Plei Op village, commonly known as Op, was founded in 1927 in the heart of Pleiku city. Nestled in the Ia Lam valley, the village is flanked by the serene streams, in which clear water flows year-round.
The gate of Plei Op village (Photo: congluan.vn)
At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a striking village gate and an iconic Rong communal house, considered the heart and soul of the community. Shaped like an axe, the Rong house is constructed entirely from local wood, bamboo, and rattan. It is a central gathering place for cultural activities and festivals.
Sieu Nui, the patriarch of Plei Op village, is taking tourists on a tour of the village."The Rong house is where the entire community meets. In the evenings, people come together to play panpipes. These gongs are primarily used during the buffalo sacrifice festival held every seven years. As a symbol of tradition, the buffalo's head is preserved and displayed inside the Rong house. The T'rung musical instrument, once used to scare birds and animals from the fields, now adds a rhythmic melody to Xoang dance performances."
The Rong house in Plei Op village (Photo: congluan.vn)
The communal house is surrounded by wooden statues depicting different postures and emotions, which give visitors a glimpse of the daily life of the Op villagers. Traditionally, these statues were placed around the communal house for funerals, but as cultural awareness has evolved, they are now used as decorative elements. The collection includes animals and symbolic objects.
According to Sieu Nui, creating statues that feel alive and familiar to the villagers requires artisans to have deep cultural knowledge and rich life experience. Using only simple tools such as chisels, axes, and knives – along with skillful hands, a vivid imagination, and passion – they bring the wooden figures to life, infusing each with soul and character.
Mr. Nui said, “We go to the forest to find large trees with sturdy wood. Carving a statue typically takes three to four months. The most beautiful statues are usually crafted by the elderly, whose patience, precision, and meticulous attention to detail bring each piece to life."
The wooden statue around the Rong house (Photo: Nguyen Thao/VOV)
Op villagers are playing gongs in accompaniment to a song in praise of beloved President Ho Chi Minh. The senior villagers have organized gong classes for young people to preserve and promote their ethnic culture.
Artisan Bui Mlik said, “The class opened four or five years ago. At first senior villagers taught us. Now we teach our children.”
Rmah Gân is learning how to play the gongs: “I’m very happy and proud to attend the gong class with many others.”
In addition to the communal house, wooden statues, and gongs, Op villagers also promote their traditional costumes and cuisine. Tourists are served beef grilled in bamboo tubes, grilled chicken, or cassava leaves fried with bitter melon.
Villager Hoang Duy Cuong introduced their grilled chicken dish. “The chickens are raised in the fields, feeding only on rice and vegetables. The best meat comes from chickens weighing around 1 kg. Roasting a chicken takes one to two hours.”
With natural ingredients from the forests, locals create unique dishes, such as beef cooked in bamboo tubes, known for its enticing flavor. Cuong said, “Grilled beef must come from a cow neither too young nor too old. I marinate the beef with natural spices and put it in bamboo tubes to grill.”
Since the official establishment of Plei Op Cultural Tourism Village in 2008, the villagers have become aware of the importance of traditional culture. Gong artisans regularly perform at cultural events in Pleiku City and elsewhere. To enhance the visitors' experience, the villagers have developed cultural tours that showcase their rich heritage.
Vinh Phong
