Ethnic minority cultural preservation fuels tourism development

Dong Nai possesses a rich traditional cultural heritage of ethnic minority groups and the city is increasingly transforming these cultural values into a resource for local tourism and economic growth.

The S'tieng Ethnic Cultural Conservation Area in Bom Bo hamlet, Bom Bo commune, is regarded as a red address that reminds and educates people from all walks of life about the glorious revolutionary history and vibrant local ethnic minority culture.

Many conservation models linked to community livelihoods in Dong Nai have proven effective, contributing to improved living standards and the transmission of ethnic minority cultural values within the community.

Keeping heritage alive in community life

Dong Nai is currently home to more than 421,000 ethnic minority residents, accounting for nearly 9.4% of the city's total population. The presence of various ethnic groups has created a diverse cultural landscape rich in distinctive identities. For many years, authorities and relevant sectors have prioritized preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities through numerous programs, projects, and investments. Beyond safeguarding heritage, the city aims to transform these cultural values into resources for economic development.

According to Hoang Van Thiet, Vice Chairman of the Xuan Bac commune People's Committee, the commune has consistently focused on preserving the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities by preserving places of worship, cultural artifacts, musical instruments, and traditional costumes, while maintaining festivals and community cultural activities. Although a formal community-based tourism model has yet to be established, the commune has initially integrated cultural preservation with economic development by promoting traditional cuisine and local products and by tapping into tourist attractions such as Thac Troi (Heavenly Waterfall) and the Four Seasons Flower Garden.

In Nha Bich commune, many forms of ethnic minority cultural heritage have been effectively preserved and promoted, including the gongs of the S'tieng people, traditional dances of the Khmer and Muong people, and festivals such as the New Rice Celebration, Sen Dolta, and Chol Chnam Thmay. Notably, the commune has established three folk art clubs for the S'tieng, Khmer, and Muong communities while maintaining annual festival activities. In particular, the Khmer people's Chol Chnam Thmay festival has increasingly been organized on a larger scale, contributing to the promotion of ethnic identity and creating a premise for local cultural tourism development.

The Choro Ethnic Cultural House in Bao Vinh ward is a destination for Youth Union members and young people in Dong Nai City to learn about traditional culture.

In addition to maintaining and restoring festivals, forms such as folk performances, gongs, the five-tone musical ensemble (dan ngu am), brocade weaving, basket weaving, and rice wine-making techniques have been preserved and promoted in Dong Nai for many years through training classes, folk culture clubs, and community activities. The ethnic cultural houses of the Choro, S'tieng, Ma, Cham, and Muong peoples are not only equipped with many traditional musical instruments for cultural activities and the transmission of knowledge to younger generations but also serve as spaces for displaying artifacts, instruments, and traditional costumes for visitors to explore.

Village Elder Hung Van Xung of the Choro ethnic group in Binh Hoa hamlet, Xuan Phu commune, said, "Every year, Sayangva Festival (Rice Goddess worship ritual) takes place at the Choro Ethnic Cultural House in Binh Hoa hamlet, attracting many participants. This cultural house is also a venue for organizing community activities, learning about customs and traditions, and teaching younger generations how to play gongs. Through these activities, the identity of the Choro people is widely introduced, offering visitors an authentic cultural experience."

Dong Nai has now digitized nearly 100 documentaries on festivals, handicraft industries, and folk knowledge of the Tay, Nung, Hoa, S'tieng, and M'nong ethnic groups. Notably, 11 intangible cultural heritage items in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage have been digitized, archived, and promoted through media channels.

Conservation drives tourism and economic development

One of Dong Nai's highlights in preserving and promoting ethnic minority cultural values is linking heritage conservation with tourism development and increasing people's income. Many livelihood-based models preserving handicraft industries and folk knowledge have been implemented, initially demonstrating an appropriate approach. The restoration of brocade weaving techniques of the Ma and M'nong peoples, as well as the basket weaving and rice wine-making techniques of the S'tieng people, has helped create souvenirs and One Commune, One Product (OCOP) items to serve tourism and increase people’s income.

Thi Gion of the S'tieng ethnic group from Tra Thanh–Lo O hamlet, Tan Hung commune, said, "Since 2003, as Head of the Women's Union Branch of Lo O hamlet, Thanh An commune (now Tan Hung commune), I have advised on the establishment of the Thanh An Brocade Weaving Group and the Brocade Startup Group. From 2013 to the present, I have built my own brocade brand at the Thi Gion Brocade Weaving Facility. It provides a space for S'tieng women to practice weaving, exchange finished products, and preserve and promote the cultural values of our ethnic group."

Currently, Dong Nai has eight intangible cultural heritage items of ethnic minorities included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This provides a solid foundation for the city to continue developing distinctive cultural tourism products, contributing to promoting the image of the land and people of Dong Nai.

Nguyen Ngoc Yen, Director of the Dong Nai Museum, said, "In the years ahead, the unit will continue to preserve and promote the cultural values of ethnic minorities through the digitization of heritage data and the organization of training classes on gong performances. At the same time, we will promote the role of artisans, village elders, and the community in preserving and passing down traditional values. This will contribute to improving the lives of ethnic minorities and advancing local tourism."

By Cam Thanh – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha