In recent years, gong performances have been held regularly generating jobs and raising the incomes of many people in the Central Highlands. Since 2009, Lam Dong province has supported gong troupes that perform for tourists. Nguyen Thi Nguyen, Deputy Director of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism says: “We organize gong performances for tourists at Mong Mo and Maragui hills every day. In a warm atmosphere in the mountains, tourists can see all cultural activities and practices of the Gong culture in the central highlands. We have set up 11 gong troupes. Each has from 4 to 50 artists. These performances have helped local people increase their incomes”.

Ms Linh Nga Niek Kdam, a researcher of Central Highlands culture says that it’s important to strengthen the management of these performances thus preserving Gong culture and Central Highlands folklore culture in general. “It’s difficult because such performances have become a business of local people. In addition to performing gong, many groups also perform contemporary music. It’s very important for cultural managers to strengthen the management of these performances to ensure that the Gong culture is preserved and promoted effectively”, said Ms Nga.

Ms Nguyen Thi Nguyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong province says interacting with tourists while performing the local folk music and culture is likely to ruin the cultural identity of the region. “We have worked out orientations to preserve and promote the cultural identity of the gong culture during gong performances. The art troupes need licenses for both the artists and contents of their performances. We also meet with local people to tell them the right way to preserve and promote the gong”, said Ms Nguyen.

Meanwhile, culture researchers say that performances at tourists’ requests are just performances of the gong musical instrument but not gong culture of the Central Highlands, because while performing, they play the gong as a musical instrument, but not in a gong culture space of their ethnic group. Doctor Hoang Son, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Arts and Culture Institute says: “Da Lat has thousands of art troupes, which perform gong according to their traditional customs and ceremonies. 11 of these troupes are allowed to modify their performances for tourists and this figure is too small to affect the gong culture in Da Lat and the Central Highlands in general”.

Gong performance is an effective way to preserve and promote values of the Central Highlands gong culture. Gong troupes, culture researchers, culture managers and others in the Central Highlands are joining efforts to maintain the uniqueness of the Gong culture.

Ngoc Hien- Thu Hoa