Dak Lak is home to many different communities from across the country, forming a unique local identity while constantly strengthening national unity, all of which contribute to its distinctive diversity - a resource for development.

Phu Mo commune is a remote area facing particularly difficult conditions, with ethnic minorities accounting for 62% of the population. Since 2021, the commune has received approximately 195 billion VND from national target programs to invest in public works in coupled with support production development. As a result, the rural landscape has gradually improved, living standards have been enhanced, the average poverty reduction rate among ethnic minorities in the 2020-2025 period reached 8.98%, which is an important foundation for strengthening grassroots solidarity.

Along with economic development, the province pays special attention to socio-cultural activities to consolidate community cohesion. The National Unity Day, the “All people unite to build a cultural life” movement, the twinning models between agencies, units together with villages have fostered community cohesion. Traditional festivals combined with gong culture are preserved as well as promoted, contributing to preserving cultural identity while simultaneously arousing pride coupled with a sense of protecting shared community values.

Tourists along with locals participating in the bamboo pole dance during the Ethnic Culture Festival in Ea Phe commune.

Furthermore, religious affairs have always been a provincial priority, implemented in accordance with the Party and State’s policies alongside guidelines. Currently, there are 7 recognized religions province-wide with over 740,000 followers together with hundreds of stable places of worship. Multiple religious leaders, officials, and influential individuals have become important bridges in disseminating the Party’s guidelines combined with the State’s policies and laws, helping reinforce consensus within local communities.

In this novel development stage, the work of consolidating national unity needs to be deployed more comprehensively. Accordingly, along with effectively implementing the Party and State’s guidelines coupled with policies on ethnic and religious affairs, the province needs to continue improving the quality of education, healthcare, infrastructure, combined with livelihoods; accelerate the role of village elders, hamlet leaders, along with influential individuals; proactively combat as well as refute divisive rhetoric that undermines national unity; while building a shared cultural space for ethnic communities to participate in creating, preserving, in conjunction with spreading their unique identities.

Throughout Dak Lak’s development journey, national unity is not only a precious tradition but also a prerequisite for the province to realize its goal of becoming a novel growth pole of the South Central Coast and Central Highlands regions. Unity in diversity continues to be an intrinsic strength for Dak Lak’s rapid, sustainable development alongside integration.

Translated by TRINH THUY