Preserving the Cultural Soul of the K’ho Ethnic Community Amid Modern Life

Gong sounds carried on by the younger generation

As night falls over K’Long Village in Hiep Thanh Commune, the vibrant sounds of gongs once again echo around the community cultural house. Young K’ho ethnic youths enthusiastically practice under the guidance of artisan K’Tin, who has devoted more than 30 years to preserving gong culture.

For artisan K’Tin, gongs are not merely musical instruments but also embody the spiritual soul of the K’ho people. Gong performances are indispensable during weddings, new rice celebrations and important village ceremonies.

For many years, he has patiently taught younger generations in the village how to play the gongs. Some children initially came only out of curiosity, but gradually developed a deep affection for the resonant sounds.

According to artisan K’Tin, his greatest concern is the gradual fading of traditional culture as young people become increasingly absorbed in technology devices and social media.

“Nowadays, many children prefer mobile phones to learning gong performances. But if we do not teach them, who will preserve our ethnic culture in the future?” K’Tin shared with concern.

The K’Long Village gong troupe currently has around 17 members. The group practices regularly two to three times a week, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and community bonding. After long hours working in the fields, members gather to rehearse for local festivals and cultural performances.

The commune currently maintains two gong clubs in K’Long and Darahoa villages, attracting strong participation from local residents, particularly young people. These activities help strengthen community awareness of the importance of preserving ethnic cultural identity amid modern life.

Despite her young age, K’Sieu remains deeply committed to preserving her ethnic culture. In addition to performing, she actively encourages local youths to participate in cultural activities.

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As a young person, I feel an even greater responsibility to preserve our ethnic culture. If the younger generation does not learn and participate, gong culture will gradually disappear. I hope young people will continue to love and take pride in K’ho culture so these traditional values can be passed down through generations.

K’Sieu from K’Long Village, Hiep Thanh Commune

Preserving traditional craftsmanship

Beyond gong culture, many traditional handicrafts of the K’ho people are also being preserved and passed down by local artisans.

Inside her modest home in Due Village, Bao Thuan Commune, Ka Ep continues to patiently weave thin strips of bamboo despite her advanced age. She still regularly crafts traditional baskets, trays and woven containers — familiar household items closely tied to K’ho daily life for generations.

Having devoted many years to traditional weaving, Ka Ep hopes to preserve the craft and pass it down to younger generations. In the past, nearly every household in the village knew how to weave. Baskets accompanied farmers to the fields, trays were used for drying rice, while woven containers served daily household needs. All were made from bamboo, "lo o" bamboo and forest materials gathered from the surrounding mountains.

Creating a traditional woven basket requires multiple meticulous steps, including selecting bamboo, soaking materials, drying them, splitting strips and shaping the final product. Each item not only demands skillful craftsmanship but also reflects the artisan’s experience and aesthetic sense.

According to Ka Ep, traditional K’ho weaving is not simply about producing household items but also embodies the unique cultural identity of the ethnic community. Every pattern and weaving technique carries traditional values handed down through generations.

Despite her age, she continues striving to preserve the craft and teach younger family members and village youths. During her free time, she often gathers young people to teach them how to split bamboo strips and weave basic patterns.

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As long as I can still work, I will continue preserving this craft. I only hope future generations will still know the traditional craft of their ancestors. Learning weaving and traditional crafts not only preserves culture but also helps create household items and products for tourists and local residents, generating additional income.

Ka Ep, from Due Village, Bao Thuan Commune,

Across many K’ho ethnic villages in Lam Dong, artisans continue maintaining traditional handicrafts while actively passing them down to younger generations.

Pham Thi Yen, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Division of Bao Thuan Commune, said nearly 50% of the commune’s population belongs to ethnic minority groups, mainly K’ho, Nung, Muong and Hoa communities. Preserving and promoting traditional culture has always been identified as an important task linked to building grassroots cultural life.

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Young people in the commune are becoming increasingly interested, eager to learn and enthusiastic about exploring and practicing traditional cultural values, helping preserve and promote local cultural identity.

Pham Thi Yen, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Division of Bao Thuan Commune

In recent years, local authorities have regularly organized community cultural activities, creating opportunities for gong teams, artisans and residents to perform and exchange experiences during festivals and cultural events. The locality also continues supporting gong teams and encouraging artisans to teach traditional culture to younger generations, thereby enhancing community awareness of preserving traditional cultural identity.

Amid modern life, the preservation of gong culture, weaving crafts and traditional K’ho cultural values is being carried forward by many artisans and young people. These efforts not only contribute to safeguarding ethnic identity but also lay an important foundation for developing community culture and local tourism in the future.