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When we talk about the majestic land of the Central Highlands, it's not just about the vast and pristine mountain ranges like Ta Dung or the misty hidden city of Da Lat. The Central Highlands also boasts unique cultural treasures like the Gong Festival - one of the significant local festivals highly cherished by travelers. Therefore, the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat is one of the tours that travelers should definitely experience during the Tet holiday season.
1. Introduction to the Gong Festival in Da Lat
1.1 The Gong Festival Celebration
The Gong Festival in the Central Highlands is a local festival organized by the indigenous people. During the festival, the gong is considered the main musical instrument throughout the event. It's not just a musical instrument, but the essence of the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat and the Central Highlands.
The Gong Festival is usually held annually in rotation in the 5 provinces of the Central Highlands, including Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong. These are the 5 provinces with Gong Festival culture across the region. The Gong Festival is organized by the ethnic groups such as Ede, Bana, Gia Rai, Xe Dang, and others.
Thanks to its uniqueness and the preservation and transmission through generations, the Central Highlands Gong Festival has officially been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Gong Festival is a beautiful cultural aspect of the Central Highlands.
The Gong Festival, organized by the K'Ho Lach ethnic group in Lac Duong district, Lam Dong province, regularly welcomes tourists. Therefore, tourists on Da Lat tourism tours can visit here to experience the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat and enjoy this distinctive cultural form of the Central Highlands.
1.2 Gong Instrument
The gong is the main musical instrument of the Gong Festival in the Central Highlands or the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat. Therefore, the sound quality in the festival depends largely on the quality of the gong. Some basic knowledge about the gong that tourists may need to know includes:
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The gong and the chieng are two different musical instruments: Although both are made of brass or sometimes mixed with black or gold brass, they differ in shape and size. Both are circular like a conical hat, but the gong has a knob in the center while the chieng does not. Both types come in various sizes.
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Gongs can be used individually or in sets of 2, 18, 20 pieces,... in Gong Festival tours in Da Lat.
During the festival, gongs are often used in sets.
2. Activities of the Gong Festival in Da Lat
Similar to other festivals held across the country, the festival in Gong Festival tours in Da Lat is divided into 2 main parts: the ritual part and the festive part.
2.1 Ritual Part
The K'ho Lach residents of yesteryears lived at the foot of Langbiang Mountain. The ceremonial part of the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat typically begins with the village elder recounting tales of ancient origins, customs, and tribal life.
Moreover, the ceremony includes the ritual of praying to the Fire God - the Yàng Prayer. Travelers also get to witness and experience jungle meat feasting and rice wine drinking in Da Lat along with bonfires at Langbiang campsite.
2.2 Festive Part
After the ceremonial part concludes, the festival transitions into the festive part. This is the most exciting and anticipated segment, where participants can immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere of the festival.
Everyone participating in the festival will join together to sing and dance around the campfire. At this moment, tourists can also join in the traditional dances amidst the bonfire, such as the xoang dance, Langbiang flower dance, buffalo dance, p'ro searching for buffalo dance, drop p'nu hunting dance, love beside the stream dance, forest leaf picking dance, and more.
Amidst the lively bonfire ambiance and the vibrant sound of gongs, tourists can enjoy truly unique experiences with the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat. Additionally, tourists can witness the famous buffalo stabbing festival of the Central Highlands.
The vibrant festival part of the Gong Festival in Da Lat.
The festival part of the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat will be a favorite experience for travel enthusiasts who enjoy cultural exchange and learning about the local people's lives, especially the unique gong culture of the Central Highlands.
Travelers visiting Da Lat for 2 days and 1 night or more should spend their evenings joining the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat. Through this, travelers will experience, share, and immerse themselves in the lives of the local people in Lam Dong, especially the ethnic minorities.
Currently, travelers can experience the Gong Festival culture in Da Lat at the Lang Biang Mountain tourist area. Moreover, those who love this festival can also research and read reviews about the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat before experiencing it.
3. Tips for Participating in the Central Highlands Gong Festival
Although this is a cultural exchange festival with lively dancing, the Gong Festival is still a religious ceremony according to the beliefs of the ethnic groups here. Therefore, travelers participating in the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat should pay attention to their attire.
Specifically, when participating in the
Travelers participating in the bonfire ritual of the gong festival should exercise caution.
Additionally, travelers should also pay attention to their safety to avoid injuries, especially during the ritual of praying to the fire god when joining the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat.
Unlike conventional musical instruments, the gong is a musical instrument commonly used only in regions with gong culture. Therefore, travelers should learn about this musical instrument before going on the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat if they have time to better understand how this musical instrument operates and related precautions.
