Nurturing Culture in Everyday Life
In many localities across Lam Dong, folk clubs, artisans and residents are helping preserve traditional cultural values through everyday activities. In this way, the unique identity of each community continues to be passed down and adapted to modern life.
In 2019, Trieu Thi Sa, a woman from the Tay ethnic group in Phuc Tho Lam Ha Commune, founded a club dedicated to Then singing and Tinh lute playing. What began with only a handful of founding members has now grown to over 30 members, with new participants continually joining.
She expressed, “Every gathering provides a chance for members to practice Then singing and Tinh lute playing together, exchange life experiences, and remind each other of the importance of preserving our traditions and language. Numerous Then songs composed by our members, featuring lyrics that honor the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, our homeland, and the unity among ethnic groups, are also showcased at local events.”
In Dam Rong 4 Commune, artisan Cil Neu has taken a unique approach to safeguarding the cultural identity of the M'nong people. As a highly regarded figure in the community, he has dedicated many years to encouraging local residents to modify their production methods and enhance their livelihoods, while also making significant efforts to uphold traditional cultural values.
In 2022, he played a pivotal role in mobilizing local residents to establish the Lieng Trang 1 Gong Club, creating a space for villagers to practice and sustain their gong traditions. Simultaneously, he has preserved the traditional crafts of brocade weaving and ruou can (rice wine) brewing while also launching a service for renting traditional costumes.
“Along with brocade weaving and ruou can brewing, the cultural values of the M'nong people continue to be preserved in everyday life and are increasingly becoming part of the livelihoods of local families,” Cil Neu said.
From folk clubs to traditional crafts maintained within individual families, it is clear that cultural preservation begins with the most familiar activities. Every Then melody that is sung, every gong that echoes through a village, and every completed piece of brocade adds another link to the chain of preserving the identity of each ethnic community.
These initiatives have also received backing from various provincial policies. Following the administrative consolidation, Lam Dong now boasts a rich and varied cultural landscape, home to numerous ethnic groups and an extensive array of cultural heritage.
According to data from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province currently possesses 145 heritage sites, including three sites at the special national level, 59 at the national level, and 83 at the provincial level, along with several significant elements of intangible cultural heritage, such as the UNESCO-recognized Space of Gong Culture in the Central Highlands.
In addition to community-oriented preservation initiatives, the cultural sector is accelerating digital transformation in heritage management. From 2021 to 2025, over 5,493 artifacts were transformed into digital formats.
The provincial museum has progressively created a 3D experience for visitors and placed hundreds of QR codes throughout the museum and heritage sites, enhancing the accessibility of information for both locals and tourists. Digital resources are also being used for research, cultural promotion and the presentation of local heritage.
Several communities have also developed tourism offerings linked to traditional crafts, festivals, and the living environments of ethnic groups. This strategy generates extra employment opportunities for locals while promoting cultural values to a broader audience.
From grassroots initiatives to solutions implemented by the cultural sector, efforts to preserve and promote cultural identity across Lam Dong are being carried out in diverse ways. These efforts provide a foundation for traditional cultural values to be preserved and passed down, thereby enriching the cultural life of communities in the new era.