Lee Houng Yong, a tourist from the Republic of Korea who joined the “Gongs at Weekends - Enjoy and Experience” program at Dai Doan Ket Square in Pleiku ward, called it the most wonderful experience of his life, deeply imbued with cultural identity. Trinh Thi Nga from Ho Chi Minh City was similarly thrilled by the gong melodies and enchanting xoang dance, calling it an unforgettable family experience.
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The new Rong house (communal house in Central Highlands) celebration festival of the Gia Rai ethnic people in Gia Lai province is a unique cultural feature being leveraged by localities to serve visitors. |
Organized every Saturday evening at Dai Doan Ket Square, this cultural program has become a signature brand for Gia Lai. A typical weekend includes traditional community introductions, gong music, folk songs, folk dances, and interactive visitor experiences.
Deputy Director of the Gia Lai Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Thi Thu Huong stated that the program helps implement the 2026-2030 project to preserve the gong cultural space heritage. It reflects Gia Lai’s strategy of leveraging cultural “soft power” to boost cultural and community-based tourism.
"Since early 2026, the department has reviewed community-based tourism models and advised the provincial People’s Committee to allocate resources for sites like Plei Op (Pleiku ward), Ia Nueng (Bien Ho commune), Kep (Ia Ly commune), Mo Hra-Dap (To Tung commune), and K3 village (Vinh Son commune) to diversify experiences, connect tours, and create sustainable livelihoods while preserving cultural identity," she noted.
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The “Gongs at Weekends - Enjoy and Experience” program has become a unique weekend attraction in Gia Lai. |
Ivan, a Russian tourist staying at The Upes Garden homestay in Bien Ho commune, enjoyed a peaceful holiday surrounded by mountains and gardens. After exploring the Central Highlands, Ivan planned to take his family to the coastal city of Quy Nhon, home to Ky Co beach, dubbed the “Maldives of Vietnam” for its turquoise waters and pristine scenery. Ivan’s journey reflects the growing tourist desire to travel from the great forests to the blue sea.
Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee Pham Anh Tuan has affirmed that Gia Lai possesses a marine-forest ecosystem highly favorable for tourism. The province is building strategies to activate the sea-highlands axis, maximizing natural advantages to develop distinctive products rich in local identity.
As global trends shift toward multi-experience travel combining beach resorts, agriculture, nature, and culture, Gia Lai holds significant advantages. The province features a synchronized transport network including the North-South Expressway, National Highways 1 and 19, the Ho Chi Minh Road, and the upcoming Quy Nhon-Pleiku Expressway. Gia Lai is also unique in possessing two airports, Phu Cat and Pleiku. Phu Cat Airport is planned to handle 5 million passengers annually by 2030, facilitating seamless connectivity between the highlands and the sea.
Many travel companies have already launched successful sea-to-highlands routes. Gotour Travel offers a four-day tour titled “From the Blue Sea to Great Forests” from Quy Nhon to Pleiku, while Vietravel is developing the “One Route - Two Destinations: Quy Nhon - Pleiku” itinerary.
The Visit Vietnam Year 2026, themed “Gia Lai Where Great Forests Meet the Blue Sea,” realizes this coastal-highland connection. During the recent April 30 and May 1 holiday, Gia Lai welcomed 625,000 visitors, up 57 percent year-on-year, earning over VND 1.05 trillion. These figures support the locality's 2026 target of 15 million visitors and VND 35 trillion in revenue.
Translated by Chung Anh