4. Other Hot Tourist Destinations in Da Lat
Da Lat - the foggy city always remains an enticing destination, attracting millions of tourists every year to explore and enjoy the cool atmosphere of the highland region. Therefore, tourists visiting Da Lat should arrange their itinerary for the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat combined with famous destinations in Da Lat such as:
4.1 Lang Biang Mountain
Dubbed as the highest mountain in Da Lat and also the venue for the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat, tourists standing atop Langbiang Mountain can admire the panoramic view of Da Lat city shrouded in mist. The Langbiang Mountain tourist area has 3 peaks including Ra Da peak, Ba peak, and Ong peak.
Here, tourists can choose to rent a jeep to ascend the mountain peak and enjoy the Langbiang Mountain scenery along the way, and don't forget to check in with the Langbiang inscription on the famous mountain peak.
Additionally, tourists can learn about the intriguing legend of this mountain. Legend has it that this is where the love story of Lang and Biang unfolded. Tourists can also visit the ecotourism area in the valley below the mountain peak.
Experiencing the cultural exchange of the Da Lat Gong Festival is an experience worth trying.
Another thing is that the tourist area at the foot of Langbiang Mountain often organizes Gong Festival tours in Da Lat, making it easy for tourists to experience the Gong Festival here.
4.2 Camelias Flower Field
Besides joining the Gong Festival tour in Da Lat, what could be more wonderful than taking photos amidst the shimmering camellia flower garden. That's why the camellias flower field is one of the must-visit destinations for tourists traveling to Da Lat.
This will be the ideal place for flower enthusiasts to both admire the flowers and take photos amidst the flower forest. Moreover, tourists can learn about the fascinating knowledge of growing camellia flowers based on the soil pH when visiting the garden.
Taking check-in photos is an indispensable activity when visiting the Camelias Flower Field in Da Lat.
In Da Lat, there are approximately 5 camellia flower gardens. However, tourists can choose the garden in Trại Mát area, near Ve Chai Pagoda for convenient visit to this special pagoda when going on Gong Festival Tour in Da Lat.
4.3 Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Linh Phuoc Pagoda attracts tourists not only because of its sacredness but also because of its unique architecture on the walls and columns of the pagoda.
True to its name, the walls of the pagoda are made up of thousands of broken porcelain pieces. Although the broken porcelain pieces have different patterns, when assembled, this pagoda becomes an extremely unique masterpiece.
Tourists checking in at Linh Phuoc Pagoda.
That's also the reason why the pagoda named 'Ve Chai' but is visited by tourists every time they come to Da Lat for sightseeing. During the Gong Festival Tour in Da Lat, tourists can also visit this pagoda to sightsee and pray for peace and luck.
4.4 Cloud Hunting at Cau Dat Tea Hill
Checking in at tea hills with lush green background has long been an indispensable activity in Da Lat trips or Gong Festival Tours in Da Lat. The tea hills are located at an altitude of about 1650 meters, covering an area of about 230 hectares. Tourists can see the tea hills stretching out creating a beautiful scenery.
Cau Dat Tea Hill is approximately 23km away from the city center of Da Lat. Thanks to this, tourists visiting the tea hill can enjoy the serene and refreshing scenery away from the urban area. One thing for sure is that tourists will not miss capturing some 'youthful' photos at this lush green tea hill.
Cau Dat Tea Hill is a favorite spot for tourists when they come here.
Tourists who want to admire the tea hill when it's greenest should choose to visit towards the end of the year. At this time, the tea leaves are greener, and tourists standing amidst the tea hill can smell the fresh scent of tea in the air. Additionally, tourists can also admire the green tea hill adorned with the yellow hues of wild sunflowers blooming in the late days of the year.
4.5 Tuyen Lam Lake in Da Lat
Tuyen Lam Lake is renowned for its picturesque scenery, making it an ideal destination for sightseeing tourists. However, few know that this place was once an important base of our military during the resistance war against the United States.
Tourists visiting Tuyen Lam Lake during the Cong Chieng Da Lat Tour often paddle kayaks out into the middle of the lake to enjoy the clear water surface, surrounded by the cool air and the lush green pine trees along the shore.
Tourists on the Cong Chieng Da Lat Tour can also arrange time to try camping and check in at the legendary Lavender Wooden Bridge.
4.6 Da Lat Sky Gate
Among the countless check-in spots in the City of Flowers, tourists cannot miss the Da Lat Sky Gate. The Da Lat Sky Gate View is located at Dalat View Coffee.
Standing on this sky gate, tourists will feel like they are standing in paradise at an altitude of nearly a thousand meters, surrounded by the sky and flying clouds. All create a breathtaking check-in scene in the misty fog.
The coffee shop is situated on Mimosa Hill, so tourists who come to the misty city and join the Cong Chieng Da Lat Tour would miss out on the magnificent scenery of the Cong Chieng Da Lat Tour, which is quite regrettable.
