VietNamNet Bridge – Ako Dhong Village is around three kilometers from Buon Ma Thuot City in the Central Highlands province of Daklak.

An elderly woman sits by a clay stove in a traditional house of Ede people in Ako Dhong Village.

According to Ede ethnic people, “Ako” means upstream and “Dhong” means valley, hence the upstream valley. The village is home to well-to-do ethnic people of Ede and M’nong groups. There, tranquility, fruit trees and tile-roofed houses on stilts are what characterize the village.

Many long-standing traditions in the village are well preserved until on June 14 such as celebrating a new paddy farming season, and performing cong chieng (gong) dances.

Apart from keeping old and valuable sets of gongs, villagers have kept intact the technique of weaving tho cam (brocade) cloth.

A woman is seen weaving brocade       Ethnic men play gongs         A woman looks out from a window of a traditional house in Ako Dhong         A stilt house of Ede people in Ako Dhong – Photos: Nguyen Hue Nghi

SGT

Nguyen Hue Nghi