The space of gong culture in the Vietnam Highlands () is an intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam's Central Highlands, home to "cultures which value gongs". It spans across the provinces of Quảng Ngãi, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk, and Lâm Đồng — amongst ethnic groups such as the Rade, Jarai, Bahnar, Mạ, and Lạch (Koho). UNESCO recognized it as a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity on the 25th of November, 2005.
The gong culture sees gongs as a privileged connection between men and the supernatural, where each gong houses a deity whose power corresponds to the gong's age. It has been strongly affected by economic and social transformations that disrupted the traditional transfer of knowledge and stripped the gongs of their spiritual significance. The following components make up the space of gong culture: the use of gongs to make music, in certain festivals (e.g. the , , etc.), and the places where such festivals are held (e.g. , stilt houses / , , a "water source" (bến nước), tombs, "nearby forests", etc.).In the present day, the is held annually across the Central Highlands, and is said to be "significant both as a means of cultural preservation and a popular tourist attraction".
References
External links UNESCO recognizes space of Gong Official website of Central Highland's Gong Culture Festival