Culture

Artists from the Pleiku Calligraphy Club in Gia Lai have developed an innovative way to combine traditional calligraphy with the Central Highlands' signature coffee culture by creating paintings and calligraphic works using ink made from recycled coffee grounds.

Eight Jrai artisans from Xoa village in Bien Ho commune, Gia Lai province, brought the distinctive cultural heritage of Vietnam's Central Highlands to the "Return to Nha Trang" art exchange program on June 28, as part of the Vietnam Family Day 2026 celebrations in Khanh Hoa province.

A Vietnamese artisan has spent nearly two years creating a light sculpture of the late General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, transforming a simple piece of pine burl into a tribute reflecting his admiration and gratitude for the late leader.

Gia Lai will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Vietnamese Family Day with a special "Weekend Gong Performance - Enjoy and Experience" program at Dai Doan Ket Square in Pleiku Ward on June 27, highlighting the role of families in preserving the cultural heritage of the Jrai ethnic community.

Entrepreneur Bùi Thị Thùy Dương from Đồng Tháp was crowned Miss Vietnam Brand 2026 on Thursday after emerging victorious at the pageant's grand finale held at Riverside Square in the Đại Phú Gia Villa Complex, East Quy Nhơn Ward.

The Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee has approved a proposal to stage a high-altitude fireworks display as part of the "Eo Gió - Dance of the blue sea" art program, scheduled for the evening of July 11 at the Eo Gió Ecotourism Area in East Quy Nhơn Ward.

Seven artists from different regions of Vietnam and Thailand will present 70 paintings at the “Private Skies” exhibition, scheduled to take place from July 4 to 10 at Gallery 3B in Cau Kieu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

Rare imperial decrees from the Nguyễn Dynasty have been carefully preserved by residents of Nhơn Châu island commune in Gia Lai province for nearly a century, serving as enduring symbols of the island’s maritime traditions and cultural identity.

Authorities and cultural experts in Vietnam’s Gia Lai province convened a scientific seminar on Wednesday to finalize dossiers seeking provincial heritage recognition for two sites: the residence and grave of patriot Nguyen Huu Hao and the H’Bâu Ancient Church.

Winning a gold medal at the 2026 National Piano Talent Festival has marked a significant milestone for Nguyễn Ngọc Đan Thanh, a student at Hùng Vương High School for the Gifted, and strengthened her ambition to pursue a professional career in music.

Quy Nhon University's Youth Union and Vietnam Student Association on May 31 held the final round of the 2026 Student Singing Contest, attracting strong participation and support from students and youth union members across the university.

Children’s literature in Gia Lai is experiencing steady growth, marked by a growing community of writers, continuity across generations, diverse themes and the emergence of promising young authors.

Fishermen in Trung Luong fishing village in Gia Lai will hold the 2026 Whale Worship Festival from May 27 to 31, featuring traditional spiritual rituals, folk performances and cultural activities celebrating Vietnam’s coastal heritage.

Fishermen in Vĩnh Lợi coastal village in Gia Lai province on May 26 held the 2026 Whale Worship Festival at the Nam Hải Whale Shrine in Vĩnh Lợi lagoon, a major cultural and spiritual event for local fishing communities.

An Giang provincial museum and the Pleiku museum of Gia Lai on May 27 opened a joint exhibition titled “The Colors of Gia Lai and An Giang Cultures” at the An Giang Provincial Museum’s Facility 1 in Rach Gia Ward, An Giang Province.

The Gia Lai Provincial Association of Literature and Arts, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, opened the “Giao Hoa 2” Fine Arts Exhibition 2026 on May 26 at the grounds of the Gia Lai Provincial Convention Center in Quy Nhon Ward, Gia Lai Province.

In the quiet village of Mrông Yố in Gia Lai province, artisan Rơ Châm Guk has dedicated decades to preserving and passing on the ancient gong culture of the Jrai people, earning recognition as one of the Central Highlands’ most respected cultural guardians.

Artists participating in the reality TV show “Say Hi Rực Rỡ” held a lively music exchange on Cù Lao Xanh island on the evening of May 21, attracting large crowds of local residents and tourists after three days of filming on the island.

Authorities in Gia Lai province are reassessing preparations for the Central Highlands Music and Arts Festival after organizers proposed postponing the event from late May to late June 2026 to allow more time for rehearsals, technical work and quality control.

The Gia Lai Provincial Association of Literature and Arts inaugurated the second phase of the “Land and People of Gia Lai” sculpture complex on Monday at the Hoi Phu Stream Urban Area in Hoi Phu Ward, expanding the province’s growing public art space with 11 additional works.

Authorities and ethnic minority communities in Gia Lai province have revived a series of traditional Bahnar and Jrai rituals since the beginning of 2026 in an effort to preserve cultural identity and promote community-based tourism.

The Quang Trung Museum on May 17 opened a special photo exhibition titled “Thượng đạo - Hạ đạo: The Heritage Journey of the Tây Sơn Era,” featuring 130 archival photographs highlighting the history and cultural legacy of the Tây Sơn movement.

A striking avenue of flamboyant trees in Gia Lai province has transformed a remote mountain road into a vivid crimson landscape, drawing attention for its cinematic beauty amid the forests and valleys of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

The first Gia Lai Provincial Ethnic Culture Festival 2026, held at the end of April, was more than a cultural celebration. The event also reflected a new development approach by the province, treating heritage as a “living asset” linked to tourism and the creative economy.