The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will donate US$ 91,000 to the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong to help it preserve its traditional gong culture.

Dak Nong is the first of five Central Highlands provinces to receive UNESCO’s aid in maintaining the region’s distinctive culture, which was listed by the organisation as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in 2005.

The Government will provide Dak Nong province’s project with an additional US$43,000, said the provincial Department for Culture and Information.

The five Central Highland provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Lam Dong share the same unique tradition of gong culture.

The culture’s custodians are the ethnic groups 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 the Central Highlands and neighbouring provinces.

These groups earn their living by agricultural techniques passed down from generation to generation and have developed their own craft tradition, decorative styles and dwelling types.