The two villages remain cultural enclaves where the sounds of flowing streams, traditional gong performances and daily community life continue to define the landscape. Local authorities have proposed retaining both villages' existing names and administrative status during the 2026 review and reorganisation of hamlets and residential groups, recognising their importance as long-standing cultural spaces.
Founded in 1927, Ơp Village has retained much of the character of a traditional Jrai settlement even as the surrounding city has developed. At its entrance stands a village gate designed in the shape of a traditional nhà rông, while the communal house itself remains the village's cultural centre.
For the Jrai people, the nhà rông serves not only as a venue for meetings and communal activities but also as a repository of memories, customs and traditions passed down through generations. Inside, sets of gongs, traditional musical instruments and handcrafted artefacts reflect the community's beliefs and way of life.
Surrounding the communal house are wooden folk statues portraying scenes of labour and daily life. As a community-based cultural tourism village, Ơp also displays Bana wooden artworks, offering visitors an opportunity to learn about the region's indigenous cultures.
Village elder Siu Núi recounted that the first settlers established Ơp in the Ia Lâm valley, between the Ia Nin and Ia Năk streams, where they cleared land, found water sources and built a new community. The village was named after its founder to honour its origins.
Although roads have widened and homes have become more spacious over nearly a century, many traditional practices remain. Women continue weaving brocade textiles, while local artisans produce baskets, carve wooden statues and craft traditional musical instruments. These handicrafts not only support daily life but have also become cultural tourism products.
Siu Núi demonstrated one of the village's traditional woven baskets, explaining that despite the widespread use of modern tools, baskets remain an essential household item and a lasting symbol of Jrai daily life.
The village water source also continues to play a central role. Although piped water is now available to every household, villagers still gather there each day to collect water, bathe after work and maintain the social connections that have long been part of community life.
Visitor Võ Thanh Giang from Đại Mỗ Ward in Hanoi said the village's peaceful atmosphere and the warmth of its residents left a lasting impression. After attending the re-enactment of a traditional new communal house celebration in late April 2026, he said he gained a deeper appreciation of the nhà rông's spiritual significance within Jrai culture.
While Ơp has preserved many features of an ancient Jrai village, nearby Pleiku Roh reflects generations of residents who have adapted alongside the city's expansion. Although traditional stilt houses have disappeared, many cultural practices continue to be maintained through everyday life and community activities.
At the edge of Pleiku Roh, the village water source continues to flow uninterrupted. Elder Puih Wich described the spring as "living water", saying its naturally cool, sweet water has refreshed generations of villagers returning from work in the fields.
Traditional gong music also remains deeply embedded in village life. Pleiku Roh currently maintains two gong ensembles comprising members ranging from six years old to nearly 40. The groups regularly perform at provincial and ward events, while several members have participated in major programmes both in Vietnam and overseas.
Leading those efforts is artisan Siu Thưm, who heads the village's gong team and devotes himself to teaching new generations. He instructs learners in everything from holding the gong and keeping rhythm to performing together as an ensemble.
Beyond teaching gong music, Siu Thưm also makes traditional musical instruments, helping preserve the village's cultural space and ensuring younger generations continue the craft.
"The sound of the gongs only truly lives when it is played by the hands and hearts of today's generation," he said.
For many residents, preserving Pleiku Roh's cultural identity also depends on establishing a communal nhà rông. Puih Hnuch, 73, said villagers view the communal house as the heart of the village, where traditions, stories and customs are passed from one generation to the next.
Pleiku Roh is home to 439 households with 2,048 residents, while Ơp has 236 households and 871 residents. Although Ơp falls below the general population threshold, local authorities recognise that it continues to preserve customs, traditions, communal activities and collective memories closely tied to the area's formation and development.
As evening falls, the village streams continue their quiet flow while the sound of gongs echoes across the changing urban landscape. Beneath the roof of the nhà rông, village elders continue sharing stories of their community's origins, ensuring that the cultural values of the Jrai people endure at the heart of the mountain city.