Bahnar community tourism: [3] Ha Ri village takes chance

What makes Ha Ri distinctive

Vinh Thinh commune (Gia Lai) currently comprises eight villages with a population of more than 10,800, of whom nearly 1,700, over 15.5 percent of the total, belong to ethnic minority groups, mainly Bahnar Kriem, concentrated in the two mountainous villages of Ha Ri and Kon To Lok.

Le Van Vinh, Head of the Culture-Social Affairs Office of Vinh Thinh commune, said that on weekends, holidays, and especially during the wild trang flower blooming season, which begins in early March each year, large numbers of visitors flock to Ta Ma Stream for sightseeing and outings. The Ta Ma Stream tourist site already has basic facilities, including clear walking paths, photo spots, restrooms, and a parking area.

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Bahnar community tourism: [1] Genuine hospitality

Nature has blessed Ha Ri village with Ta Ma Stream, its banks densely lined with wild trang flowers that bloom in vivid color each spring.

Ha Ri village is home to a long-standing Bahnar Kriem community that has preserved traditional cultural practices such as brocade weaving, basket weaving, xoang dance, and gong performances. The area's culinary culture is also rich, with traditional dishes made almost entirely from natural, minimally processed ingredients - well suited to today's trend toward healthy eating.

"After enjoying Ha Ri's distinctive natural scenery, visitors also get to take part in cultural exchange activities, experience community life, and sample local cuisine," Le Van Vinh said.

In Ha Ri village, we met Dinh Thi Hien, head of the Vinh Thinh commune brocade-weaving group. Now 45, she has spent 29 years devoted to the craft. Through our conversation, we learned that Bahnar Kriem brocade in Ha Ri differs from that of other ethnic minority groups in that the patterns woven into the fabric are larger, giving the cloth a bold, striking look.

Dinh Thi Choai, a veteran artisan of Bahnar Kriem brocade, explained: "What sets it apart is that Bahnar Kriem brocade features many motifs, straight lines, curved lines, triangles, with fine patterns layered over one another. Bahnar Kriem weavers typically use black as the dominant color in their brocade garments, paired with red and white, with small touches of yellow and pale green, creating a bold look through strong contrast."

The motifs on Bahnar Kriem brocade garments in Ha Ri carry both an ancient and a strikingly modern feel, enhanced with vivid colors, apricot green, banana-leaf green, fluorescent green, red, and pink woven against a black background, giving the skirts and blouses a look that conveys both the strength and diligence of the Bahnar Kriem people in their daily work, while still carrying a romantic, untamed quality reflective of this vast forested land.

Ha Ri's Bahnar Kriem brocade is handwoven, giving it a notably thick, sturdy texture. And shimmering within each piece of brocade is something of the weaver's own spirit.

"Brocade weaving in Ha Ri village has existed for generations, passed down through the ages. The village currently has nearly 40 households engaged in the craft. Ha Ri's brocade products mainly serve tourists and supply local residents for use in cultural performances, folk arts, and traditional festivals," Hien said.

The whole village is eager

Six years ago, Ha Ri village established a brocade-weaving group with 15 members. Dinh Thi Hien, deeply devoted to the craft, was chosen as group leader and has also taken on responsibility for passing the trade down to the village's young women.

In mid-March 2025, the Ha Ri brocade-weaving village was officially recognized as a craft village by the People's Committee of the former Binh Dinh province, under Clause 3, Article 5 of Government Decree No. 52/2018/ND-CP dated April 12, 2018, on the development of rural trades. Since then, the Ha Ri brocade village has been eligible for support policies aimed at developing craft villages and rural trades across the province, helping preserve and grow the craft.

Beyond serving tourists, Ha Ri's brocade products have also been ordered by several fashion designers in Hanoi.

According to Huynh Duc Bao, Chairman of the Vinh Thinh Commune People's Committee, as the Ta Ma Stream community eco-tourism site has developed and gained recognition, residents across the commune have come to clearly understand the role community tourism plays in boosting household income and creating jobs, leading everyone to take greater care in protecting the forest, preserving the natural landscape, and safeguarding cultural identity.

"Village elders and respected community figures have all agreed on and support the policy of developing community eco-tourism in the Ta Ma Stream area, and are encouraging residents to join in maintaining environmental hygiene, protecting natural resources, preserving public order and security, and promoting local traditional values as part of community tourism," said Huynh Duc Bao, Chairman of the Vinh Thinh Commune People's Committee.

In early June, the Vinh Thinh Commune People's Committee submitted a formal proposal to the Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism requesting that the Ta Ma Stream community tourism site (Ha Ri village) be included in the province's upcoming roadmap for building and developing community tourism models.

Dinh Nghi, head of Ha Ri village, said that in preparation for community tourism, villagers are currently repairing and reinforcing the sun-shelter huts at the Ta Ma Stream area to welcome tourists. Households running food services are raising free-range chickens and native black pigs, and tending fruit orchards to be ready to meet visitor demand.

"Members of the brocade-weaving group see this craft as a key highlight of community tourism, so they're working hard to expand production and refine their skills. Ha Ri village is also keeping its gong, xoang dance, and traditional music performance clubs active and ready to serve visitors," Nghi said.

According to the Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, a review and assessment of community tourism models across the province found that 14 such models have already been established and are currently operating.

"Gia Lai province currently has six sites that meet the conditions to be prioritized for support in developing community tourism models during the 2026–2030 period: Ta Ma Stream in Ha Ri village (Vinh Thinh commune); Dak Asel village (Son Lang commune); Canh Tien village (Canh Vinh commune); Dekjeng village (Ayun commune); Kon So Lal village (Ia Khuol commune); and So To village (To Tung commune)," said Nguyen Thi Kim Chung, Deputy Director of the Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.