Five foreign gong troupes from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar arrived in Pleiku city, Gia Lai to attend the International Gong Festival 2009 from November 12-15.

To prepare for the opening ceremony, which starts at 8pm today, November 12, the five foreign troupes joined a rehearsal on November 11.

Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines’ Pleiku office has announced an increase in the number of flights from Hanoi and HCM City to Pleiku on November 11, 12, 15 and 16 to serve tourists.

Accordingly, there will have two more flights from Hanoi to Pleiku, HCM City to Pleiku and Pleiku – HCM City each day.

The International Gong Festival, themed “Space of Gong Culture of the Central Highlands” this year, aims to showcase gong culture in the Central Highlands which has been recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Apart from 11 gong bands from the five mountain provinces and ethnic minority groups like the Ba Na, Brau, Chu Ru, and Cotu, troupes from Laos, Cambodia, China, Thailand, and Japan will also take part in the event.

VietNamNet/Tuoi tre