Bahnar community tourism [3[: Rich ecology in amidst of Vinh Son

A land full of potential

Amid the scorching heat of eastern Gia Lai province, anyone who travels up to the highland commune of Vinh Son, sitting at an elevation of about 800 meters above sea level, might feel as though they've stepped into Da Lat, thanks to its cool, pleasant climate year-round.

Vinh Son's biggest draw is the ancient Ta Kon Wall, made up of massive, flat stone slabs stacked one atop another, towering high into the sky, as if shaped by skilled artisans. But in the Bahnar language, "Ta Kon" means "stones stacked upon each other", meaning this wall was, in fact, formed entirely by nature.

Eighteen years ago, to catch a glimpse of the Ta Kon Wall, I had to swing along forest vines, my toes gripping onto rock edges, dangling over a cliff whose bottom I couldn't see. Today, there's a proper road leading straight to the base of the wall, allowing visitors to freely admire the raw, ancient beauty of this stone structure amid the majestic primeval forest.

My guide on that 2008 trip to see the Ta Kon Wall was Dinh Khuat, then head of Vinh Son commune's militia unit. Young and Bahnar, with legs well accustomed to the mountains, he climbed the slopes briskly while I struggled to keep pace, utterly exhausted.

Reaching a clearing in the forest, Khuat pointed to the rock face and said that was the Ta Kon Wall. Looking down, I could see only part of the wall, flat stone slabs, each as large as an oversized tabletop, stacked perfectly in line, as though arranged by hand. "To really see the wall, you have to swing along the forest vines and make your way along it to the other side," Khuat added.

Getting an up-close look at the ancient Ta Kon Wall left my heart in my throat, but it was worth it, walking along a wall that has entered Bahnar epic tales and mysterious legends. It wasn't just a wall to block wind and rain; it also once sheltered the Bahnar people from invading enemies.

Another striking feature of Vinh Son is its Japanese cherry blossoms. In 2017, the People's Committee of the former Binh Dinh province (now part of Gia Lai province) assigned Song Kon Forestry Company Limited (Vinh Thanh commune) to experimentally grow temperate flower species, including Japanese cherry blossoms. In early 2019, the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Association in Sakai City donated 200 Japanese cherry blossom trees to the former Binh Dinh province for trial planting in Vinh Son commune. In early 2023, Binh Dinh province received another gift shipment from the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Association in Sakai City, 500 cherry blossom saplings of the Tairyo-zakura variety, which Song Kon Forestry Company successfully planted and has continued caring for ever since. Beyond Japanese cherry blossoms, Vinh Son also grows other cold-climate temperate flowers such as hydrangeas and peach blossoms, making this highland commune a "capital" of temperate flowers ever since.

Beyond the ancient Ta Kon Wall and its temperate flowers, Vinh Son also boasts other scenic spots, including Hang Doi Waterfall, Lo Pin Waterfall, Nuoc La Stream, and the Nguyen Hue orange orchard. The commune is also home to numerous historical and revolutionary sites, historical and cultural relics, traditional craft villages, and tangible cultural values deeply rooted in Bahnar identity, such as the buffalo-stabbing festival and the new-rice celebration festival; folk games, epic chants (ho mon), legends, folk verses and proverbs; stilt-house architecture; brocade weaving; lullabies; and unique traditional musical instruments. All of these hold strong potential for community tourism.

The genuine warmth of the Bahnar people

Another draw of Vinh Son is the cultural atmosphere of the local Bahnar community. In Vinh Son, visitors who step into any household become honored guests, welcomed by the host with a small ritual pinch of rice.

According to Bok Chuong (People's Artisan Dinh Chuong) of Kon Blo village (village K8, Vinh Son commune), for the local Bahnar people, offering an honored guest a small pinch of rice as a ritual is the host's way of informing the spirits so they will protect the guest. It is an expression of the host's genuine affection for someone they hold dear.

Now 87 years old, Bok Chuong is not only a respected village elder but also a keeper of the traditional cultural heritage of the Bahnar Kriem people in Vinh Son. Skilled in singing and reciting ho mon epics, he is also a master craftsman and performer of traditional Bahnar musical instruments, including the T'rung xylophone, the bo long khong, the gong lute, the ho dong, the ding dut, the ta lia flute, and the ola flute. Bok Chuong is passionate about collecting and crafting instruments, and devotes himself to teaching the younger generation in Kon Blo village about their traditional culture, hoping the sound of the gongs will continue to echo through the forests of Vinh Son for generations to come.

According to a review and assessment by the Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on developing community tourism models across the province, Vinh Son commune is one of the localities slated for upgrades focused on improving visitor reception conditions, enhancing product quality, and strengthening market connections.

According to Nguyen Thi Kim Chung, Deputy Director of the Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vinh Son brings together a wealth of valuable resources, from its untouched natural beauty to its rich layers of indigenous culture, the core assets that draw tourists. In addition, the culinary culture of the Bahnar people in Vinh Son carries its own distinctive character, one that visitors find highly appealing.

The eco-tourism resort area in Vinh Son commune has already built several new roads and planted peach blossoms, hydrangeas, and wild sunflowers along them. Building on these advantages, in 2019 the People's Committee of the former Binh Dinh province planned a 28.5-hectare eco-tourism resort area in Vinh Son commune, aiming to fully utilize the region's potential and strengths.

According to the review and assessment of developing community tourism models in Gia Lai province conducted by relevant authorities, Vinh Son commune is designated for upgrades aimed at improving visitor reception conditions, enhancing product quality, and strengthening market connections.