March signals start of largest festival season for Ede villages in Central Highlands, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience rich indigenous culture. Within sacred ritual settings expressing gratitude toward deities alongside prayers for favourable weather, gong culture emerges as "soul" of community life, a spiritual thread linking people with divine.

Despite passage of time, residents of Hra Ea Tla village (Dray Bhang commune) continue preserving traditional water wharf worship ceremony with deep reverence. Throughout ritual, resonant gong rhythms guide proceedings, echoing from community cultural house toward water wharf, as if inviting deities to witness sincerity among villagers.

Artisans performing gong music during the Ede water wharf worship ceremony in Dray Bhang commune.

Today, gong sounds extend far beyond traditional ceremonies, blending vibrantly into contemporary life. Amid historic atmosphere of March, echoes from great forest resonate across major cultural and political events in province. A highlight is art programme "Buon Ma Thuot - A Proud Epic", marking the 51st anniversary of Buon Ma Thuot Victory (March 10, 1975 - March 10, 2026). Through elaborately staged performances, powerful choreography combined with resounding gong rhythms vividly portrays image of Central Highlands’ people rising up, creating a historic turning point in resistance war against US for national salvation.

Keeping Gong rhythms alive

To ensure gong sounds continue resonating in contemporary life, behind each rhythm lies quiet dedication from "keepers of the flame" in villages. A notable example is gong troupe in Tong Ju village (Ea Kao commune), established in 2021 under guidance and management of artisan H’Yam Bkrong. With 20 Gen Z members, troupe skilfully blends strong, powerful tones from bronze gongs performed by young men with graceful xoang dances by young women.

Artisan H’Yam Bkrong shared: "As village develops community-based tourism, gong culture has become an essential element for introducing Ede heritage to visitors. I help connect and arrange performances whenever tour groups arrive. Through these activities, young members earn income while strengthening attachment along with pride in their ethnic culture".

Lively gong rhythms feature in a ceremonial welcome for distinguished guests at Vietnam Poetry Day held at Lac Giao Communal House National Historical Site.

Thanks to such efforts, Tong Ju gong troupe has brought echoes from Central Highlands across many regions. From celebrations marking 80th anniversary of National Day of Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Hanoi (September 2, 2025) to cultural exchanges near ancient Nhan Tower in Tuy Hoa ward, each performance offers an opportunity for showcasing Central Highlands identity to wider audiences.

Beyond Tong Ju village, movement for establishing youth gong troupes is spreading across many localities in province. In communes such as Cu Pong, Krong Buk, Krong Ana, numerous teams practise daily, contributing to preservation and promotion of gong cultural space in community life.

Maintaining youth gong troupes goes beyond performance or festival purposes; it serves as a bridge connecting heritage across generations. When young hands recreate familiar rhythms, cultural legacy is preserved and passed on, ensuring continuity of a living tradition.

Translated by HAI LOAN