Keep the rhythm of the drums and gongs, preserve the soul of the nation.

Not only are they heard during festivals, but the double drums, triple gongs, and five-gong ensembles in Xi Thoai village (Xuan Lanh commune) are also an "undercurrent" of culture closely linked to the lives of the Ba Na and Cham people. Preserved and passed down through many generations, this art form is gradually becoming a foundation for developing community tourism, opening up new livelihoods for the people.

The sounds of life

In Xi Thoai, double drums, triple gongs, and five-gong sets are present in most important milestones in the lives of individuals and the community, from harvest prayers, water-blessing ceremonies, and new rice celebrations to rituals for adopting foster parents or exorcism ceremonies…

Ms. La O Thi Tim from Xi Thoai village said: “Each stage of a person's life is accompanied by rituals such as ear-piercing ceremonies, naming ceremonies, ceremonies for adopting foster parents, wedding ceremonies, and health-celebrating ceremonies… In these rituals, the sound of double drums, triple gongs, and five cymbals is indispensable. The sound of drums and gongs is like the villagers conveying their hopes and prayers to their ancestors and the mountains and forests.”

According to the Ba Na and Cham people in Xi Thoai village, when the double drums sound, it is not just a sound, but a sacred call, signaling a momentous event. The drums set the rhythm, the gongs and cymbals create the atmosphere, all blending together into a whole that is both majestic and intimate.

Performance by the Xí Thoại Village Artisan Troupe at the Double Drum, Triple Gong, and Cymbal Festival in the Spring of the Year of the Horse 2026.

Elder Ma Niệm from Xí Thoại village shared: “Each gong piece and each drum beat has its own rules; it cannot be played arbitrarily. The player must understand the customs and traditions, knowing when to fasten the rhythm, when to slow it, and when to stop. Therefore, learning to play drums and gongs is also learning how to be a good person in the community.”

That is why the space for performing gong music is not separate from life, but is closely linked to the customs and beliefs. During village festivals, by the campfire, the sounds of drums and gongs are not just for listening, but for everyone to come together, share joys and sorrows, and maintain the bonds of community.

" Xuan Lan's vision is to develop Xi Thoai into a distinctive community tourism destination. There, the double drum, triple gong, and five-gong ensemble will become a bridge connecting tradition and modernity. When heritage is linked to practical benefits, preservation will be more sustainable. People will not only preserve it out of responsibility, but also because it is a part of their lives, a source of livelihood."

Nguyen Huu Duy, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Lanh Commune

Since 2015, the art of performing with double drums, triple gongs, and five cymbals has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, further affirming the unique value and important position of this art form in the cultural life of ethnic groups in Xi Thoai in particular and the region in general.

Transmitting and "awakening" heritage

Despite the many changes over time, especially in today's era of deep integration, the art of performing with double drums, triple gongs, and five cymbals is still persistently preserved by the people of Xí Thoại. Mr. Bùi Văn Hiệp, a Ba Na ethnic minority member in Xí Thoại village, one of the people actively preserving and passing on this traditional art form, shared: “I grew up surrounded by the sounds of drums and gongs from my ancestors. Having been taught from an early age, I gradually understood, then loved, and became attached to this unique art form of my ethnic group. Not only do we perform, but we also proactively teach it to the younger generation in the village. Our greatest wish is for future generations to continue preserving it, so that the sounds of drums and gongs will continue to resonate in the life of our village.”

Today, the artisans performing with double drums, triple gongs, and five cymbals in Xí Thoại are both performers and patient "teachers." They guide the younger generation, correcting their posture and movements. Sometimes it's just simple practice sessions after work, but it is through these sessions that the rhythms of the drums and the sounds of the cymbals are passed down. In recent years, the younger generation in the village has become more proactive. Many young people are able to join the main performance group, taking on the role of keeping the rhythm and leading the tempo. This transfer of power creates enduring vitality for the heritage.

The young women of the Ba Na and Cham ethnic groups in Xi Thoai village join in the dance to the rhythm of gongs and drums.

Simultaneously, the local government has also taken concrete steps to preserve these traditions. The annual Double Drum, Triple Gong, and Five-Gong Festival is not only for performance but also creates a space for community practice. In particular, after implementing the two-tiered local government model, Xuan Lanh commune proactively reviewed and planned an area of ​​nearly 2 hectares in Xi Thoai village to build a cultural space, a hub for performances, experiences, and the introduction of traditional crafts.

From here, a new direction is emerging, making the art of double drum, triple gong, and five-gong performances the "main axis" in community tourism development. Tourists not only watch performances but also participate directly, learn to play the gongs, experience weaving brocade, and enjoy local cuisine . Linking heritage with tourism not only helps promote culture but also creates livelihoods for the people. When each performance, each brocade product, each traditional dish becomes a tourism product, the people have more motivation to preserve it.

Snow Fragrance

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-xa-hoi/van-hoa/202603/giu-nhip-trongchieng-giu-hon-dan-toc-8460a28/