Artist Y Wang living in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, often called “the storyteller of legendary nights”, will bring a night like this to Hanoi on March 25.

Artist Y Wang (Photo: VOV).

Y Wang has become famous for his performances of “ke khan” – a traditional art of the Ede ethnic group, where legends are told through folk songs.

He is among 135 performers from eight ethnic communities in seven provinces nationwide, who will take part in a flurry of activities portraying their distinctive cultures at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Hanoi from March 25 – 27.

The event, themed “March – The honey hunting season of bees – Central Highlands’ imposing forest and jungle”, features several ethnic rites, such as the communal house inauguration ceremony of the Gie Trieng group, prayers for rain and a bumper harvest of the Ede community, and the wedding ceremony of the Xo Dang group.

On the occasion, a collection of 16 notable items used by ethnic groups will be on display at the village.

Other activities, including a gong ceremony and a trade fair showcasing regional specialities, will also take place.

Culture and Tourism Village showcases Central Highlands lifestyle

Various springtime activities showcasing the traditions of Central Highlands ethnic groups can be enjoyed at the Culture and Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups, west of Hanoi.

Hosted since earlier this month, the highlights of the programme will be seen on March 25-27.

Themed March - Season of Honey Bees, the programme will include performances of traditional gongs, a festival of shooting crossbows, an exhibition of Central Highlands forest products, reflections on traditional customs and folk games on these three days.

The event will attract dozens of people from the ethnic minority groups of Mo Nong (from Dak Nong Province), Gie Trieng and Xo Dang (Kon Tum Province), Gia Rai (Gia Lai), Ma (Lam Dong) and E De (Dak Lak).

Visitors can join a cycling tour around the village, passing the traditional houses of ethnic groups at 10.30am-11.30am and 4pm-5pm on March 26.

Traditional customs including the new year worship ceremony of the Mơ Nông group will be held at 9am-10am, March 25; the new house worship ceremony of the Gie Trieng group will be held at 2pm-3pm the same day; and the Khan-Van storytelling session of the E De group will be hosted later that evening at 6pm-7pm.

The next day, the rain worship ceremony of the E De group will be held at 9.30am-10.30am, followed by Thanksgiving to the Gods of Forest and Land by the Ma group at 2pm-3pm. On March 27, a wedding in the Gia Rai group will be held at 9am-10am, followed by the harvest ceremony of the Xo Dang group at 2pm-3pm.

The village is located in Son Tay District, 45km to the west of Hanoi’s centre. 

VNA/VNS