A conference on Gong culture took place in the central highland city of Pleiku on November 14 as part of the ongoing International Gong Festival 2009.

Many scientists and managers from different countries delivered more than 74 speeches focused on the change in socio-economic conditions and the preservation of gong culture in Vietnam and in Southeast Asia.

The speeches all confirmed that gong cultures in Vietnam and in other Southeast Asian countries share essential similarities, which have a deep influence on the socio-economic aspects of each country.

The presentations also mentioned measures to preserve and build on these cultural values. Some scientists held that such preservation should be community-based and incorporated into the curricula of schools, especially those in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups, for the sake of sustainable cultural development.

Vietnamese professor To Ngoc Thanh said that it is vital to pay attention to and nurture artisans as human treasures. Meanwhile, Dr Hiroshi Hoshino shared Japan’s experience of implementing its government laws on protecting cultural assets since 1950.

Vietnam’s space of gong culture in the Central Highlands (Tay Nguyen) was recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2005.