A Cor artisan introduces traditional musical instruments to Cor children. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức

The Cor ethnic people in Trà Bồng District in the central province of Quảng Ngãi has a rich and unique cultural heritage. In recent years, the local authorities have been actively preserving and promoting the Cor culture by organising exchange programmes and activities, with efforts to spread their culture awareness among the young generations.

Ethnic Cor youngsters are expected to continue their unique culture, VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức

One of the district's goals is to establish one or two cultural villages, restore Cor traditional houses, festivals, and art troupes, particularly, promote the value of their gong culture that has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In late 2022, Trà Thủy Commune organised the first Cor ethnic culture preservation club congress for the 2022-27 period, and master artisan Hồ Ngọc An was elected as the club's chairman.

“On weekends, village elders teach youngsters how to play the gongs. This intergenerational transmission has been occurring for generations, and the Cor people have been doing a good job of preserving their gong culture,” An told baodantoc.vn.

The Cor artisans play a vital role in preserving and promoting their traditional cultural values. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức

Various activities to preserve and promote the cultural values of ethnic minorities, including the Cor, have also been carried out by the Education Department of Trà Bồng District in recent years. Specifically, they have opened gong playing classes for students of various ethnic groups, established gong culture preservation clubs in schools, and organised cultural activities and events to help students understand and appreciate their cultural heritage.

Gong playing of the Cor people is a national intangible cultural heritage. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức

The Cor is one of the 54 ethnic groups in Việt Nam, with a population of over 32,000 people mainly living in the Central Highlands region. They are known for their unique cultural traditions, such as playing gongs and handloom weaving. The preservation of their cultural identity is not only essential for their own community but also for the diversity and richness of Vietnamese culture as a whole. VNS

Trà Bông District has regularly organised training courses on folk arts of the Cor ethnic group. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức