Legend has it that, in ancient times, the land of the Ma Coong people was plagued by an evil monkey that destroyed crops and spread disease. After many unsuccessful attempts to drive it away, the villagers were instructed by the spirits: "Use drums and gongs to drive away the evil spirit." When the drums echoed through the forest, the evil monkey was terrified and left forever. Since then, every year, on the first full moon of the year, the Ma Coong people hold the Drum-Beating Festival to thank the spirits, celebrate a bountiful harvest, and pray for peace in their village.

The festive atmosphere permeated the entire village; from the entrance gate to the communal courtyard, everything was ablaze with the vibrant colors of flags and banners.

The festive atmosphere permeated the entire village; from the entrance gate to the communal courtyard, everything was ablaze with the vibrant colors of flags and banners.

The festival is divided into two parts: the ceremonial part and the festive part. It begins with the ritual of offering sacrifices to the spirits, led by a respected village elder. Offerings such as rice wine, bamboo-cooked rice, and wild game meat are presented to the spirits with reverence, praying for favorable weather and abundant harvests.

After the ceremonial part ends, the festive atmosphere truly explodes. Drums are hung in the center, and strong young men from the village take turns beating the drumheads with wooden mallets, shouting loudly: "Roa lu, roa lu, Giang ơi!" (Oh God!), a prayer deeply rooted in the ethnic culture. The drumming continues until the drumhead is completely broken. That's when joy erupts; the whole village sings, dances, and revels in the rice wine and the spirit of unity. This is also an opportunity for young men and women to get to know each other, fostering beautiful love stories amidst the mountains and forests.

Skilled craftsmen carefully stretch buffalo hide over the drumhead, preparing for the sacred drum-beating ritual.