Born in 1987, Pa Co man Nguyen Xuan Bay from Ra Looc village - A Soc hamlet, Hong Bac commune (now A Luoi 2 commune) came to traditional music with a pure, instinctive love. “I learned by myself, I felt for myself, and I listened the rhythms that echoed from village festivals, through the hands and breaths of the elders, then practiced on my own,” Bay shared.

Amid the majestic Truong Son Mountain, the Pa Co people continue to preserve a sacred festival, where the sound of gongs and drums blends with the flickering red flames. A Rieu Piing is a time to honor ancestors, a communal celebration that illuminates the unique cultural values of the Pa Co community.

The sound of gongs echoing through the mountains, the graceful spins of Pa Co and Ta Oi (ethnic groups) dances, once thought to belong only to the memory of old festivals, are now alive again in A Luoi 2. Here, a Co Tu girl named A Rel Thuy Linh, along with local youth, continue to nurture their passion, bringing the heritage of their homeland to life with vibrant performances that immerse audiences in the atmosphere of a true festival.

Beneath the bright red national flag proudly flying over the skies of Truong Sa (Spratly Islands), we silently call out the names of the heroic martyrs who gave their lives to defend the sacred seas and islands of our homeland, hearing their echoes within the gentle murmur of waves welcoming a new, peaceful day.

Nurtured by the fire in a stilt house, enveloped in the lullabies of his grandmother and mother and the echo of gongs and drums from village festivals, Ho Pa Co A Teng was deeply imbued with the traditional cultural spirit of his people from an early age.

Thousands of audiences joined a vibrant music night at the Noon Gate Square, where new, youthful, and modern sounds echoed while still retaining a strong sense of identity.

I have fully lived through those precious, unforgettable moments - moments where I could touch the echoing sound of waves that bear the names of the DK1 platform soldiers who now rest in the depths of the sea. It was to convey, in the most genuine way, the bravery and steadfastness of these soldiers who have become unshakable fortresses guarding the sea and sky of our homeland.

Bustling energy, vibrant Zèng patterns, the echo of gongs blending with joyful laughter – together, they paint a vivid picture of the highlands in springtime, full of life and colors.

In the festive atmosphere of the “Colors of Spring in the Highlands” celebration in A Luoi, amidst the “tung tung da da” dances and echoing gong sounds, I was fortunate to witness a special ritual of the Co Tu people - the An Ninh Pa Nua festival. This is one of their ancient traditional ceremonies, expressing the sacred feelings of the bride’s family toward the groom’s family after many years of being in-laws.

According to the information released on March 6 by Hue Academy of Music, Akatsuki music band from Japan will hold a traditional concert with the theme “Echoes of Culture” on the night of March 8 at Song Huong Theater (No.1 Le Loi St., Thuan Hoa District).