S'tieng longhouse – living cultural legacy

Dong Nai City is currently home to many ethnic groups living side by side. Among them, the S'tieng are among the longest-established indigenous ethnic groups. The S'tieng have many distinctive cultural traits drawing the interest of people keen on discovery and exploration, as well as experts and cultural researchers. Among these, the traditional longhouse of the S'tieng is a distinctive feature that enriches and diversifies the cultural life of ethnic groups in Dong Nai City.

A traditional S'tieng longhouse at the Soc Bom Bo S'tieng Cultural Conservation Area in Bom Bo commune, Dong Nai City.

A shared space for generations

Located at the center of the residential area in Duc Loi village, Bu Dang commune, Dong Nai City, the traditional longhouse of Village Elder Dieu Do has long served as a destination for visitors from across the country seeking to explore the cultural identity and daily life of the S'tieng. It remains the only traditional S'tieng longhouse in the northern region of Dong Nai City today.

Village Elder Dieu Do said that he does not know when the house was first built; he only knows that he was born in it. Over successive generations, the house has been extended accordingly. Today, despite being more than 100 years old and bearing the marks of time, his affection for the house remains unchanged.

Despite being more than 100 years old, Village Elder Dieu Do still vividly remembers every detail and object in the house passed down by his ancestors and parents. He treasures each heirloom as an inseparable part of his own life. To him, the house symbolizes lineage, tradition, family happiness, and the spiritual essence of his people.

Village Elder Dieu Do shared that his ancestors and parents taught him that the house connected many generations and that future generations must preserve it as a symbol of their cultural identity rather than demolish it. From this foundation, children are raised to love and protect one another, reflecting the community-oriented lifestyle and customs of their people within this home.

Unlike the traditional longhouses of the Ede in the Central Highlands, which are built on high stilts, most S'tieng longhouses are constructed close to the ground. In low-lying areas, to prevent dampness and protect against wild animals, the S'tieng build their houses 0.5 to 1 meter above the ground. In the past, the houses were made of wood, bamboo panels, and thatched roofs and were built by young men, women, and relatives using natural materials gathered from forests and fields.

According to Village Elder Dieu Do, the door of a longhouse is not merely an entrance but also a gateway that welcomes wind, sunlight, and deities, and it is positioned according to seasonal wind directions. Notably, successive generations of a S'tieng family typically occupy adjoining compartments. As a result, the house grows longer over the years as the family expands.

Preservation and promotion

The S'tieng in the past had no written language, and all cultural traits and customs were passed down orally or depicted through everyday objects. As a result, the longhouse serves as a repository of oral traditions and stories transmitted across generations. On the roof, the S'tieng often store buffalo horns and tools used for hunting and labor, such as mak axes, crossbows, woven basket backpacks, and knives. For the S'tieng, buffalo horns are sacred symbols affirming the homeowner's status within the community. Spiritually, they believe that keeping buffalo horns helps their livestock prosper.

The longhouse is a distinctive cultural feature of the S'tieng. Through it, one can gain insight into many unique customs and ways of life found only among the S'tieng. It also reflects a level of material prosperity beyond the capacity of individual small families, symbolizing both wealth and the collective strength of the community and family lineage.

Dieu Dieu, Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the Dong Nai City People's Council

Alongside traditional ceramic wine jars, woven basket backpacks, and gongs, various musical instruments are indispensable components of every traditional S'tieng longhouse. The number of traditional ceramic wine jars and woven basket backpacks in a house can indicate the wealth of its owner.

Village Elder Dieu Do said that the house served as a communal living space where multiple generations of the family gathered to eat, rest, receive guests, store food, and preserve valuable family heirlooms. Notably, a hearth is always maintained at the center of the house and is never allowed to go out. For the S'tieng, the hearth serves not only for cooking but also as a gathering place where family members talk after a day of hard work. Besides the glowing fire and Can wine jars (rice wine stored in a big jar and drunk with long bamboo straws), they sing and share life stories. Fire is regarded as a weapon, a source of strength, and a belief that helps the S'tieng overcome wild animals and safeguard their peaceful lives.

To preserve the distinctive cultural values of the S'tieng, in 2015, the former Binh Phuoc Province, now part of Dong Nai City, invested in the construction of the Soc Bom Bo S'tieng Cultural Conservation Area in Bom Bo commune, Dong Nai City. The traditional longhouse and many other cultural elements have been reconstructed and preserved there for visitors to explore.

Today, under the impact of urbanization and changing lifestyles, traditional S'tieng longhouses are gradually being replaced by solid brick houses. However, with their unique values, these longhouses will continue to stand as historical witnesses and distinctive architectural symbols reflecting human values and community spirit. They are treasured cultural assets that must be valued, preserved, and promoted for future generations.

By Minh Ha – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho