“Con đường muối” trong hoạt động giao thương và tiếp biến văn hóa ẩm thực của các dân tộc thiểu số vùng Trường Sơn - Tây Nguyên

Abstract

Throughout their historical development, the ethnic minority communities inhabiting the Trường Sơn - Tây Nguyên range in general, and the highland areas of Quảng Nam in particular, have relied on local natural resources for their survival. Their traditional economy was grounded in subsistence production, intra-community exchange, and trade with outsiders to acquire essential goods. Exchanges between lowland communities and upland groups have a long history, giving rise to trading hubs located along riverbanks, mountain passes, and later the national roads that reached remote settlements—an interconnected network commonly referred to as the “Salt Route.” Along this route, commodities such as salt, fish sauce, dried fish, bronze pots, gongs, and jars were transported to the highlands, while valuable forest products including ivory, honey, agarwood, bamboo shoots, and mushrooms were brought down to coastal regions. These exchanges fostered sustained cultural interactions, including culinary adaptation among different ethnic groups. Despite the transformations brought about by external influences, these minority communities have preserved the distinctive character of their culinary heritage.