Villages "live" with the rhythm of the city

Located next to the poetic Ea Kao Lake, Tong Ju village possesses the peaceful beauty of the ancient Central Highlands. This is the long-standing residence of the Ede community, still preserving many typical living habits of the slash-and-burn civilization. The village currently has 467 households, more than 2,092 people, mainly Ede ethnic group and Kinh, Tay, Muong ethnic groups living together.

No longer confined to traditional long houses, the culture of the Ede people in Tong Ju village is growing strongly, blending into modern life in a creative way. In particular, the story of preserving traditional brocade culture has been cleverly linked with community tourism . Instead of just weaving and selling products, people have turned their living spaces into attractive destinations. Four households have pioneered in building bungalows in the style of stilt houses, using beds and mattresses made of brocade, creating a space that is both comfortable, cozy and imbued with identity. This model not only introduces the beauty of Ede brocade but also creates jobs for 19 households and 42 members with an average income of 4 - 6 million VND/month. Every year, Tong Ju village attracts about 2,700 visitors to visit, experience, enjoy local specialties and immerse themselves in the cultural space of the Ede people.

The brocade weaving craft of the Ede people in Tong Ju village is being preserved and developed. Photo: Nguyen Gia

Ms. H'Yam Bkrông, Director of Tong Bong Brocade Weaving Cooperative, Head of Tong Ju Village Community Tourism Group, shared that in the face of the wave of industrialization, traditional brocade products have become difficult to sell, and young people are not interested in traditional costumes, leading to the weaving profession gradually fading away. From that situation, in 2003, she mobilized women in the village to establish Tong Bong Brocade Weaving Cooperative, starting with 10 members. After many ups and downs, the cooperative has now developed stably, creating seasonal jobs for about 100 women. Many diverse brocade products from clothing, handbags, tablecloths, to ao dai, pillows, etc. are present in many provinces and cities across the country.

In keeping with the contemporary pace of life, Ale A village - the oldest village in Dak Lak province - has chosen a more comprehensive approach in developing and preserving cultural identity.

Located in the North of Ea Kao ward, where the Ea Tam stream flows through, with residents mainly being Ede people, the life and activities of the people here are closely linked to the slash-and-burn civilization. However, due to the transition to a market economy and rapid urbanization, the cultural identity of ethnic minorities in Ale A village has been significantly affected and somewhat lost.

Realizing the importance of preserving the national cultural identity, the Party Cell and the A Le Hamlet Self-Management Board have proactively established a Brocade Weaving Group with 20 members, including 6 artisans. Not only that, the traditional models of making rice wine, folk song clubs, xoang dance teams, and gong teams have also been maintained and strongly developed. Currently, the hamlet has a young gong team with 18 members; a traditional xoang dance team of 16 people. The hamlet also has 10 sets of gongs, 16 sets of bronze gongs, many ancient jars... Local ethnic minority households have all paid attention to promoting traditional cultural values during holidays and Tet as well as the cultural architecture of the Ede stilt houses. In particular, the awareness of preserving the origin is also demonstrated through organizing Ede language classes for the younger generation in the hamlet, ensuring that the flow of culture in contemporary life is not interrupted.

According to the Department of Culture and Society of Ea Kao Ward, the locality currently has 25 residential units, including 15 residential groups and 10 ethnic minority villages, with 26 ethnic groups living together. The diverse culture with the presence of ethnic groups such as Kinh, Ede, Muong, Tay, Nung... has created a rich and diverse cultural community.

However, in order for ethnic minority villages to not be "dissolved" and to develop sustainably in the modern flow, the ward is setting a goal: to build Ea Kao ward into an eco-tourism destination - experiential activities - combined with unique culture to create economic value and connect the community.

Many diverse brocade products are made by the skillful hands of members of Tong Bong Brocade Weaving Cooperative. Photo: Nguyen Gia

To realize this goal, a series of key solutions are being implemented. In particular, the ward will focus on upgrading traffic, building parking lots, rest stops and attractive check-in points. Cultural preservation work is promoted through inventory, digitization, and documentation of tangible and intangible cultural values; restoring traditional festivals and handicrafts at risk of disappearing.

The locality will also open training courses to improve tourism skills for the community, encourage all ages to participate and establish the Ea Kao Tourism Community Group. In particular, the application of digital transformation is considered an important lever. Building a digital map of Ea Kao tourism, QR codes at tourist destinations; developing communication channels on social networks such as Fanpage, YouTube, TikTok and organizing annual events will contribute to promoting the image of Ea Kao in a strong and professional way to domestic and foreign tourists.

According to Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Ea Kao Ward, Dang Gia Duan, the ward will focus on preserving and promoting the cultural values of 10 ethnic minority villages. At the same time, building a brand identity for Ea Kao Ward associated with the development of trade, services, and tourism, especially the space around Ea Kao Lake. In the next 5 years, the ward's development orientation will follow the motto "Modern, civilized, affectionate, and unique". This is not only a slogan but also a pillar for comprehensive development for Ea Kao in the period of 2025 - 2030.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202508/buon-lang-song-cung-nhip-tho-do-thi-3bc0a26/