During this year’s April 30 - May 1 holiday, alongside tourism promotion activities such as hot air balloon rides, cross-country running and the Ocean Tuna Festival in the eastern area, western Dak Lak hosted a wide range of cultural as well as experiential programmes to meet the demand of residents and visitors.

Cultural experience journeys

During this holiday, Dak Lak Museum emerged as an attractive destination, drawing large numbers of residents along with visitors with a diverse series of cultural and experiential activities.

Visitors could enjoy an art photo exhibition themed “The Identity of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups”. The works vividly depicted labour, beliefs, daily life, costumes and customs of 54 ethnic groups. They also had opportunity to participate in brocade handicraft making, wear traditional Ede costumes, join folk games, alongside make traditional cakes. In addition, they could experience Tinh lute melodies and Then singing performed by artisans from Ea Kly commune.

Large numbers of residents along with visitors participating in the Ethnic Cultural Festival in Ea Phe commune.

Promoting intangible cultural experience activities not only helps Dak Lak diversify its tourism products but also serves as a practical way to preserve and promote heritage values.

In Ea Phe commune, the Ethnic Cultural Festival featured a variety of distinctive activities, including re-enactment of Nang Hai Festival, art performances, camping, traditional sports competitions, folk games, culinary spaces, together with OCOP product displays, attracting large numbers of residents and visitors.

Ecotourism draws visitors during the holiday

During the holiday, demand for green, nature-based destinations increased markedly, as many community-based tourism sites across the province recorded increasing visitor numbers from the early days.

At Ako Dhong village in Buon Ma Thuot, tourism activities were bustling, offering visitors a chance to experience local cultural life. In the longhouses, they could enjoy coffee, listen to folk songs as well as traditional music performed by local residents, explore regional cuisine, and learn about brocade weaving as well as daily life.

Visitors taking souvenir photos with longhouses in Ako Dhong village, Buon Ma Thuot ward.

Simultaneously, Ko Tam Community Ecotourism Area in Tan Lap ward also drew large numbers of visitors during the holiday, with thorough preparations in facilities and cultural activities to better serve them.

Alongside efforts to promote cultural values, numerous tourism sites are expanding nature-based experiences to diversify their offerings combined with encourage longer stays. At Dray Nur - Gia Long waterfall ecotourism site in Ea Na commune, the holiday period saw a lively mix of outdoor activities, including forest cycling, mountain climbing, boating and riverside camping.

Impressed by landscape together with people of Dak Lak during the holiday, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Nam from Ho Chi Minh City remarked: “It’s very open and close to nature, creating a relaxing feeling. The local cuisine is rich as well as distinctive, making our family trip more enjoyable”.

By balancing cultural identity preservation with improved service quality, community-based ecotourism in Dak Lak is gradually building its own appeal. Encouraging outcomes from this year’s April 30 - May 1 holiday provide momentum for the province to continue diversifying its tourism products and improving services.

Translated by KHUONG THAO