Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – On the evening of December 20th, the “2025 Southeast Asia Gong and Gong Harmony Night” was grandly held at Lam Garden Square, Xuan Huong Ward, Da Lat City. The event, hosted by the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee, attracted delegations of folk artists from three Southeast Asian countries—Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia—as well as representatives of artists from Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Quang Ngai, and Phu Tho provinces in Vietnam. Artists' groups and tourism enterprises from various parts of Lam Dong Province also actively participated.
Also present were representatives from some central ministries, representatives from the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, ambassadors from Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Palestine to Vietnam, members of the Malaysian Royal Family, and representatives from numerous international organizations and businesses, along with thousands of local residents and tourists who witnessed this cultural event.
At the opening ceremony, Dinh Van Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee, stated that 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the “Tay Nguyen Gong and Gong Cultural Space” being inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is not only a shared pride of the provinces of the Central Highlands, but also a precious treasure of Vietnamese culture and indeed of all humanity. This "Night of Gongs and Bells" is a key highlight of the "2025 Southeast Asian Gong and Bell Festival" series of events held in Lam Dong province. Lam Dong province will continue its commitment to protecting and promoting its outstanding national cultural heritage, creating favorable conditions for artists and communities to carry out inheritance and practice activities; at the same time, it will expand international exchanges, develop sustainable cultural tourism, and make a positive contribution to enhancing Vietnam's position on the world cultural map.
The "2025 Southeast Asian Gong and Bell Festival" opened with a traditional ceremony to worship the "Yang God." The stage vividly recreated the scene of a traditional Central Highlands village: stilted houses, wine jars, and a roaring sacred fire shone brightly amidst the echoing sounds of gongs and bells. Following this, gong and bell teams from all over Lam Dong province took to the stage to perform.
The Dai ethnic group's gong and cymbal ensemble from the northwestern mountains brought melodies that seemed to echo amidst the mountains and clouds, creating a delightful contrast with the continuous group dances; the Mang ethnic group's gong and cymbal ensemble integrated gong sounds with drumbeats and footsteps, creating a warm, harmonious, and festive atmosphere full of a spirit of sharing.
The performances by international teams were particularly anticipated. The gong and cymbal ensemble from Malaysia, a land of diverse cultures, ignited the entire venue with their bright and vibrant tropical rhythms; the Lao gong and cymbal ensemble's music was like a warm greeting, showcasing the openness, integration, and respect for cultural heritage within the regional community; the Cambodian gong and cymbal ensemble presented ancient, solemn, and ritualistic melodies, each strike seemingly evoking the millennia-old temples, sacred rituals, and profound cultural heritage of the "Land of Thames."
According to the organizing committee, the Southeast Asia Gong and Gong Harmony Night is an important event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the "Tay Nguyen Gong and Gong Cultural Space" being recognized by UNESCO as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity." It is also part of fulfilling the commitments made upon joining UNESCO's "Creative Cities Network (Music Sector)," aiming to continuously promote and widely disseminate the value of Vietnamese cultural heritage, especially the unique charm of the Tay Nguyen Gong and Gong Cultural Space.
The 2025 Southeast Asia Gong and Gong Festival is not only an important cultural event for Lam Dong province, but also a vital platform for ethnic minority artists from various countries in the region to exchange, learn, and share experiences in the protection and transmission of traditional culture. (End)
