Gia Lai unveils second phase of “Land and People of Gia Lai” sculpture complex

A historic site in Gia Lai province that once sustained the Tây Sơn insurgent army is now a thriving agricultural landscape, highlighting both economic renewal and ongoing preservation challenges.

Amid the resonant sounds of gongs, the Jrai people in Ơp village (Pleiku ward) gathered to perform the new communal house blessing ceremony, a sacred ritual that has been closely tied to the village community for generations.

Schools across Vietnam are turning to revolutionary music as an innovative way to teach history, transforming lessons from static textbook content into vivid, experiential learning.

Authorities in Gia Lai Province have unveiled 11 new sculptures along the embankment of Hội Phú Stream, bringing the total number of artworks in the “Land and people of Gia Lai” collection at the site to 25.

An art programme celebrating Vietnam’s Liberation Day and International Workers’ Day drew large crowds to Cho Nho Night Market in Pleiku Ward, Gia Lai Province, on April 30.

More than 200 students in Vietnam’s Central Highlands have taken part in hands-on cultural learning activities, as schools in Gia Lai province expand practical education beyond the classroom.

A unique fusion of martial arts and strategy took centre stage in Pleiku on April 26, as Gia Lai hosted a human chess match combined with a Tây Sơn martial arts performance during its first Provincial Ethnic Culture Festival in 2026.

Millions of Vietnamese continue to pay homage to the Hung Kings, regarded as the nation’s founding ancestors, through pilgrimages to the Hung Kings Temple complex on Nghia Linh Mountain, a site steeped in legend, history and spiritual significance.

Authorities in An Phu Ward in Gia Lai Province are promoting the preservation of Jrai cultural heritage as a cornerstone for developing community-based tourism and improving local livelihoods.

The recognition of An Cuu Communal House and the Mui Vi Rong - Tan Phung Mountain scenic site as provincial-level heritage sites is opening new pathways for socio-economic development in Gia Lai, with authorities seeking to leverage cultural and natural assets to boost tourism.

In Bình Thái hamlet in Tuy Phước commune, Gia Lai province, the centuries-old bả trạo folk performance continues to thrive, sustained by strong community efforts and growing support from local authorities.

The Pleiku Book and Coffee Festival 2026 drew thousands of visitors over three days, highlighting the city’s efforts to promote reading culture while celebrating its coffee heritage, organisers said.

Each dry season from February to April, vast stretches of western Gia Lai province are transformed as Plah flowers burst into bloom, coating hillsides and fields in vivid shades of reddish-orange.

A three-day vegan food festival will open in Pleiku on April 24, bringing together local businesses, culinary groups and charity organisations to promote sustainable living and community support.

Thousands of residents and visitors gathered in Gia Lai on April 11 for the 2026 Forest Worship Ceremony, a traditional ritual aimed at preserving ethnic cultural identity and promoting forest conservation.

Authorities in Vietnam’s Gia Lai province are accelerating preparations for the first Provincial Ethnic Culture Festival in 2026, an event expected to showcase the cultural diversity of local ethnic communities while marking a major historical milestone.

Hundreds of Buddhist followers and local residents gathered at Cho Nho Night Street in Pleiku Ward, Gia Lai Province, on April 4 for the 2026 Hoa Dang Lantern Ceremony, organised by Van Phat Pagoda.

A traditional Jrai wedding ceremony will be reenacted in Kep village on April 24 as part of efforts to preserve and promote ethnic cultural heritage in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Authorities in Gia Lai province on April 3 handed over 16 sets of traditional gongs to art troupes in ethnic minority villages, in a move aimed at preserving the Central Highlands’ UNESCO-recognised gong culture.

Across diverse creative spaces, Vietnamese artist Nguyễn Văn Chung has continuously sought his own visual language, with woodcut printmaking emerging as a defining medium. Deeply rooted in the Central Highlands, his works reflect a profound attachment to the region’s land, people, and environment.

The opening ceremony of National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026 and a large-scale accompanying concert have ranked among the most prominent media campaigns in Vietnam over the past week, reflecting strong public and online engagement.

Residents of Kép 1 village in Ia Ly commune, Gia Lai province, have inaugurated a new communal Rong house, marking a cultural milestone that is expected to drive community-based tourism rooted in Jrai heritage.

From March 29 to April 1, the coastal village of Nhơn Hải in Quy Nhơn Đông Ward, Gia Lai Province, comes alive with the annual Whale Worship Festival, its largest cultural event of the year.

Residents of Bek Village in Ia Grai commune, Gia Lai province gathered on March 30 to celebrate the revival of their traditional Victory Festival, marking its return after a 20-year absence due to economic hardship.