Thousands of Central Highlands ethnic minority people enjoyed an extravagant ceremony on March 28 to receive a certificate by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognising Gong Culture as a world intangible cultural heritage.

The ceremony was attended by President Tran Duc Luong, Politburo member and Head of the Party Commission for Ideology and Culture, Head of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Pham The Duyet and other high ranking officials.

The colourful stadium of Pleiku in Gia Lai province was echoed with sound from fabulous performances by 15 gong groups.

The values of gong culture is an integral part of Vietnam's Central Highlands ethnic minority people, said Mr Gordi G. YMgomezulu, director of UNESCO's Heritage Department in his speech.

Mr Vu Duc Tam, Vietnam's Ambassador at the UNESCO, meanwhile affirmed the recognition of the gong culture by the biggest world cultural body proves that Vietnam possesses a diversified culture. It also makes Vietnamese people realise the need to preserve the valuable assets and pass on to the future generations.

Gongs were first used in Vietnam in the Bronze Age (Đông Sơn culture from 2,000 to 3,500 years ago). Ancient gongs were sometimes cast in gold or silver, but nowadays, most are made from an alloy of copper, zinc and lead.

The gongs appear in most rituals and ceremonies, such as weddings, welcoming of the New Year, new rice harvests and new construction of communal houses, farewell ceremonies for soldiers and celebrations of triumphs and victories.

Ede and M'nong ethnic minorities alone have preserved 3,375 sets of gongs. Many classes to teach children how to play gongs have been opened, and over 300 teams of gong players have been set up.

The cultural space of the gongs in Vietnam covers the five Central Highlands provinces of Dac Lac, Dac Nong, Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Lam Dong.

The custodians of the space of the gong culture are the ethnic groups of Ba Na, Brau, Chu Ru, Co Ho, E De, Gia Rai, Gie – Trieng, Ma, M’ Nong, Ro Mam, Xo Dang, Cham, Raglai, Bru-Van Kieu, Ta Oi, Coh, Hre, Choro, Xtieng and Cotu in Central Highlands and neighbouring provinces.