For more than 20 years, Ba Na villagers have diligently tended and carried out periodic maintenance, as a way of safeguarding the soul, essence, and cultural memory of their ethnic community.
At a time when many traditional houses of ethnic minority groups are gradually disappearing, the reconstruction of the nha rong by the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology represents a practical step in heritage preservation. The project also provides a space for learning and hands-on experience, enabling the public to better understand and appreciate cultural values.
Entrusting heritage to the capital
20 Ba Na artisans from Kon Ro Bang village in Ngok Bay commune, Quang Ngai province, have directly restored and rebuilt the nhà rông at the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology. Every stage, from selecting timber, carving posts, assembling the floor and binding the structure, to decorating the motifs, was conducted in accordance with traditional rituals and age-old techniques.
Recalling the process of creating the Ba Na high-roofed nha rong at the museum more than two decades ago, Dr Luu Anh Hung, former Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology and the researcher who selected the Kon Ro Bang model, said: in 1999, after the museum’s scientific council agreed to display a Ba Na high-roofed nha rong, the working group conducted extensive fieldwork and ethnographic research before deciding on the structure in Kon Rơ Bang village. This is an ancient Ba Na settlement that took shape in the Kon Tum region approximately 150 years ago.
At that time, many nha rong in the Central Highlands had already been roofed with corrugated metal, while the once-long earthen yards had been replaced with concrete. Through meticulous research, the experts located the original frame and two decorative wooden pillars flanking the concrete yard, and determined that the Kon Rơ Bang nhà rông was the only one still preserving the authentic structure of the early 20th century. By cross-referencing archival materials of France, the US, Switzerland, the team found three photographs published in 1929, 1933 and 1951, which helped identify the original form of the nha rong before modern alterations.
Following numerous discussions with village elders and artisans, the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology agreed to reconstruct the house exactly according to the original model, maintaining the spirit, techniques and pristine beauty of Ba Na architecture. To museum professionals, the Kon Ro Bang nha rong is an invaluable “one-of-a-kind heritage” due to its authenticity and unique symbolic value.
Since the earliest days of construction, many of the craftsmen involved have passed away, yet several have returned three or four times to help repair the building. Today, alongside the elderly artisans, a new generation of Gen Z craftsmen is continuing the legacy of their forebears in the journey to preserve this heritage.
For the Ba Na people, the nha rong holds immense significance. It is where festivals are held, communal matters are discussed, and where community bonds are strengthened, nurturing traditions and solidarity.
Artisan and village elder A Ngeh shared: For the Ba Na people, the nha rong holds immense significance. It is where festivals are held, communal matters are discussed, and where community bonds are strengthened, nurturing traditions and solidarity. More than 20 years since the nha rong was erected, weathered by time, this symbol of the communal strength of the Central Highlands peoples still stands firm in the heart of Ha Noi. The priceless gift that the Ba Na community has presented to the capital is also a message of trust, that ethnic cultural heritage will always be cherished and carried forward.
As village elder A Pho affirmed at the inauguration ceremony on June 4, 2003: “this nha rong retains the exact structure of the Kon Rơ Bang communal house of old. It is the achievement of the villagers of Kon Ro Bang. We entrust the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and the people of the capital, with this nhà rông, along with the sweat absorbed into every post, every beam and every panel of thatched grass over the past months.”
Nurturing a love for ethnic culture
According to researchers, it is now extremely difficult to find an original E De longhouse or an authentic nha rong even in the Central Highlands itself. This makes the reconstruction of festivals, cultural institutions and traditional dwellings all the more significant. Bui Ngoc Quang, Acting Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology, said the museum has always prioritised heritage preservation in its original form.
For more than 20 years, we have periodically invited Ba Na artisans to inspect and repair the house to ensure that it is maintained in line with traditional spirit and techniques. Over time, natural materials have become increasingly scarce and ancient village spaces have shrunk, making the preservation of the nha rong at the museum a guided strategy that helps disseminate knowledge and ethnic cultural identity.
Alongside on-site reconstruction, the museum has applied digital technologies to document images, technical specifications and folk knowledge throughout the building process. These digital records support research and teaching while helping the public gain deeper insights into architecture, ways of life and cultural transformations across historical periods.
Thus, whenever Central Highlands artisans and village elders take part in reconstruction work, the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology becomes a vibrant, hands-on classroom attracting large numbers of visitors, pupils and students. For the Ba Na community, these are opportunities to revive traditional building techniques and train the next generation of artisans.
For visitors, these activities offer a chance to learn about construction methods and to listen to stories about customs and traditions. Universities specialising in culture, architecture and tourism have collaborated with the museum to organise discussions and workshops, providing students with valuable material for research and dissertation writing on the nha rong.
From the museum space, the nha rong continues to spread the cultural values of the Central Highlands. The efforts of researchers, artisans and museum professionals have helped concretise the policy of linking heritage preservation with education and sustainable development. Heritage brought to life through educational, tourism and creative activities becomes a resource for long-term growth.
Through the reconstruction process, nha rong, longhouses and Vietnamese dwellings have been carefully maintained, becoming meeting points where memory and identity are preserved, enabling every visitor to feel the cultural lifeblood running through contemporary life.
