When culture becomes livelihood

Almost every night, the villages here light forest fires to welcome visitors. With their passion and talent, the young Co Ho people have turned their traditional cultural heritage and the natural landscape of their homeland into an extremely valuable source of livelihood, a way to preserve and promote sustainable culture.

The villages of B'Neur, Dangya, Dung, the whole Lat commune and the town of Lac Duong district, are not far from the sacred Lang Bian mountain; and so are the areas of Da Sar, Da Nhim or Dung K'Nor. These villages are all gently sloping adjacent to the valley at the foot of the legendary mountain. That mountain has become the flesh and blood of the residents here, giving them full chests, resounding voices and preserving the cultural and spiritual flame that has been burning brightly for thousands of years.

According to research documents, the Co Ho people of the two Lach and Chil branches on the Lang Bian plateau are ethnic groups that have been known since very early times. The Lach and Chil people live concentratedly in communes and towns of Lac Duong district. Their ancestors were the first indigenous people to meet and welcome the scientist Alexandre Yersin and his expedition team during their journey to explore the plateau more than a century ago.

In his diary, the Swiss scientist with French nationality wrote: “The population in the area is sparse. Several Lach villages live concentrated at the foot of Lang Bian mountain. They are very good at rice farming and are very hospitable. We were welcomed in the communal house of Dang Ya village. The dignitaries brought a jar of rice wine. Fortunately, they did not ask me to drink it all the first time…” .

Perhaps, the open-minded and hospitable nature of the Co Ho people is the first condition that has created their success today when participating in the tourism business. They have done tourism with their own cultural identity, talent, and natural, honest appearance.

Festival of Co Ho village at the foot of Lang Bian mountain.

Every time we return to the land at the foot of Lang Bian, there are often buses coming from Da Lat in the same direction as us. Tourists come here from many parts of the country and many countries around the world. What do they seek in this land? It is the conquest of the nearly 2,000 m high mountain peak in Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park, the nights by the forest fire listening to the Yalyau and Tampot songs, the blaring of the five-string gong and the three-string gong and the melody of the M'buot flute while drunk on rice wine. They seek to return to the legendary space. They long to explore nature, make friends with the long-standing indigenous people and learn about some of the fascinating and mysterious cultural strata.

In this land, it seems that every person knows how to do tourism. During the peak tourist season, every night, the village has dozens of gong groups lighting fires to welcome guests. Hosts and guests are fascinated by the forest dances sparkling with the innocent eyes of mountain girls, with rice wine, grilled meat, and brocade patterns filling the valley. They enjoy the taste of specialty Arabica coffee and visit the attractive Bidoup - Nui Ba Nature Reserve.

This “spiritual land” is also famous as a land of learning with many highly educated and talented people. This small countryside is the birthplace of many professional musicians and singers who are becoming famous in the country and many tourists want to go to the village to listen to stories and enjoy the singing voices of the residents at the foot of the legendary Lang Bian mountain, such as Meritorious Artist Krajăn Dick, male singers Dagoút Đoát, Krajăn K'Druynh or the singing girls of the Lang Bian mountains and forests: Cil Glé, Pantinh Sally, Pantinh Benziên, K'rezan Drim, K'razan Doan...

Singer Krajăn K'Druynh performs bamboo flute in Lac Duong town.

According to a report from Lac Duong district, up to now, there are 17 clubs, teams, and groups of gongs serving tourists in the district. Of these, 8 are groups organized by ethnic minority families; 4 are groups of companies and enterprises; and 5 are groups of gongs in communes. The activities of this model have contributed to both the effective preservation and sustainable promotion of traditional cultural values ​​and the livelihoods of over 200 local workers. The number of about 1.2 million visitors annually coming to experience in a district-level locality is a wonderful recognition.

Fully aware of the great value of culture, Lac Duong district has effectively implemented the national action program on preserving cultural heritages. Besides promoting the propaganda of cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities, the district has opened classes to teach gongs to young people; restored traditional festivals such as the ritual of offering rice to the fields, the new rice celebration, and the wedding ceremony of the Co Ho people.

In particular, in 2023, Lac Duong district coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong province to implement the project "Traditional village of the Co Ho ethnic group, Dung K'Si village, Da Chais commune".

This is a project approved and implemented by the People's Committee of Lam Dong province under the project "Preserving each typical traditional village and hamlet of ethnic minorities" from the investment capital of the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas in the period 2021 - 2025. The locality is also implementing the project "Building a community cultural tourism village in Dung K'no commune".

Thereby, contributing to preserving and promoting the traditional culture of the Co Ho ethnic group associated with developing community tourism, promoting socio-economic development and introducing and promoting the culture and people of Lac Duong district...

Young girls in the dance team of the band "Lang Bian Friends".

I have had many opportunities to return to Lang Bian, to immerse myself in the gong rhythms next to the jar of rice wine and the fire, to enjoy the folk songs and dances with the village boys and girls and tourists from all over the world.

Pioneers in organizing cultural tourism such as Krajăn Plin and Panting Mut have been “keeping the fire warm” for many years. Young people such as K'Druynh, Dagoút Liêm, Dagoút Đoát and many of their associates continue and develop with many new ways of doing things.

Almost all boys and girls in every village at the foot of Lang Bian mountain can participate in community tourism activities; they can perform music, serve food or produce traditional handicrafts to supply to tourists.

It is admirable that young ethnic minority people have turned traditional cultural values ​​passed down from their ancestors into a great source of livelihood. This method both preserves old values ​​and improves the lives of people in the highlands in a sustainable way.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/dak-lak-khi-van-hoa-tro-thanh-sinh-ke-230335.html