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Mari Mari Cultural Village is a tourist destination located in the state.SabahThis place, Malaysia, attracts numerous tourists from all over the world who come to explore its recreation of the life and customs of the indigenous tribes of Borneo, including the Murut, Bajau, Lundayeh, Rungus, and Dusun. Among them, the Murut tribe is famous for its headhunting tradition.
Located in Kiosom on the island of Borneo, Mari Mari Cultural Village is a cultural melting pot of five indigenous tribes of the Sabah region, including the Bajau, Lundayeh, Rungus, Dusun, and the Murut tribe, famous for their headhunting practices.
Visitors can learn about the headhunting custom and traditional culture of the Murut people when visiting the Mari Mari cultural village in Sabah state.
The Murut tribe's practice of headhunting was once widespread in Borneo, Malaysia, stemming from several reasons. The Murut believed that the souls of their enemies resided in their heads. When they took the head of an enemy, they also took away the enemy's strength and soul. Headhunting was seen as a sacrifice to the gods to seek protection and blessings for the tribe, and to affirm the warrior's strength. The Murut were also the last tribe in Malaysia to declare the cessation of this practice.
Today, tourists visiting Mari Mari village can learn about the traditional culture and lifestyle of the tribes. This includes touring traditional longhouses, watching cultural performances, and learning how to make fire, rice wine, and cakes.
To enter Murut territory, visitors must answer questions from the chieftain such as their name, where they come from, and who they are traveling with. Ancient custom dictates that failure to answer correctly may result in beheading.
Here, the locals rebuild their longhouses, reenact customs, and dress in traditional clothing to welcome visitors.
Hospitality and friendliness are what visitors appreciate when they come to experience Mari Mari Cultural Village.
To enter Murut territory, visitors must answer questions from the chieftain such as their name, where they come from, and who they are traveling with. According to ancient custom, failure to answer correctly could result in beheading.
The interior of a traditional longhouse is typically built in the style of a stilt house, thatched with leaves. The house is approximately 30 meters long and 10 meters wide, with a high thatched roof, divided into many small rooms, each serving as living quarters for a family. Visitors ascend the house via a wooden staircase made from a single tree trunk. Murut longhouses are home to many families within the same tribe. These families live together, sharing food, water, and other necessities. The longhouse also serves as a venue for communal activities such as festivals, rituals, and meetings.
One of the most popular activities in Mari Mari is watching the Lasaran dance. The dance takes place on a platform woven from highly elastic bamboo, positioned in the center of the house. People gather in a circle and jump high together amidst the cheers and applause of tourists.
The unique cultural features are recreated and simulated through captivating performances, with attention to every detail in costumes, decorative items, carvings, weapons, houses, and more.
The locals are very hospitable and enthusiastic, which further attracts tourists to visit. In the picture, tourists are getting free tattoos. The tattoos given to tourists are usually symbolic and will fade after a few days.
Exploring the Mari Mari cultural village will take visitors from one surprise to another. Unique traditional activities include tattooing, trying to make fire from wood, brewing rice wine, listening to stories about local beliefs, enjoying characteristic local cuisine, and archery. This is a great way to learn more about Murut culture and experience the life of the ancient tribe.
The Lasaran dance depicts the aftermath of a headhunting battle and is a way for the Murut people to showcase their courage and strength.
One of the most popular activities in Mari Mari is watching the Lasaran dance. This dance is performed by Murut men in traditional costumes, carrying shields and spears. The dance depicts the aftermath of a headhunting battle and is a way for the Murut people to show their courage and strength. While headhunting no longer takes place today, this tradition continues during family reunions, weddings, and local festivals.
Locals prepare various types of cakes by hand to treat tourists.
Taste the honey; it has a slightly sour taste, a flavor that comes from the type of wood the bees built their nest in.
Traditional attire for men consists of a bark jacket, a red loincloth, and a headdress decorated with chicken feathers. Women wear sleeveless black blouses and knee-length sarongs.
Mari Mari Cultural Village is located in a secluded forest in Kiosom, about 20 km from Kota Kinabalu city, Sabah state, Malaysia. Vietnamese tourists wishing to visit can travel by: flying from Vietnam to Kuala Lumpur, then connecting to Kota Kinabalu with Malaysia Airlines. From there, they can travel by bus or car to explore the unique Mari Mari village.
Outside, visitors can experience how to hunt with a blowpipe dart. This is a short-range weapon with a long, narrow tube for firing darts.
Mari Mari Village regularly hosts cultural performances by various tribes. Visitors can enjoy traditional dances and music performed by the local people.
Recreating the culture through vivid imagery, Mari Mari Village attracts a large number of international tourists every day. Open from 9 am to 5 pm, admission to Mari Mari Village costs 100 Malaysian Ringgit (approximately 550,000 VND) for adults, and free for children under 4 years old. The cost includes an English-speaking guide, visits to tribal houses, cultural performances, and lunch.
Cooking rice using bamboo tubes
Here are some images and videos exploring the traditions of the tribes at Mari Mari Cultural Village:
By recreating the cultural essence through vivid paintings, Mari Mari Village now attracts a large number of international tourists every day.
Here, visitors can learn about the rice wine production process and sample different types of rice wine.
Learn about the culture and traditions of the different ethnic groups in Borneo.
Unique costumes and headwear decorated with chicken feathers.
Local artifacts and jewelry
The thatched-roof longhouse is a traditional house of the Murut people. This type of house has many advantages, including being cool, environmentally friendly, and having readily available materials.
Mari Mari Village attracts a large number of international tourists every day.
