An opportunity to bring gongs to the streets.

Da Nang has brought many art forms to the "outdoor stage" to serve tourists. Gong dance is now having the opportunity to flourish in the urban space, bringing the unique cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities from the highlands closer to visitors.

Gong and drum dance performance in Hoi An ancient town. Photo: VINH LOC

The sound of gongs and drums resounds.

In late November 2025, for the first time, museums belonging to the Da Nang Museum system organized an event to introduce the culture of ethnic minority groups in the mountainous areas of Da Nang to the public and tourists. Through activities such as brocade weaving demonstrations, singing and dancing, gong performances, and visual exhibitions, the event brought many surprises and delights to the public, helping viewers better understand the diverse cultural nuances of Quang Nam province.

The mountainous region of Da Nang is home to approximately 160,000 ethnic minority people, primarily the Co Tu, Xe Dang, Gie Trieng, and Co ethnic groups, with rich and diverse cultural identities. For many years, the tourism industry has been bringing traditional music and gongs to the city, such as organizing a Co Tu cultural festival in Hoi An with the participation of 30 artisans from the former Nam Giang district. There, the Co Tu artisans performed unique dances dedicated to the heavens, delighting both locals and tourists.

Mr. Zơ Râm Thực, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Bến Giằng commune, shared that for people in mountainous areas, culture is not just a form of performance but a spiritual life connected to the mountains, forests, community, and beliefs. Each beat of the gongs and each movement of the Tâng Tung Da Dá dance of the Cơ Tu people contains hidden meanings, hopes, and aspirations for a life in harmony with nature. Therefore, bringing traditional gong dances to the city is a welcome development if done correctly.

“The music and dance of the Tâng Tung Da Dá people always express strength and heroism, but also rhythm. The women, when dancing, wear colorful brocade skirts, bare shoulders, beaded necklaces, and smile; while the men wear loincloths, woven brocade robes, go barefoot, and hold carrying poles, spears, lances, or other weapons, or hold hands with their dance partners… When visitors feel this, they will want to come and experience it. This is also a way for us to promote our culture and boost local tourism ,” said Mr. Zơ Râm Thực.

About 15 years ago, with the support of the International Development Relief Organization (FIDR, Japan), the "Community-Based Tourism of the Co Tu People" project in Ta Bhing commune (now Ben Giang commune) was implemented, offering services such as gong performances, Tang Tung Da Da dance, and traditional hand-woven brocade weaving to tourists visiting the village. Occasionally, the gong ensemble also comes down from the mountains to perform at some tourism events and festivals, creating a positive impression on viewers and tourists.

However, according to Mr. Zơ Râm Thực, recently, after the project ended, the gong ensemble has not been very active. The commune plans to consider bringing the gong ensemble to perform in the city to promote the cultural image and the land of the ethnic minority people, as this is essential for developing local tourism. However, the biggest challenge remains the lack of funding for travel, accommodation, and meals.

Promote dissemination

It can be affirmed that spreading mountain culture to the city is a necessary step in the context of developing tourism linked to cultural depth. However, to achieve long-term effectiveness, close coordination between the local community, businesses, and state management agencies is required. When culture is introduced correctly, urban spaces will become places that connect, honor, and preserve traditional values, contributing to building an image of Da Nang that is not only modern but also rich in identity, while creating an impressive highlight for visitors to return.

Tourists watch a demonstration of brocade weaving by ethnic minority people. Photo: VINH LOC

Mr. Le Tan Thanh Tung, Deputy General Director of Vitraco Da Nang Company, believes that while promoting and spreading the image of mountainous heritage is quite positive and helps to effectively introduce and communicate it to tourists, it should not be done frequently, but only during typical events and festivals. This is because musical and gong performances must take place within the living space of the community, and tourists will prefer to experience cultural values ​​in that local environment. Vitraco Company has had a long-standing cooperation with the Dong Giang Sky Gate Eco-tourism Area, so it understands the cultural values ​​of the highland people, especially the Co Tu people.

“Bringing ethnic minority festivals, music, and gong performances to the streets will certainly attract people to learn about the values ​​and lives of people in mountainous areas, thereby creating opportunities and motivation to promote mountain tourism, helping to preserve and effectively promote the cultural values ​​of the ethnic minorities. However, the approach should be selective and appropriate, preserving the original values ​​while still creating appeal,” Mr. Tung said.

In fact, over the past period, Da Nang has organized many art forms to bring them closer to tourists, such as bringing traditional opera and folk singing to the streets or street masquerade festivals, with quite positive results. However, the music, art, and traditional crafts of the ethnic minorities are still limited, mainly performed at a few events.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the tourism industry aims to spread mountainous culture into urban spaces to promote the image of Da Nang as a diverse and culturally rich city. In the future, the department will research bringing the culture of ethnic minorities from mountainous regions to the city to introduce, promote, and honor their unique values, thereby fostering unity among the ethnic groups living in the area. However, the most important issue remains funding; businesses need to provide support because the state lacks sufficient resources to organize such events regularly.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/co-hoi-de-cong-chieng-xuong-pho-3320288.html