Rong house, a place to preserve community cultural values
In July 2026, Gia Lai Provincial People's Council issued Resolution 86/2026/NQ-HĐND on policies to support the restoration of Gia Lai Gong Cultural Space in the period 2026-2030.
Mr. Pham Minh Chau - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of Ia Khuol Commune People's Committee - said that the commune is reviewing traditional communal houses to propose support according to Resolution 86/NQ-HDND of the province. The communal houses must meet the requirements for planning, landscape, architecture, long-term preservation and be a regular community activity place for people. Materials and design must also be in accordance with tradition, and be appraised and approved by functional agencies.
Along with the gong culture of the Central Highlands, which is an intangible cultural heritage of humanity recognized by UNESCO, the Rong house is currently an attractive tourist destination for many domestic and foreign tourists. There, human culture, land, ancient customs as well as the spirit of protecting homeland and villages of indigenous people are vividly expressed.
Mr. Nguyen Van Anh - Secretary of the Party Committee of Ia Ly commune, Gia Lai - informed: "The commune government is holding a meeting to implement Resolution 86/2026/NQ-HĐND of the Provincial People's Council, reviewing and statistically analyzing damaged communal houses that need repair, new construction, and renovation in the area. The upgrading of communal houses for people's activities is both to serve tourists and to preserve traditional cultural space.
Maintaining cultural roots for sustainable tourism development
For local people, Rong houses and stilt houses are cultural activity points, places to propagate the policies and laws of the Party and the State to each household. Rong houses are also places where people perform sacred rituals such as celebrating new rice, gong festivals, xoang dances, culinary culture... Therefore, the implementation and spread of the spirit of the Resolution helps local people to be excited.
According to the content of Resolution 86/2026/NQ-HĐND of the province, the support includes the renovation and repair of traditional Rong houses of the Bahnar, Cham, Jrai ethnic groups and traditional communal stilt houses of the H're ethnic group in Gia Lai province.
For newly built projects, a maximum of 10 projects in the province will be supported each year, with a maximum support level of 70% of the project estimate value approved by competent authorities but not exceeding 1 billion VND/project/commune/ward.
For repair projects, a maximum of 20 projects in the province will be supported each year, with a maximum support level of 500 million VND/project/commune/ward according to the estimate approved by competent authorities.
Many communes and wards have proactively implemented practical models and activities such as: establishing and supporting gong clubs; restoring festivals and traditional rituals; preserving and restoring communal houses and cultural institutions; digitizing relics, organizing cultural, sports, family, and traditional festival activities...
Mr. Thai Dai Ngoc - Secretary of Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee - requested agencies and units to innovate thinking from pure preservation to preservation associated with promoting values; from heritage management to effectively and sustainably exploiting cultural values to serve socio-economic development.
The tourism industry needs to select typical and advantageous cultural values to build unique products, avoid spreading investment and duplication. At the same time, pay attention to developing Gia Lai people with rich identity, improving the quality of human resources and building a healthy cultural environment.
The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province said that the province is developing a plan to organize the 2026 International Gong Festival, expected to take place from October 30 to November 8 with 45 artisan delegations participating. The event is held in Pleiku ward, Bien Ho commune and some neighboring localities, to promote Gia Lai culture, tourism and people's image.
