For many years, the Bahnar people have lived in harmony with nature and depend on it. For this reason, their costumes partly reflect natural factors. The Bahnar people grow cotton plants and use the fibres to spin into thread that is then dyed and woven into costumes. Today, they can buy thread at the market and dye them in the traditional method to create natural colours before weaving.

Seen from outside, the traditional costume of Bahnar girls is simpler than that of other ethnic groups in Tay Nguyen (the Central Highlands). It actually requires the weavers’ skills and cautiousness that is reflected through colours and patterns at the shoulder, breast and fringe of the shirt. The front flap of the shirt, two sleeves and skirt are embroidered with geometric-shaped patterns and natural designs and the belt is decorated with motifs and cloth fringes. The Bahnar women also wear colourful glass-bead necklaces and bronze and silver rings.

One of the most typical features of the Bahnar costume is that the sleeves of the shirt are designed not for use but for highlighting the gracefulness and lissomness of wearers. Their skirt is shorter than that of the E De or other ethnic groups that aims at showing the wearers’ beauty.

The Bahnar girls use glass-bead necklaces or silver and bronze rings to decorate their traditional costume. The Bahnar girls do not wear the sleeves of the shirt to show their beauty.

The traditional costume of the Bahnar women is decorated with different motifs and patterns to grace the beauty of wearers, whereas that of Bahnar men looks manly and is used in ceremonial rites, conveying their beliefs and social position. The shirt is made without sleeves and decorated with patterns of swords, birds and farming tools at the fringe to show their strong muscles. On special occasions and festivals, the Bahnar men look very sturdy and strong in their traditional costume. They wear a loin-cloth and a coarse shirt that is dyed brown or black and put their hair into a punch with a peacock feather. They tie a scarf cross their chest, carry a knife or shield and dance to pray Yang to resounding beats of gongs.

A Bahnar man in traditional costume perform gongs. The scarf is tied crosswise the chest to show the strength of Bahnar men.

A necklace highlights the strong appearance of the Bahnar men.

A bird feather is an indispensable object of the traditional costume of the Bahnar men on special occasions.

Performing gongs at the traditional festivals of the Bahnar ethnic people.

Today, the Bahnar ethnic people only wear their traditional costumes on special occasions and festivals, such as the buffalo stabbing festival, grave-leaving ceremony, ceremony to celebrate Rong house and wedding ceremonies.