Musical performance of the Central Highlands people at the exhibition.

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh province, Thach Boi, said that the Central Highlands gong intangible cultural heritage was officially recognized by UNESCO as a masterpiece of intangible and oral culture of humanity on November 25, 2005. This is the pride not only of the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands but also of the entire Vietnamese nation.

The exhibition is not only a journey connecting the past and the present, but also a reminder of the responsibility of each citizen in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, especially the treasure of gong music - a precious intangible cultural heritage of the Central Highlands in particular and of the Vietnamese people in general. This is also an opportunity for the province to widely propagate and educate the people, especially the young generation, students, and pupils about the outstanding achievements in the fields of economy, culture, and society that the Party Committee, government, and people of Tra Vinh have joined hands to build and achieve over the past 50 years through 74 images and documents.

Mr. Dinh Mot, Director of Dak Lak Museum, said that for the people of the Central Highlands, gongs are not only musical instruments but also the voice of the spirit; a means for people to express joy and sadness in work, life and in community rituals. They believe that each gong contains a god. The older the gong, the more sacred and powerful the god.

Not only do they have spiritual value, gongs are also valuable assets, symbolizing the power and wealth of each family and clan. The sound of gongs not only resounds in festivals but is also a connection between humans and gods, between the past and the present, between the community and nature.

The Central Highlands gong cultural space spans across five provinces: Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong.

Students visit the exhibition.

Coming to the exhibition, visitors have the opportunity to learn and explore the unique culture of the Central Highlands gongs through two main spaces. In the ancient gong music space, viewers will have access to valuable images and documents, reflecting the important role of gongs in the spiritual life and traditional rituals of the Central Highlands people. Sacred moments are recreated, where gong music is like a flame that lights up and ignites the spiritual strength of the whole community.

Entering the space of gong music in contemporary life, visitors will clearly feel the spread and strong vitality of this heritage in today's life. Gong music is present in traditional rituals such as: worshiping the water wharf, worshiping new rice, worshiping health, wedding ceremonies, grave abandonment ceremonies...

Gong culture contributes to affirming the enduring vitality and profound cultural connection value - a heritage that not only echoes from the past but also harmonizes with the breath of life today, connecting generations in the community.

The exhibition is scheduled to take place from April 24 to May 24.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/van-hoa/van-hoa-cong-chieng-khang-dinh-suc-song-ben-bi-va-gia-tri-ket-noi-cong-dong-sau-sac-20250424115917412.htm