At a working session on April 12 in Pleiku Ward, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich met with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and event organizers to review progress and finalize plans.
According to officials, 19 out of 20 localities have registered to participate, bringing together 661 artisans representing ethnic groups including Bahnar, Jrai, Cham, H're, Tay and Mong. The festival will feature performances of folk songs, dances and music, alongside exhibitions of traditional crafts, cuisine and folk games.
A central highlight will be an art programme and ethnic cultural exchange night scheduled for April 25 at Dai Doan Ket Square and the Pleiku Museum grounds.
Organisers are also preparing guided tours to a historical site linked to President Ho Chi Minh’s 1946 letter to the Congress of Southern Ethnic Minorities. Ceremonial activities will include flower and incense offerings at Dai Doan Ket Square and a tribute at the Hero Nup Monument.
An exhibition featuring approximately 120 to 150 images and documents on President Ho Chi Minh and Gia Lai’s ethnic groups is being curated, highlighting his connection with Central Highlands communities and the province’s socio-economic progress over the past 80 years.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich said the festival carries particular significance following recent administrative reorganisation and as it commemorates the 80th anniversary of the 1946 letter.
She urged agencies to finalise programme content, strengthen communications efforts and ensure the event is organised in a dignified and innovative manner. Special emphasis, she said, should be placed on developing a real-life stage performance to attract visitors and provide a platform for artisans to showcase their cultural identity.
Earlier the same day, the vice chairwoman and a working group conducted an on-site inspection at Dai Doan Ket Square to assess preparations for the main stage area.