The "mission" of dugout canoes

In the villages along Lak Lake, the image of dugout canoes has become an indispensable cultural symbol. This area currently has about 25 dugout canoes, owned by 21 households. Each canoe is not only a means of transport, but also a living testament to the history and culture of the M'nong people.

Standing out among them is the boat of Mr. Y Chong Buon Dap (born 1962), in Jun village, Lien Son Lak commune. According to local people, this is the oldest boat in the Lak lake area. The boat has been passed down through three generations of Mr. Y Chong's family.

He proudly said: “This boat was inherited by my grandparents as a dowry for my wife’s parents, and then my wife and I were the third generation to inherit it. The boat has been with my family in daily life, production and trips to earn a living on the lake.” According to him, in the past, the land around Lak Lake was like an oasis, with transportation mainly by waterway. At that time, almost every house in the M’nong villages owned a dugout canoe. The boat was closely associated with daily life and production, witnessing many joys and sorrows of people making a living on the vast lake. The value of a dugout canoe in the past was very large, it had to be exchanged for two large buffaloes to get one.

The hundred-year-old dugout canoe has been passed down from generation to generation in Mr. Y Chong Buon Dap's family.

The process of making a dugout canoe that is durable and able to balance on water requires meticulous preparation and execution. The village must choose the strongest men to go deep into the forest to find sao wood, which has a large and straight trunk.

Before cutting down the wood, they must hold a ceremony to worship the forest god, mountain god and wood god to ask for permission, showing respect to nature. The boat carving process is done entirely by hand. Without design drawings or modern tools, with ingenuity and experience passed down through generations, the “artisans” have created unique boats. When completed, the boat will be pulled home by elephant power for many hours.

In the past, dugout canoes were used by people to transport rice, firewood, and were the main means of fishing, ensuring a source of income for the family. Nowadays, when motorized vehicles gradually replace them, the function of transporting goods of dugout canoes is no longer suitable. However, instead of being forgotten, the boat has taken on a new mission - becoming a unique tourism product, serving tourists to explore the beauty of Lak Lake.

Dugout canoes of the M'nong people on Lak Lake. Photo : Huu Hung

At the age of 63, Mr. Y Chong still maintains the habit of rowing a boat to the lake to fish to improve his family's meals. But when tourists come, he happily accepts to take them on sightseeing tours. Although the service fee is not high, each trip is an opportunity for him to tell tourists about the rich culture of ancient villages along the lake such as Jun village, Le village, M'lieng village. "I feel very happy because I can share stories about my ethnic traditions with tourists," Mr. Y Chong confided.

The family of Mr. Y Plu Eung (commonly known as Ama Doanh), in Jun village, Lien Son Lak commune, also owns a dugout canoe that is over 50 years old. This boat is 9 meters long, nearly 1 meter wide, made from Sao wood and was also exchanged for two male buffaloes in the past. Ama Doanh said that in the past, the dugout canoe was used to transport rice and fertilizer for production. Nowadays, when tourism has developed, this boat is used to carry tourists to visit the lake.

A dugout canoe carrying tourists to explore Lak Lake. Photo: Tuan Ninh

“Fortunately living near Lak Lake, in recent years, the service of transporting tourists to the lake has become more bustling. During peak times, there are days when I receive 5 trips carrying passengers, each trip costs about 100,000 VND,” Ama Doanh revealed. Although Lak Lake currently has many other types of services such as motorboats and canoes, there are still tourists who prefer a gentle and experience-oriented way, so they choose dugout canoes. During quiet times, he rows his boat out to the lake, casts his net, and catches fish to improve his family’s meals.

Village elder Y No Buon Dap, Jun village, Lien Son Lak commune confided that dugout canoes are not only a means of transportation but also a part of the soul of the village on the banks of Lak Lake. Dugout canoes associated with tourism activities not only bring income to the people but also help preserve and promote the unique cultural values of the M'nong people to tourists. Therefore, in his role as village elder, he always advises the villagers to preserve and maintain the simple image of dugout canoes to pass on to future generations.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/tin-noi-bat/202510/su-menh-cua-thuyen-doc-moc-8a51747/