Traditional Music and Dance – Rong Ngan

Having originally been the trade centre for this area, it's not surprising that Ko Lanta's first settlers absorbed a mixture of various cultural traditions, resulting in the melting pot of today. One product of this is the performance of original Rong Ngeng dance and music. The folk dance incorporates movements from old-fashioned western dances, while the music is played on the violins, Arabian drums and Chinese gongs. It also includes the use of Ramana ( Raman Drums) and Malaysian lyrics.

Rong-Ngeng is customarily perfor med by the Sea Gypsies during special festivals, including the aforementioned “Loy Rua” (Floating Boat). A full-length performance is included annually at the Laanta-Lanta Festival. Due to its popularity with tourists, many resorts are also hire troupes to perform Rong-Ngeng for special occasions.