At the foot of Chư Đang Ya volcano in Bien Ho commune, a traditional communal house, or nhà rông, for the Jrai people in Ia Gri village is nearing completion after construction began in May 2026.
About two-thirds of the thatched roof has been installed, giving the structure its distinctive silhouette against the volcano.
The communal house is being built entirely from natural materials, including wood, thatch, bamboo and rattan.
Village elder A Lúi said the village previously had a communal house, but it deteriorated and residents lacked the resources to rebuild it.
The new facility, funded by the state, is larger and more durable and is intended to provide a space for preserving and promoting local cultural values alongside tourism.
The traditional communal house is expected to add a distinctive cultural feature to the Chư Đang Ya tourism route, where the volcano is already a prominent geological landmark in the Central Highlands.
Another attraction is emerging on Chư Nâm mountain, known as the “roof of the West”. At an altitude of 1,472 metres, a more than 20-metre-high flagpole and a rest area are under construction at the summit.
After trekking nearly 4 kilometres, visitors reaching the site will be able to view a broad highland landscape encompassing Pleiku city, Tan Son dam, Bien Ho lake and Chư Đang Ya volcano.
The project is funded entirely through social contributions and is designed to serve both as a resting place and a destination for visitors to commemorate their climb.
Đoàn Lanh, a trekking guide, said Chư Nâm is among the most attractive trekking routes in western Gia Lai and draws thousands of adventurers each year. Until now, the summit had little infrastructure apart from an altitude marker.
The new facilities are also intended to create space for restoring and promoting local cultural practices.
Once the Ia Gri communal house is completed, villagers will hold a celebration for the new nhà rông, with activities linked to the gong cultural space during the International Gong Festival.
The province hopes that the revival of rituals, gong performances, traditional crafts and community activities will encourage visitors to experience not only Chư Đang Ya volcano but also the cultural life of local communities.
Gia Lai is also working to connect individual tourism sites. Since early August, four electric bus routes have been piloted to provide additional transport options for residents and visitors.
During the International Gong Festival, dozens of electric buses are expected to connect attractions within a 30-kilometre radius, linking the city centre with Bien Ho lake, the centuries-old pine forest, Ngo Son rice fields and Chư Đang Ya volcano.
Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyễn Thị Thanh Lịch said infrastructure preparations for the International Gong Festival and other cultural and tourism events were intended not only to meet immediate event requirements but also to support the province’s longer-term development.
The International Gong Festival is also intended to honour the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space, recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Gia Lai is among the provinces entrusted with preserving, safeguarding and promoting the heritage’s values.
The province has therefore directed comprehensive upgrades and targeted investment, prioritising event venues and cultural spaces while incorporating local cultural identity into architecture and landscapes. Transport, environmental sanitation, essential services and visitor experiences are also part of the preparations.
Authorities have stressed that investment and renovation projects should have effective uses after the festival, with the aim of turning heritage values into a driver of development, improving tourism destinations and establishing a foundation for sustainable tourism growth in Gia Lai.