Gong teams from nine mountainous districts of Quang Nam Province and teams from the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) region and Thua Thien-Hue will take part in the Gong Festival in Nam Giang District on June 21-22. Head of culture and information department at Quang Nam Province’s Nam Giang district, Tran Du, told Vietnam News said this year’s festivals promises something new. “The gong festival, which is part of the Quang Nam Heritage Journeys Festival this June, will be the first cross-cultural festival of ethnic groups from the province, Thua Thien-Hue and the Central Highlands region,” Du said. “Each ethnic group will bring their own gong collection to show off their traditional culture at the biggest festival of this summer,” he said. He also added that the gong festival, titled Am Vang Cong Chieng (the Sound of Gong), is a rendezvous for ethnic groups to exchange their traditional cultures and help promote preservation of ancient intangible heritage. The festival organizing committee will also host a series of cultural contests and performances to promote the event. Participating ethnic groups will display traditional crafts including brocade, bamboo weaving, fashion and cuisine during the two-day festival. (Vietnam News Feb 25)
