Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism: A Unique Destination

     Primary Content:

1. An Overview of the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism

Location and Impressions

Located more than 40 km west of central Hanoi, along the Thang Long Boulevard, the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism (Dong Mo, Son Tay, Hanoi) spans a vast area of 1544 hectares. This site recreated the cultural space of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Each ethnic group, regardless of region or population, has a dedicated area to represent its architectural landscape, showcasing an equality among ethnic groups that is rare worldwide. This place is considered a “Common House” – a convergence and exhibition space for the diverse and rich cultures of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic communities.

Visitors will be amazed by the vast area, with lush green trees casting shadows over scattered picturesque lakes, including a nearly thousand-hectare lake with winding paths shaded by trees. Nestled among the tall trees are houses of the Nung, Dao, and Mong ethnic groups, with staircases reminiscent of the mountainous northwest region. You can also spot the tall communal houses of the Central Highlands from afar and be impressed by the meticulously built Khmer temples and Cham towers.

The Khmer Pagoda Community in the Cultural Village – Tourism of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups

Event Activities

Each year, organizers hold three national cultural events here:

The Spring Colors Festival usually occurs at the beginning of the lunar year, during which the President extends New Year greetings to representatives of the 54 ethnic groups residing in the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism .

The Vietnam Ethnic Culture Day (April 19) celebrates the Vietnam Ethnic Culture Day with various activities.

The Week of “Great National Unity – Vietnam Cultural Heritage” is held at the end of November.

These events involve participation from numerous ethnic communities across the country, honouring the cultural identities of Vietnam’s ethnic groups. They provide opportunities for ethnic communities to gather at the “Common House,” spreading, preserving, and promoting traditional cultural values. Visitors can enjoy and experience the unique cultural features of each ethnic group, thereby appreciating the diversity and richness of Vietnamese culture. These events also strengthen the great national unity among Vietnam’s ethnic groups.

2. Experience and Explore

Activities of Ethnic Communities

Besides major events, monthly and daily activities are diverse and rich, with many different themes, especially during weekends when visitors can arrange their time to visit and experience the culture. With the principle of “letting cultural subjects introduce themselves,” the village currently hosts 15 ethnic community groups, including Nung, Tay, Mong, Dao, Muong, Thai, Kho Mu, Ta Oi, Ba Na, Xo Dang, Gia Rai, Co Tu, Raglai, Ede, and Khmer. Therefore, visitors can quickly learn about the culture through the cultural subjects, who act as “guides” to introduce their traditional cultural identities.

Here, the ethnic groups recreate their daily lives, demonstrating traditional crafts such as weaving, basketry, musical instrument making, herbal medicine preparation, culinary arts, folk games, and folk songs and dances. Visitors can also experience the culinary culture and enjoy regional specialities such as cocoa and coffee from the Ede and Ba Na, a quát cake from the Ta Oi, leaf tray meals from the Muong, and sausages and khâu nhục (braised pork belly) from the Nung and Tay.

Cultural Experiences

Visitors can listen to folk songs and dances and traditional folk art forms such as the “Tung tung da dá” dance of the Co Tu, which is both gentle and firm, and the rhythmic Xoang dance of the Gia Rai and Ba Na, or the vibrant sounds of the Klông pút instrument of the Xo Dang. They can witness the graceful Xoe dance of the Thai, the unique Robam dance of the Khmer, and the resounding Khen (reed pipe) music of the Mong.

The “Village” is a place where visitors can freely explore and learn about the cultures of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Each ethnic town, with its unique architecture, offers authentic experiences and opportunities to expand one’s knowledge of the diverse cultural spaces of the ethnic groups. Visitors can understand the earth-walled houses and stilt houses of the northwestern ethnic groups, the communal houses of the Central Highlands, and many architectural landscapes restored with the participation of scientists.

Notably, ethnic groups themselves participate in constructing their architectural works, from performing spiritual rituals like groundbreaking ceremonies to selecting materials and conducting housewarming or inauguration ceremonies. Guides at each ethnic village will introduce visitors to unique cultural features such as the architecture of communal and stilt houses, customs, religious rituals, traditional costumes, and crafts.

