Under the national target program for Socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous Areas (2021-2030), the project has revitalized traditional crafts, arts, and festivals in provinces such as Bình Định and Gia Lai, fostering both cultural preservation and community-based tourism.
In the communes of Vĩnh Sơn, Vĩnh Thạnh, and Vĩnh Thịnh, ethnic Bahnar K’riêm traditions like brocade weaving, gong and drum performances, xoang dance, and the playing of indigenous instruments are being passed down to younger generations. The once-forgotten New Rice Festival has been revived and adapted as a new tourism attraction.
Meanwhile, in Vân Canh commune, since 2023, gong clubs, brocade weaving classes, and kơ toang drumming and xoang dance lessons for the Bahnar community, along with the restoration of the Chăm H’roi people’s village deity worship festival, have strengthened ethnic solidarity and laid the foundation for sustainable tourism.
In An Vinh, An Toàn, and An Hòa, Project 6 has boosted the activities of 40 Bana and H’re art troupes, funded new and upgraded village cultural houses, and launched training programs to preserve H’re folk songs, dances, and musical traditions.
In western Gia Lai, between 2021 and 2025, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has carried out training courses to safeguard intangible heritage. The “Connecting heritage with tourism journeys” initiative has reached hundreds of Jrai and Bahnar artisans, equipping them to integrate cultural practices into local tourism.
At a gong tuning workshop led by researcher Bùi Trọng Hiền from the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies, artisan Rah Lan Nhin from Ia Dơk commune noted that modern techniques have made traditional gong tuning more accurate and sustainable, saving local people from paying outside experts, previously costing up to VND 1 million (USD 40) per service.
The Department of Culture has also awarded certificates and financial support to four outstanding ethnic minority artisans to continue teaching traditional culture, while establishing five folk culture clubs.
A highlight of the program, “Weekend Gong - Enjoy and Experience”, has staged more than 70 performances at Đại Đoàn Kết Square in Pleiku and surrounding areas, drawing strong participation from artisans and enthusiastic audiences.
Another initiative, “Colors of Gia Lai Culture - Preservation and Development”, has hosted 12 cultural programs at the provincial museum, recreating traditional Jrai and Bahnar festivals for both residents and visitors.
Photo: Ngọc Nhuận
Central to the project’s success are the artisans themselves, “keepers of the cultural flame.” People’s Artisan Đinh Chương, 86, from Vĩnh Sơn commune, continues to teach gongs, instruments, and rituals to the Bana K’riêm youth. “Our young people now understand and take pride in their culture,” he said. “They practice it in daily life and perform it to serve local tourism.”
“The Party and State’s attention, concretized through Project 6, has received the consensus and support of ethnic minority communities. Through material support, skills training, and the empowerment of artisans, all efforts are aimed at building a foundation so that the cultural identity of ethnic minorities is not lost in the process of integration, while also turning traditional culture into a resource for tourism development in particular and local socio-economic growth in general.”
Folk culture researcher Yang Danh (Vĩnh Thạnh commune)
In An Vinh commune, artisan Đinh Văn Hải expressed appreciation for government support in teaching H’re folk arts and instruments such as the goong drum, p’răng, and ta lía flute, which are now performed for tourists.
Young community members are also contributing to the revival. Đinh Thị Hiền from Vĩnh Thịnh commune said the restoration of Bana K’riêm brocade weaving has created new tourism-linked income streams for villagers.
From Pờ Tó commune, artisan Đinh Byêch and his troupe actively participate in “Weekend Gong” performances, sharing Bahnar culture with visitors from across Vietnam and abroad.
These efforts collectively showcase the effectiveness of Project 6 in strengthening the trust of ethnic communities in government cultural policies. By blending heritage preservation with tourism, the program is ensuring that Vietnam’s rich ethnic traditions remain vibrant, relevant, and economically beneficial for generations to come.