A village in Gia Lai, people eat sticky rice all year round, the Se San river is clear blue, the hydroelectric lake is immense.

After the first rain of the season, we had a journey to this village known as "eating sticky rice all year round" with many memorable experiences.

Starting from Pleiku City, Gia Lai Province, we traveled a distance of more than 50 km, including a winding and curving pass, with green trees on both sides of the road. This pass is about 2 km long, and the locals call it Heaven's Gate.

Stopping on the side of the pass, looking far away is the immense Ialy hydroelectric lake, the houses of the Jrai people in Doch 1 village (Ia Kreng commune) make the natural picture even more beautiful.

As scheduled, Mr. Pham Thanh Xuan picked us up at the commune People's Committee office. Pointing to the opposite direction, Mr. Xuan said that above was the top of Chu Pah mountain.

This area has a small stream that is home to a fish species that the locals named Ia Kreng. And this is also the name of Ia Kreng commune. The commune has 3 villages, including Doch 1, Doch 2 and Dip village.

The road from the commune center to Dip village, about 13 km long, has been paved. As a resettlement village in the Se San 3A hydroelectric reservoir, in 2004, Dip village received state investment to build 155 level 4 houses.

Dip village (Ia Kreng commune, Chu Pah district, Gia Lai province) is also known as the village of "eating sticky rice all year round". Photo: VTT

Currently, Dip village - a cultural village of Ia Kreng commune, Chu Pah district, Gia Lai province has 275 households, most of whom are Jrai people. People's lives are still difficult because of unfavorable natural conditions. People mainly grow rice, cassava, cashew, and lolot... but the productivity is not high.

Dip village cultural house. Photo: VTT

According to our observations, the village currently has 8 traditional stilt houses. At the foot of each house are bundles of firewood neatly arranged, demonstrating the diligence and dexterity of the Jrai women in the family.

Currently, the village still retains 13 sets of gongs with 158 pieces, of which the village community retains 2 sets and households retain 11 sets. Regarding traditional crafts, the village has 3 artisans who are proficient in weaving brocade and 3 artisans who carve statues.

Mr. Xuan said: When the village was first established, the land here was fertile, suitable for growing sticky rice, which was filling and delicious.

Therefore, the people of Dip village maintain the habit of using sticky rice as the main food for daily meals all year round.

Many people call Dip village the village of "eating sticky rice all year round" for that reason.

Nowadays, Dip village has changed a lot. People have changed their crops. However, sticky rice is still maintained every time there is a festival.

Enjoying the Se San River amidst the green banks of the forest is an extremely poetic experience when coming to Dip village, Ia Kreng commune, Chu Pah district, Gia Lai province. Photo: VTT

During this visit to Dip village, we also took time to go to the boat station to experience the Se San river.

After being equipped with life jackets, Mr. Ro Cham Oal - Head of the Forest Protection Team of Dip village directly steered the boat. In the open space, sunny but not too hot, the further away from shore the air became cooler.

Following the water, reflecting the slanting sunlight, the lake surface is vast and vast, stretching far and wide. In the distance, flocks of white storks fly back to perch on the remaining dry tree stumps on the lake surface. A few boats drifting downstream create a poetic highlight among the gentle river water.

Returning to nature always brings a feeling of relaxation. Mr. Oal took us to an island where the households live together in a small fishing village.

Talking to us, Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai said: There are 4 households living in this fishing village, of which 3 households are from the West, 1 household is from Phu Yen.

Ms. Mai and her husband, Mr. Doan Van Hai, have lived here for more than 3 years. In addition to raising and catching seafood, her husband also provides a service to pick up and drop off customers who want to travel on the river.

After nearly an hour of floating on the river, we stopped by a stream for a late lunch.

The food consisted of chicken and pork grilled over charcoal, plus some fish that the crew members had quickly caught while waiting for the meat to cook, fern picked from the riverbank and stir-fried with garlic, and dried foods brought along. All of this made for an enjoyable lunch by the cool stream.

On the way back, we still felt nostalgic. We thought that if this place was properly invested, it would be an ideal destination for locals and tourists to enjoy the river scenery, bathe in streams, cast nets to catch fish, etc. to have interesting experiences in the middle of nature.

Source: https://danviet.vn/mot-lang-o-gia-lai-dan-quanh-nam-an-com-nep-nuoc-song-se-san-xanh-ngat-ho-thuy-dien-menh-mong-2024070311345496.htm