The seminar, which attracted many cultural researchers and artisans from 23 ethnic minorities, focused discussions on measures to prevent gong-related folk activities from fading away.

Experts said that Dak Lak had over 10,000 sets of gong in 1990, but now has just 3,300. The same situation applies to Dak Nong, another central highland province, where the number of gongs has been slashed to about 360 sets from more than 1,000 in 1993.

“It’s essential to preserve a space for gong performances, and the folk festivals associated with local people’s production and crops,” said K’Brem, an ethnic gong artisan from Lam Dong province. He added that his province is conducting a general survey of all their local gongs.