The Bana minority group belongs to the Mon-Khmer linguistic family and has a population of 136,000 who live scattered across Kon Tum and Gia Lai in the Central Highlands, and in Binh Dinh and Phu Yen in South Central Vietnam. They often choose to stay in rugged mountainous areas and along the valleys near the two rivers of Ba and Dapola.

The Bana work on terraced fields. They know how to make ceramic wares and local women can weave fabrics in their home for domestic use. Now they still live in stilt houses. Previously, they lived in long stilt houses, which accommodated extended families. Their houses are now small, even for small sized families.

Each village has a large communal house called Nha Rong, in which villagers gather on important occasions to discuss community affairs. Communal houses are well built and decorated to symbolize the soul of the entire community living a diverse cultural life, typical of the Central highlands ethnic minorities.

Writer Nguyen Ngoc who has made thorough studies of the land, people and local dialects in the Central Highlands says, "If you live with the Bana, you will find many traces of the Dong Son civilization in their current lifestyle. For example, the decorative motifs on their costumes or on their tomb houses, and poles erected for worshipping rituals, all bear similar designs and styles which can be traced back to the Dong Son civilization. Ethnologists and Vietnam culture researchers say the Bana have the same origin as the Viet – Muong group."

Through economic development programs, the Vietnamese government gives priority to initial investment in upgrading the physical infrastructure for disadvantaged areas and to raise ethnic minorities’ living standards. The Bana and other fraternal ethnic groups are joining together in an endeavour for a life of plenty and happiness on a national scale.