The picturesque photo spot at Da Lat View resembles a scene from a fairyland.
Despite its location not far from the city center, visitors here will still feel incredibly peaceful when immersed in the mountainous nature, surrounded by lush greenery and peaceful, romantic flying clouds.
4.7 Lam Vien Square
Lam Vien Square is located near Xuan Huong Lake, where visitors can enjoy the cool breeze blowing from the lake. Besides, visitors cannot miss taking photos with the giant artichoke flower and wild sunflowers - symbols of Da Lat city.
Not only are these structures built to help visitors take photos when visiting Da Lat, but the artichoke flower also boasts a small coffee shop inside. Designed in a spiral shape and using green-tinted glass, whether visitors look from the outside in or from the inside out, they will see a stunning scene.
After taking photos with the artichoke flower, visitors definitely have to take pictures with the giant wild sunflowers within the same square to complete the experience. Both are considered iconic landmarks of Da Lat that visitors should visit when going on the Cong Chieng Da Lat tour.
Visitors cannot miss taking photos with Lam Vien Square.
In the evening, visitors to Lam Vien Square can see the bustling atmosphere of a famous tourist city like Da Lat, as well as admire these structures illuminated beautifully.
6. Mytour's suggested Cong Chieng Da Lat tours
6.1 3 Days 2 Nights Da Lat Tour
This is an ideal tour for groups, companies, or large families traveling together. The itinerary of the Cong Chieng Da Lat tour 3 Days 2 Nights includes:
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Day 1: Visit Bao Dai Palace, Tuyen Lam Lake, and check in at Lam Vien Square.
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Day 2: Da Lat's version of Golden Bridge, Cau Dat Flower Field, Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Lang Biang Mountain. In the evening at the foot of Langbiang Mountain, visitors will participate in the Tay Nguyen Gong Festival organized by the locals. With this Cong Chieng Da Lat tour, visitors will experience rituals, dance activities, drink can wine, and enjoy grilled meat.
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Day 3: Visitors will visit the farm market, Da Lat flower garden, and end the trip.
The price of the cultural exchange gong festival ticket will include the price of the 3 Days 2 Nights Da Lat Tour.
6.2 Nha Trang Da Lat 4 Days 3 Nights Tour
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Day 1: Visit Nha Trang's hot spots such as Bai Dai Beach, Ponagar Tower, Long Son Pagoda, Tram Huong Tower,...
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Day 2: Explore Nha Trang Bay, Vinwonders, Con Se Tre Tourist Area, Swallow Village,...
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Day 3: Group arrives in Da Lat, visit Domaine De Marie Church, Langbiang Mountain, and participate in the Tay Nguyen Gong Tour. This is the Cong Chieng Da Lat tour organized in the Lang Biang tourist area, at the foot of Lang Biang Mountain to enjoy grilled meat and can wine.
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Day 4: Visit Da Lat Flower Garden, Da Lat Farm Market, and Da Lat View Sky Gate.
6.3 Other Da Lat Tours
6.3.1 Da Lat 3 Days 3 Nights Tour
Besides the Cong Chieng Da Lat tour, travelers can also consider the Da Lat 3 Days 3 Nights Tour departing during Tet with the following itinerary:
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Day 1: Cloud hunting paradise, Cau Dat Tea Hill, Dalat's Golden Bridge, Cam Tu Cau Flower Field, Ve Chai Pagoda, Lam Vien Square, Tuyen Lam Lake.
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Day 2: Visit Domaine De Marie Church, Puppy Farm,...
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Day 3: Explore Dalat Farm Market and Pongour Waterfall before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.
Da Lat 3 Days 3 Nights Tour during Tet with special prices.
6.3.2 Ta Dung - Da Lat Tour
Beyond enjoying the festivities in the City of Flowers during the 2024 Lunar New Year, travelers can explore Ta Dung Lake - the 'Halong Bay' of the Central Highlands with an enticing itinerary:
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Day 1: Visit Ta Dung Lake and walk on the glass bridge, then move on to Dalat.
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Day 2: Explore Dalat View, Socola Gallery Chocolate Castle, Langbiang Mountain, Lam Vien Square, and indulge in unlimited vegetable buffet. The highlight of day 2 is participating in the cultural exchange of Tay Nguyen Gong Festival in the evening. Here, travelers not only experience the activities and rituals of the Tay Nguyen Gong Festival but also have the opportunity to interact with the locals.
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Day 3: The group will visit Datanla Waterfall before departing for Ho Chi Minh City.
The Dalat Gong Festival Tour will undoubtedly provide travelers with unparalleled experiences. It's an opportunity for tourists, especially those interested in learning about the ethnic cultures of the Central Highlands. Contact Mytour's hotline Mytour now for advice on these fascinating Dalat Gong Festival Tours.
