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| The "Sound of Water, Fire and Light" space recreates familiar natural sounds, including flowing streams, cascading waterfalls and mountain winds (Photo: VNA) |
Lam Dong (VNA) – Located in Bac Gia Nghia ward in the central province of Lam Dong, the Sound Exhibition House under the Lam Dong Museum has become a popular destination for visitors exploring the UNESCO Dak Nong Global Geopark. Combining culture, history, nature and interactive technology, it offers an innovative approach to preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
Built in 2019, the 200-square-metre exhibition features eight display spaces centred on seven themes: stone, wind, water, wood, fire, light and people. Through interactive artworks created by French artist group Scenocosme, visitors can generate sounds, lights and movements, gaining a deeper appreciation of the relationship between humans and nature.
The journey begins with the "Sound of Stone" exhibition, inspired by the 2,000–2,500-year-old Dak Kar lithophone, one of the oldest discovered in the Central Highlands. Interactive sensor-based installations allow visitors to recreate the instrument's sounds with a simple touch.
The next stop is the "Sound of Wind" installation, featuring a ceramic sphere symbolising the Earth's atmosphere. Visitors' breath activates different sound and lighting effects, creating an interactive dialogue between people and nature.
In the "Sound of Wood" section, light becomes a musical instrument. When visitors shine a mobile phone light onto flower-shaped sensors mounted on artistic tree branches, different musical notes are produced. Variations in light intensity alter the pitch and tone of the melodies.
Meanwhile, the "Sound of Water, Fire and Light" space recreates familiar natural sounds, including flowing streams, cascading waterfalls and mountain winds, through advanced audio technology, delivering an immersive multi-sensory experience.
One of the exhibition's highlights is the "Our Sound" installation, where visitors become part of the artwork itself. As multiple participants interact simultaneously, sound and light merge into a shared composition, conveying messages of connection, sharing and collective responsibility for building sustainable communities in harmony with nature.
The exhibition also showcases the rich cultural heritage of ethnic communities in the Central Highlands. Traditional gongs, flutes and other musical instruments of the M'nong, E De and Gia Rai ethnic groups are vividly presented, offering visitors greater insight into the region's cultural and spiritual life.
Dieu MBrang, a M'nong visitor from Nam Gia Nghia ward, said the exhibition reminded him of his childhood and the sounds once played by his grandparents and parents. He described the preservation of these traditional sounds for younger generations as a meaningful way to safeguard ethnic cultural identity.
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| Interactive sensor-based installations allow visitors to recreate the instrument's sounds with a simple touch (Photo: VNA) |
First-time visitor Tran Thi Thu Huong from Dong Gia Nghia ward said the vivid sound and lighting effects helped her better appreciate the value of historical artefacts and traditional culture.
Nguyen Thi Huyen Tram, an official of the Lam Dong Museum, said the Sound Exhibition House is regarded as the only interactive sound exhibition space in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. As the 31st destination among the 41 sites of the UNESCO Dak Nong Global Geopark, it has welcomed around 7,000 visitors since the beginning of 2026. This space contributes to diversifying cultural tourism offerings while helping visitors gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between nature, geology, and the distinctive indigenous culture of the Lam Dong–Central Highlands region.
The museum plans to expand cooperation with schools, travel agencies and social organisations to organise educational and experiential programmes for students and tourists, she added.
By blending heritage with modern technology, the Sound Exhibition House is helping preserve the cultural memories of the Central Highlands while bringing traditional values closer to the public and younger generations./.
