The Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism was inaugurated in October 2010, coinciding with the 1,000th founding anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi. The village is an excellent place to learn about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.

Located 40km west of Hanoi and covering more than 1,500 hectares, the village is divided into 7 zones including the ethnic village zone which recreate the houses and living areas of different ethnic groups. 

In each zone indigenous people introduce visitors to aspects of their culture.

Nguyen Thanh Son, Director of the village's Management Board, said, “We invite ethnic people to come to conduct festivals, cultural exchanges, and performances that promote their culture.

Each year, about 1,000 ethnic people come here to participate. We organize three major events each year: the Spring Festival during the Lunar New Year holiday, the Cultural Day of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups on April 19, and the Week of Heritages and Ethnic Solidarity from November 18 to 23.”

The management of the village holds themed communal culture programs on a monthly basis. There have been programs on the Northwest region, the Central Highlands, ethnic costumes, musical instruments, and production tools.

Since it opened to the general public in October, the village has welcomed over 2 million visitors. Tour guide Nguyen Thi Hoa said: “The ethnic village zone is divided into 4 areas. 

The first area introduces the 28 ethnic groups of the northeast and northwest regions. The second area comprises the 18 ethnic groups of the Truong Son range and the Central Highlands. 

The third area features 4 ethnic groups: the Cham, the Khmer, the Cho Ro, and the Chu Ru. The fourth area, which is under construction, will highlight 4 more ethnic groups: the Kinh, the Hoa, the Ngai, and the San Diu. 

People of 8 ethnic groups live permanently in this village, which offers visitors cultural programs, entertainment, catering, lodging, and shopping.”

Visitors are invited to participate in traditional festivals, folk games, fashion shows, and folksong performances. 

Vien Thi Loan of the Ta Oi ethnic group in Thua Thien-Hue province resides in the village: “Since I moved here, I have been learning about Vietnam's rich and diverse ethnic cultures. I feel happy and honored to be able to promote my ethnic group to the wider public.”

VOV5