Communal house in Central Highlands treasure trove of childhood memory

By Chi Nam February 12, 2020 | 08:25 pm PT

Kon Jo Dri is one of the oldest and largest communal houses in the Central Highlands, ingrained in the recollections of many local village children.

Kon Jo Dri is a small village located on the Dak Bla River in Dak Ro Wa commune of Kon Tum, home to Ba Na ethnic minority people. The village has a communal house of the same nam, built in 1977. It is considered the largest in the region with a height of 16 m and a width of 12 m, used for organizing festivals, gatherings, New Year party, festivals, cultural exchanges and gong performances of the Ba Na people.

Kon Jo Dri is a small village on the banks of Dak Bla River in Dak Ro Wa Commune of Kon Tum Town, home to the Ba Na ethnic minority. The local communal house of the same name was built in 1977.

Considered the largest in the region with a height of 16 meters and width of 12 meters, it serves festivals, gatherings, New Year parties, cultural exchanges and traditional gong performances.

Kon Jo Ri Village currently has more than 170 ethnic minority households. During the day, most of the adults will go to work, whereas the little ones will stay in the middle of the common playground, under the old tamarind canopies beside the communal house of the village.

Kon Jo Dri Village currently hosts over 170 ethnic minority households. During the day, with most adults out working, local children remain behind in the common playground, watched over by old tamarind canopies beside the communal house.

Children play near the communal house; therefore, the place attaches their childhoods memories.The village was called Jo Dri because in the past, the village was located on a land of yellow ochna flowers (Jodri in Ba Na language). Nowadays it is the village stands out with the largest and most beautiful communal house in the area.

The village is named Jo Dri because of its former location on land marked by yellow ochna flowers ("Jodri" in Ba Na).

Inside the communal house are eight large pillars of precious wood, tightly tied together with high-bearing capacity. The floor is also parqueted. .

The communal house features eight large pillars of precious wood, tightly bound with high-bearing capacity, spanning a parqueted floor.

The roof is covered with 20-cm-thick-layers of grass. Large wooden pillars also become a place for children to play.

The roof is covered by 20-cm-thick-layers of grass, its large wooden pillars providing daring entertainment to young adventurers.

From the center of Kon Tum, visitors have to run over the famous suspension bridge Kon Klor, the longest and most beautiful bridge in the Central Highlands across the Dak Bla River, to reach the small village of Kon Jo Dri.Kon KTu ancient village, about 2km from the Kon Jo Dri village should not be missed. At the same time, you can rest in homestay services with the indigenous people to experience the Dak Bla River by canoe.

From the center of Kon Tum, visitors have to pass over famous Kon Klor, the longest and most beautiful suspension bridge in the Central Highlands crossing Dak Bla River, to reach the small village of Kon Jo Dri. Kon K'Tu ancient village, about 2 km from Kon Jo Dri, is another local gem.

Local canoe rides offer an ideal means of exploring Dak Bla River.