Exploring the Cultural Soul

The storytellers

After serving as a tourist guide for visitors to Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park for almost 10 years, Ko Sa En Luy of Lac Duong Commune has rarely experienced a day as fulfilling as when he took tourists to visit the mountains, forests and villages in his homeland. For En Luy, a K’ho person and one of the locals staffing the park’s Center for Ecotourism and Environmental Education, sharing local culture with visitors is as natural as breathing.

Being an English teacher, he has the advantage of communicating well with foreign tourists. With each tour, his language skills improve further, motivating him to stay dedicated to his work and perform even better.
“I see myself as a storyteller, sharing what I learned from my family so visitors can understand deeper the cultural and spiritual life of the K’ho community along the Da Nhim River, at the foot of the legendary Bidoup Mountain,” he said. For someone born and raised in the highlands, every tour feels like a return to nature, where the beauty of village life is shared through warm and simple storytelling.

Besides, he also helps coordinate community collaborators and organizes cultural experience activities such as brocade weaving and gong performances. Seeing that community participation, especially among young people, is not as strong as before, he feels even more compelled to inspire the next generation to preserve and promote local culture.

Developing community-based tourism

According to Pham Van Dan, Deputy Director of Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park, no one understands local customs, traditions, and culture better than indigenous people themselves. They are the ones who help visitors truly discover cultural depth through every story and journey.

At Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park, one key focus is creating jobs for ethnic minorities in buffer zone areas while encouraging communities to preserve traditional cultural values such as language, clothing, cuisine, and customs. Alongside natural beauty, cultural richness is considered a precious resource for tourism development, bringing real benefits to residents.

Based on this approach, the park has developed tourism products involving direct community participation. The charm of its eco-tours comes from the sincere companionship of village residents. This helps preserve cultural heritage while creating livelihoods, reducing pressures on forests, and protecting valuable natural resources.

Dao Van Tan, investor of Nui Voi Pine Forest Tourism Area, said the greatest advantage of local workers lies in their deep understanding of local culture, identity, and geography. Their speech, manner of conversation, and simple way of life create a distinct appeal that meets tourists’ growing desire for authentic cultural experiences.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with 49 ethnic groups living in the province, preserving and promoting traditional cultural values alongside tourism development not only improves the lives of ethnic minority communities and supports socio-economic development, but also gradually raises public awareness about safeguarding and promoting ethnic cultural heritage across the province.