's meals. But when tourists come, he happily agrees to take them on tours. Although the service fee is not high, each trip is an opportunity for him to tell tourists about the rich culture of the ancient villages along the lake, such as Jun village, Le village, and M'liêng village. "I feel very happy to be able to share stories about the traditions of my people with tourists," Mr. Y Chông confided.

The family of Mr. Y Plu Êung (commonly known as Ama Doanh), in Jun hamlet, Lien Son Lak commune, also owns a dugout canoe that is over 50 years old. This canoe is 9 meters long, nearly 1 meter wide, made from teak wood, and was acquired in exchange for two male buffaloes in the past. Ama Doanh recounts that in the past, the dugout canoe was used to transport rice and fertilizer for agricultural production. Nowadays, with the development of tourism, this canoe is used to transport tourists to visit the lake.

Canoes carrying tourists explore Lake Lắk.

Image:

Tuan Ninh

“Luckily, being near Lak Lake has made the tourist transportation service there busier in recent years. During peak seasons, I sometimes get five trips a day, each costing around 100,000 VND,” Ama Doanh revealed. Although Lak Lake now offers various other services such as motorboats and canoes, some tourists still prefer a more relaxed and experiential experience, so they choose dugout canoes. When there are few tourists, he paddles out onto the lake, casts his nets, and catches fish to improve his family's meals.

Elder Y Nớ Buôn Dap, from Jun village, Liên Sơn Lắk commune, shared that the dugout canoes are not only a means of transportation but also an integral part of the M'nông villages along Lake Lắk. The dugout canoes, linked to tourism, not only provide income for the people but also help preserve and promote the unique cultural values of the M'nông people to visitors. Therefore, as the village elder, he always reminds the villagers to preserve and maintain the simple image of the dugout canoes to pass on to future generations.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/tin-noi-bat/202510/su-menh-cua-thuyen-doc-moc-8a51747/