An international gong culture festival will be held in Vietnam next year, according to reports.

Vietnam's central highland province Gia Lai, will host the majority of events in March 2009 with gong artists expected to arrive from around the country and neighbouring nations.

Musicians will be invited from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, China and Japan to give an international feel to the event, according to the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Gongs are important to the identity of many ethnic minority cultures in the central highlands provinces and this event is aiming to educate people about the musical tradition as well as preserving the culture for future generations.

Gongs act as a ceremonial instrument in all rituals of community life within the provinces.

In 2005, UNESCO recognised Vietnam's gong culture as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, one of 43 intangible cultural heritages recognised by the organisation.

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