An annual festival paying tribute to the cultural space of the gongs, recognized by the UNESCO as an Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, took place last week in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, reliving the daily life and uniqueness of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups.

The Gong Festival welcomed visitors to Gia Lai to watch performances by more than 1,200 artists and thousands of young volunteers from November 30 to December 2.

Gong performances are always closely tied to community cultural rituals and ceremonies of the ethnic groups as the gongs are classified as a ceremonial musical instrument that sounds as a means to communicate with deities and gods.

The traditional ceremony that is often organized by ethnic people to celebrate new communal houses was also replayed at the festival to promote one of the most unique cultural features in the Central Highlands’ gong space.

Through these performances, the organizers wanted to emphasize the importance of the cultural space of the gongs, with a call for protection of such a beautiful culture.

Below are some photos of the gong festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai:

Artists dress up as beasts in a street parade - one of the activities at the Gong Festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A little kid dances to celebrate new communal houses at the gong festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A woman weaves brocade at the Gong Festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A villager drinks Vietnamese fermented rice wine after the completion of a ritual before inviting guests. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A woman weaves brocade at the Gong Festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Young people parade at the gong festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Women weave brocade at the Gong Festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Artists play the gongs to celebrate new communal houses at the Gong Festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Young people parade at the gong festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Children dress up as beasts in a street parade - one of the activities at the Gong Festival in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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