The Chăm Ethnic People Organize Festivals

For school students

For school students, with a symbolic ticket price of only 5,000 VND, they can see the architectural works of 54 ethnic groups, which they might have only known through books or films. Furthermore, if lucky, they can see and touch traditional ethnic costumes, learn about traditional crafts, access intangible cultural values, and directly interact with real ethnic people. Visiting this site offers an unparalleled cultural education experience. Additionally, with spacious areas, students can enjoy the natural scenery and participate in outdoor activities, organizing fun and educational programs.

The Children are Playing Happily

Impressions and Emotions

Visitors can watch the sunset over the vast lake with its gentle waves. They can feel the fantastic evening of the northwest, with a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere that soothes the soul. They can stand on the grass and gaze at the majestic structures like the Cham towers and Khmer temples, enjoy camping on lush green lawns, stroll through extensive gardens, and immerse themselves in the lively songs of the Ede. All emotional ranges can be found here, from serene to vibrant, appealing to those who seek peace and excitement alike, including curious and energetic children.

Sunset over Đồng Mô Lake

3. Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism: Today and Tomorrow

Functional Areas

In addition to the 201-hectare Ethnic Village area, which recreates the architectural landscapes of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism also has six other functional areas: the Central Cultural and Entertainment Area, the World Cultural Heritage Area, the General Tourism Service Area, the Boat Wharf Park Area, the Green Space and Water Surface Area of Dong Mo Lake, and the Management and Administration Office Area. These functional areas gradually form, creating an overall picture of the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.

Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism: Future Plans

Once they fully develop the functional areas, this site will become a unique tourist destination that combines cultural preservation and promotion with entertainment, making it unparalleled in Vietnam and rare worldwide.

Investing in information technology, including cultural databases, will create a place for complete cultural preservation. Visitors can directly view a Thai house in the village and explore cultural values, including intangible cultural values, through established databases. Unlike this village, no other place in Vietnam combines preserving, promoting, and introducing tangible and intangible cultural values.

4. Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism: Reach international level

Organizing Major International Events

In addition to numerous national-level events, the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism has organized regional events such as “ASEAN Unity – One Vision, One Identity, One Community.” Notably, it hosted the international event “Night of Solidarity of Parliaments,” with over 1,000 international delegates, including more than 100 heads of state, parliament leaders, and representatives from various countries and territories.

The Night of Unity at the 132nd IPU Assembly

Media and Global Outreach

Both domestic and international audiences have highly praised the activities here. Tens of thousands of journalists and thousands of television crews, including nearly 30 live broadcasts, have showcased the rich activities and spread the traditional cultural values of Vietnam’s ethnic groups to national and international audiences.

The Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism has become an essential destination for families, domestic and international tourist groups, and school students participating in cultural experiences and field trips.

A Corner of the Cultural Village – Tourism of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups

5. Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism: A Unique Destination

Development Advantages

With a prime location not far from central Hanoi and convenient transportation, along with beautiful landscapes and ample space, supported by the Vietnamese government and the dedication of the staff, the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism is gradually becoming a welcoming and attractive destination for domestic and international tourists. It is a national tourist area of Vietnam, a pivotal cultural and educational destination for students and anyone interested in culture and ethnicity.

Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism: Uniqueness and Distinction

Visiting the village, tourists can embark on a long journey of exploration and learning about the cultures of all 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam without travelling. Students can understand and interact with the cultural aspects of all 54 ethnic groups quickly.

Foreign tourists can spend a few days here to explore the main cultural features of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, including both tangible and intangible cultural values built into databases. Visitors can enjoy direct interactions and exchanges with ethnic people from various villages across Vietnam.

Coming to the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, visitors will gain a deeper understanding and pride in the diverse, rich, and unique culture of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. The Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism is indeed a unique place, rare both in Vietnam and around the world!