Amid the vibrant spring travel choices in Da Nang, Dong Giang Heaven Gate offers a different journey — one that invites visitors to touch the original identity of the great Co Tu highlands. More than a sightseeing destination, this is a living cultural space where nature, people, and spiritual beliefs remain present in every rhythm of daily life.
A spring journey to Dong Giang Heaven Gate is not simply about admiring landscapes or watching performances. It is an immersive cultural experience — listening to the echo of gongs across the mountains, feeling the warmth of festival fires, and realizing that identity is not something distant. It lives in every ritual, every handcrafted object, and every story passed down through generations.
Touching the Soul of the Highlands through “Sacred Dragon Land”
The show “Sacred Dragon Land” — an upgraded version of “Dance of the Great Forest” — is the highlight of this identity-touching journey. Carefully staged in two chapters, the performance not only recreates Co Tu daily life but also tells the sacred connection between people and the forest.
In the first chapter, audiences are guided into everyday rhythms and important rituals such as the new rice celebration and forest thanksgiving ceremony. These rituals are not only spiritual practices but reflections of a philosophy of harmonious coexistence with nature. The Co Tu believe the forest sustains human life; therefore, each harvest season is an act of gratitude. When the gongs resound, they are not merely festive sounds, but the voice of community, memory, and belief.
The second chapter opens into mythical depth, where sacred land is recreated through light, music, and movement. Here, earth and sky are inseparable; humans do not stand outside nature but flow within the rhythm of the forest. Watching the performance in the authentic mountain setting transforms emotion from simple spectatorship into resonance. It is a moment of touching identity through direct experience.
Touching Sacred Space and Community Symbolism
At an altitude of 801 meters, the Co Tu Village Elder Statue stands as a symbol of wisdom and communal authority. In traditional social structure, the village elder is not only the leader but also the guardian of customary law, collective memory, and inherited knowledge. Standing before this symbol amid layered mountain ranges, visitors do not merely admire the scenery — they sense the depth of a community built on cohesion.
The vast openness of the highlands creates a distinctive experience. Gazing into the distance, one becomes aware of their smallness before nature, yet also understands why the Co Tu place respect for nature at the foundation of their cultural life. This is how one touches authenticity through space and emotion.
Touching Traditional Craft – Where Identity Is Passed On
In Co Tu life, weaving and bamboo craftsmanship are not merely manual labor but part of the cultural structure itself. Baskets such as Xa Lech, P’reng, and P’rom are not just tools; they reflect the roles and positions of each community member. Every rattan strip and woven line embodies patience and skills learned from childhood.
In wedding customs, when the groom hand-weaves baskets and trays to present to the bride’s family, these are not simply offerings but affirmations of maturity and responsibility. Such customs have sustained the craft for centuries, linking past and present. When visitors observe or try weaving their first rattan strips, the journey of touching identity becomes tangible and visible.
Touching the Spring Festival – Living Within Community Rhythm
Tet at Dong Giang Heaven Gate comes alive through experiential activities such as bamboo dancing, stilt walking, brocade weaving, and making horn-shaped cakes. The value lies not only in the activities themselves but in participation. Stepping into the bamboo dance circle or listening to village stories, visitors are no longer observers but part of the communal rhythm.
Early spring programs like fortune picking and lucky money giving are not only symbols of good fortune but expressions of sharing — a spirit central to indigenous culture. Tet here is not ostentatious; it is vibrant in human connection.
Spring Travel to Touch Authentic Identity
Among many modern travel options, Dong Giang Heaven Gate offers a profound alternative: a spring journey to touch identity. It is about touching the sound of gongs, traditional craftsmanship, the philosophy of harmony with the forest, and the strength of community bonds.
This Tet, if you wish to begin the new year with an experience that is not only beautiful but culturally meaningful, try touching the Dong Giang highlands. Sometimes, it is precisely these authentic moments that make a journey truly unforgettable.
Dong Giang Heaven Gate
Address: A So Village, Ben Hien Commune, Da Nang City
Tet Opening Time: From February 18, 2026 (2nd day of Lunar New Year)
DA NANG TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
