The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum has spent more than VND20 billion (about USD1.04 million) on building and restoring Rong house (communal house), the traditional and spiritual home of the local ethnic minority groups.
According to the Kon Tum’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, over 500 Rong houses have been constructed or restored, with each receiving an investment capital of between VND30 million and VND180 million.
The restoration programme is part of the province’s efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Central Party Committee’s resolution on preserving and promoting the cultural identities of ethnic groups.
The central highlands region is home to many ethnic minority groups, including Zarai, Ba Na, Xo Dang, Gie Trieng and Brau and the Rong house is the cultural symbol of the local ethnic people.
The communal house is considered as the most sacred place where the souls of the heaven and earth join together to protect the village and its people. It is the administrative headquarters of ethnic villages and also the place where community activities, such as religious festivals, delivery of a new baby and wedding ceremony, take place.
It has for long been praised as a great work of sculpture, painting and decoration. Each village keeps their own valuable traditional objects such as gong, drum, weapon and heads of immolated animals in the Rong house.
The Rong house is one of the important elements forming the highlands cultural character, not only because of its material values but also because it symbolises the culture and spirituality of the highlands people.