The National Assembly Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16 on Vietnamese cultural development is opening up novel mechanisms for turning culture into an endogenous resource along with a vital driver for consistent development. In Dak Lak province, indigenous cultural values are gradually being converted into tangible products, creating room for the local economic growth.

Home to 45 ethnic groups, Dak Lak province possesses a rich heritage. While cultural preservation was previously viewed primarily as safeguarding traditional values to prevent their loss, the Resolution No. 28 introduces a broader approach linking culture with development. It advocates for combining preservation with the rational utilization of cultural assets to generate livelihoods, boost tourism alongside cultural industries, while improving living standards for local residents.

In practice, multiple community-based tourism models have embraced this orientation. Rather than confining culture to festivals or performance events, numerous localities have developed community-based tourism products deeply rooted in their distinctive identities, thereby directly contributing to local economic growth.

Kli A village water landing - a distinctive attraction in Buon Ho ward.

The Kathy & Claude homestay in Tuor village (Hoa Phu commune) is a prime example of this model, attracting a large number of international tour groups, particularly from France. Beyond agricultural income, local residents gain more employment coupled with earnings through activities, including gong performances, brocade weaving, traditional culinary preparation, guiding visitor experiences, together with selling local specialties. Ms. H’Belly Eban, the homestay owner, emphasizes that local residents must be both the central actors in and beneficiaries from tourism activities. When culture becomes a stable livelihood source, the community gains greater motivation to preserve their longhouses, gongs, weaving crafts, combined with traditional customs.

Alongside Tuor village, numerous other community-based tourism villages province-wide are successfully leveraging indigenous cultural values. A prime example is Tong Ju village (Ea Kao ward), which utilizes traditional brocade weaving, folk woodcarving, longhouse architecture along with the scenic setting of Ea Kao Lake as a foundation to develop tourism products deeply imbued with Ede identity. Concurrently, Ako Dhong village (Buon Ma Thuot ward) capitalizes on its central urban location to develop professional community-based tourism, combining the village atmosphere preservation with the Central Highlands cultural promotion to both domestic and international visitors.

Turning culture into economic value

The success of these community-based tourism models has motivated other localities to boldly shift their approach, transforming culture into a driver of development rather than focusing solely on preservation.

A traditional Ede longhouse in Tong Ju village (Ea Kao ward).

Buon Ho ward possesses four provincial-level historical and scenic sites, alongside well-preserved traditional Ede cultural values, offering immense economic development potential. Comrade Lê Tuan Anh, Vice Chairman of the Ward People’s Committee, stated that local authorities are identifying cultural assets suitable for tourism exploitation coupled with developing signature tourism products. They are also organizing tourism skills training for residents as well as partnering with travel agencies to bring visitors to experience these offerings.

The goal of Resolution 28 is to ensure that culture continues to be nurtured within the community while generating economic value. When residents derive income from their own traditional cultural values, conservation is no longer a supplementary task but has become a residents’ intrinsic need. This also serves as the foundation for the province to transform culture into a competitive advantage, creating a consistent growth momentum in the new era.

Translated by TRINH THUY