Vanuatu is much more than just a destination with paradise beaches. It is a place where traditional culture continues to thrive, offering visitors a deep immersion into ancestral customs, art, and ways of life. Each of Vanuatu's 83 islands has its own unique traditions and stories to tell, making every visit to a new island as fascinating as it is unforgettable. Here’s how you can explore this rich cultural mosaic.
Cultural things to do
Visit Cultural Villages
Dive into the heart of traditional Vanuatu life by visiting cultural villages such as Ekasup and Emaio. These villages are living spaces where locals proudly share their heritage through demonstrations of artisanal techniques, dances, songs, and rituals passed down from generation to generation.
Ekasup Village: Located near Port Vila, this village offers a complete immersion into Melanesian culture. Here, you will learn traditional cooking methods, discover local crafts, and understand the beliefs and customs that shape the daily lives of the Ni-Vanuatu.
Emaio Village: Located on Tanna Island, this village will help you understand the harmony between the inhabitants and their natural environment. Participate in traditional dances and songs, and enjoy a traditional Vanuatu meal during your visit.
Leweton Cultural Village: Located on Santo Island, the villagers offer you the chance to see traditional dances, wood carvings, and the famous sand drawing, unique to Vanuatu, as you spend time with them.
Cultural things to do
Discover Rites and Traditions
Dance is part of kastom (custom). Villagers dance to celebrate a new yam harvest, for ritual circumcision ceremonies, or during seasonal festivals.
For a more traditional glimpse of Ni-Vanuatu dance, try visiting Tanna during nakwiari, when two regions exchange cattle and kava, and thousands of islanders dance through the night, feasting around huge bonfires.
In the Banks Islands, don’t miss the snake dance: men paint their bodies to mimic the appearance of a snake and use their movements to recreate the sinuous motions of the reptile. It’s a truly captivating sight.
Water music, originating from Gaua, is another performance not to be missed when visiting the region. This unique music is created by women who use their hands and the water as instruments.
One of the most significant cultural events is certainly the Naghol (land diving), practiced every year from April to September on Pentecost Island. Men wrap their feet in vines and jump from tall bamboo towers—a ritual considered to be the ancestral precursor to modern bungee jumping!
If you’re in Port Vila, make sure to catch the Fire Show in the evening, whether at a hotel or at Mele Beach Bar on Friday nights. This breathtaking show combines dance and juggling with fiery bolas and batons.
The Nambas dances on Malekula and the mystical Rom ceremony on Ambrym are also spectacular.
Cultural things to do
Explore Local Museums
For a deeper historical and artistic perspective, don’t miss the local museums in Vanuatu. These institutions preserve and showcase artefacts that tell the rich and complex story of the archipelago.
The National Museum of Vanuatu: Located in Port Vila, this museum boasts an impressive collection of traditional objects such as masks, sculptures, and ancient tools. It also features exhibits on the colonial and post-colonial history of Vanuatu, offering valuable insight into the evolution of Vanuatuan society.
The Vanuatu Cultural Centre: Also in Port Vila, this centre’s mission is to preserve, protect, and promote local culture. A must-see during your visit is the sand drawing demonstration, which is recognized as UNESCO intangible heritage. The drawing is created directly on the ground by the artist’s finger, producing a harmonious and symmetrical composition. It holds great significance as it combines knowledge, songs, and traditional stories.
The WWII Museum in Santo: Located on Espiritu Santo, this museum offers a deep dive into Vanuatu’s history during World War II. It houses an impressive collection of artefacts left behind by American troops who had established a military base on the island. You’ll find equipment from the era as well as everyday items used by soldiers.
Cultural things to do
Visit the Suzanne Bastien Foundation
Contemporary Vanuatu art is another fascinating facet of local culture. The Suzanne Bastien Foundation, located in Port Vila, is a dynamic art centre that exhibits works by local and international artists. The foundation regularly organises exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events, providing a platform for artistic expression and cultural exchange.
By visiting the Suzanne Bastien Foundation, you’ll have the opportunity to admire paintings, sculptures, and other forms of art that reflect both traditional and modern influences. It’s an ideal place for those looking to explore the dialogue between Vanuatu’s cultural heritage and contemporary art.
Cultural things to do
Drink Kava in a Nakamal
A nakamal is a traditional Ni-Vanuatu gathering place—usually a forest clearing surrounded by banyan trees. Islanders still gather in nakamals to dance, trade goods, and resolve tribal conflicts, but they also come here to drink kava (the word “nakamal” has come to mean “kava bar” in Port Vila and other urban areas in Vanuatu).
If you’ve never tried kava before, your first experience will be unforgettable. It’s a cultural event in itself! Kava is made from the bitter root of a pepper plant, sometimes chewed or ground in a mortar, then mixed with water. It is said to have sedative and euphoric properties.
You can try kava in many bars in Port Vila, as well as in Santo and Tanna. For a truly kastom experience, try going with a local or joining a tour!