Kon Tum province’s Ngoc Hoi district is currently home to 17 ethnic communities such as Brau, Xo Dang, Gie-Trieng, etc. Over the past years, local authorities have paid due attention to preserve and promote cultural identities of ethnic groups, especially gong culture.
Under guidance of Ngoc Hoi authorities, the Culture Information Division to develop plans for effectively preserving and promoting of the cultural space of gong culture, including the project preserving and promoting the cultural space of gong culture in Ngoc Hoi district in the period of 2020-2025, etc.
During over past five years (2016-2020), the culture, sports and tourism department and the provincial committee for ethnic affairs in Kon Tum and the district People’s Committee have provided five gong sets to four villages and one school, successfully raised a fund for offering one gong set to Ke Joi village (Dak Xu commune), and with one new gong set bought by Nong Kon village (Dak Duc commune). Up to now, the district has 47 gong sets, in which 25 sets owned by individuals; 17 villages have not any gong sets yet. In 2021, the district People’s Committee has allocated 200 million VND for support gongs bought for some villages.
According to Kiều Quốc Tường, Head of the Culture and Information Division in Ngoc Hoi district, local authorities has organized programs to reenact traditional rituals and festivals of ethnic groups such as the new rice ceremony of three ethnic minorities of Brau, Gie Trieng and Xo Dang, ChaKchia festival of Gie Trieng ethnic group, etc. Seven training courses on gongs have taken place in five communes with the participation of 240 people, and five gong cultural exchange events have been organized.
Most of ethnic minority villages in Ngoc Hoi district have gong playing groups, with the total of 38 teams in eight communes. Four artisans (three artisans in Dak Duc commune and one artisan in Po Y commune) have received the title “Folk Artisan” by the State President, and the Meritorious Artisan title has also presented to two artisans in communes of Dak Duc and Po Y.
Rong House (often called The Kon Tum Communal House) is a special place for ethnic minorities to show traditional activities, including gong culture. So, over the past years, Ngoc Hoi authorities have supported local people to build and repair Rong houses in the locality. Up to now, the district has 35 Rong houses in 38 villages of ethnic minorities.
