Highlands tourism, culture week wraps up

The weeklong “Legend of the Central Highlands Elephant” tourism and culture festival ended December 20 in Buon Ma Thuot City Square in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.
The closing ceremony of the festival featured songs praising the vital and imposing Highlands area, Buon Ma Thuot‘s achievements, the region’s tourism potential, and its socio-economic development.
The ceremony also expressed hope that the city will become an economic and cultural hub of the Highlands.
On stage were hundreds of artists and gong troupes of ethnic minorities including the Ede, Gia Rai, and M’nong among others.
The week featured a series of cultural activities including a photo exhibition, fire festival, street fair, wood carving contest, food and trade fair, and folk games and music.
Highlights of the event were sports activities such as swimming, racing and hunting with 20 elephants in Buon Don District.
The tourism and culture week also aimed to raise awareness of the importance of preserving cultural values and festivals of ethnic groups in the Highlands area. In particular, its long-standing gong tradition has been recognized by UNESCO as a ‘Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.