The village is truly the common home of 54 ethnic groups from around the country, contributing to strengthening the great national unity bloc and spreading community cultural values.
With the participation of 270 people from 17 ethnic communities in 15 provinces and cities, the activities have become a great festival of the ethnic groups. The houses, landscapes, cultural spaces of villages, customs and festivals have been reproduced vividly. In celebration of the Vietnam Ethnic Group Culture Day (April 19), many unique festivals of the localities around the country have been held. In addition, visitors had the chance to enjoy exhibitions, performances on traditional musical instruments, the introduction of tourism products, shows of Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dresses) and folk performances of the ethnic minority people such as Mo Muong, and the Chol Chnam Thmay festival of Khmer people. Folk games, songs and dances as well as traditional food and handicrafts were also a highlight on the occasion. The activities brought a unique cultural space and interesting experience for visitors, contributing to honouring, preserving and promoting cultural value as well as enhancing tourism development.
Coming from the border mountainous district of Thua Thien Hue province, a group of artisans from A Luoi district has actively participated in thematic activities and cultural exchanges in the village. Many traditional handicrafts such as weaving, knitting, crafting, the Aza Koonh new year festival, and sim (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) picking custom of the Pa Co ethnic minority people were on show, promoting the land, culture and people of the central district. Head of the Information – Culture Department of A Luoi district, Le Thi Thiem, shared that A A Luoi is located 70km from the centre of Thua Thien Hue province and has four ethnic minority groups of Pa Co, Ta Oi, Ka Tu and Pa Hy. The locality is not well-known. The participation of artisans in the exchange activities of the village has strengthened the introduction of the community-based cultural value of the ethnic minority groups and tourism potential of the locality. They have also contributed to enhancing solidarity among ethnic groups as well as restoring traditional values.
Individuals who are living and working in the village every day have upheld their roles in promoting the typical cultural identities of their ethnic groups. Living in the village for three years, Meritorious Artisan Y Sinh (from the Central Highland province of Kon Tum) considers the village her second home. She has had many chances to exchange with both domestic and international visitors so that she and other villagers have improved their communication skills and expanded their knowledge . “After returning to the locality, the knowledge I have learnt in the village will certainly help me boost the development of community-based culture”.
It can be seen that the daily and weekend activities of ethnic people living and working in the village have created attractive tourism products and cultural experiences, attracting a large number of visitors. The Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism is a space and environment to practice cultural activities. Coming to the village, visitors’ learning and wishes to experience cultural identities, traditional arts and handicrafts are met. It is a significant cultural and tourism site where ethnic minority groups connect and the country’s cultural colours are spread.
