Gong Festival Kicks off in Central Highlands
Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Daklak opened a cong chieng (gong) festival in the capital town of Buon Ma Thuot on Monday evening. 
The fifth Gong Cultural Festival attracted 430 gong artists of the ethnic minority groups – E De, M’Nong, J’rai, Van Kieu, Tay, Thai from 13 districts and towns in Daklak.
Gong artisans also competed in singing folk music and performing folk dances.
The festival Organizing Board said the provincial government would award prizes to the five best troupes and 60 items at the closing ceremony on Wednesday.
On the occasion, the provincial Department of Culture and Information was to confer UNESCO certification recognizing the Central Highland culture as an intangible cultural heritage to the provincial district and two authorities.
The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) last November recognized Vietnam’s gong culture as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
A gong festival kicked off in Gia Lai province in March this year to formally receive UNESCO’s certification with the attendance of several Vietnamese government dignitaries.
Gongs, although, of mysterious origins, are an integral part of ethnic minority cultures in Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong provinces in the Central Highlands.
Source: Thanh Nien News
