Promoting the image of new Dong Nai through lens of photography

In tune with the new spirit of the homeland, since July 1, the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association has organised field trips for its members, especially photographers, to communes, wards, border areas, and ethnic minority regions, allowing them to create and collect artistic works.

The work Thac Mo Hydropower Plant by Nguyen Tuan Nhut. Photo: Courtesy of Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association

These journeys not only help artists capture authentic and vivid images of life, people, and nature but also open up new perspectives on Dong Nai after its provincial merger.

Capturing the beauty of borderland

During these field trips, artists from Dong Nai visited various localities, including Loc Ninh, Phuoc Long, Bu Gia Map, and Bom Bo. These are lands associated with many famous landmarks, imbued with national cultural identity. At each stop, photographers recorded simple, heartfelt moments of daily life.

Their works depict the images of soldiers guiding ethnic minority children with their studies; border patrol soldiers on duty; the bright smiles of S’tieng ethnic children; and officers presenting gifts to local residents in remote areas. Other shots capture the natural beauty of the homeland, such as the Thac Mo Hydropower Plant, Dak Mai Waterfall and key transport routes.

On October 8, the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association launched a Creative and promotional campaign for literary and artistic works encouraging patriotic emulation movements among its specialised divisions. The association encouraged members to stay close to real life, vividly reflect the province’s process of renewal and development; celebrate patriotic emulation movements; and highlight exemplary individuals who contribute to national construction and defence.

Sharing about the field trips, young photographer Vu Son Lam said that each journey and experience adds a precious piece to the overall picture of the homeland and the nation. The newly integrated regions of Dong Nai that he has visited are not only imbued with historical significance and rich cultural identity but also radiant with the fresh vitality of today’s people. He said, the artists didn’t simply capture beautiful photos or paintings but also bring home emotions, understanding and pride.

“The field trips for artistic creation are not merely about recording images; it is an opportunity to honour silent sacrifices, nurture national pride, and inspire creativity. Art not only reflects beauty but also carries the mission of preserving, reminding, and passing the flame to future generations," Lam shared.

Spreading the image of a new Dong Nai

Pham Van Hoang, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, stated that these field trips are an annual professional activity and an occasion for artists to express their love for their homeland through art. Each photograph and frame conveys a story about people, vitality, and aspirations in the new era of Dong Nai. By delving into the daily lives of local communities, artists have opportunities to connect, learn, and strengthen solidarity, while also finding creative inspiration to bring art closer to the public.

Currently, many works by members of the Photography Division of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association are being widely shared on social platforms such as Facebook, Zalo, and provincial websites. Several of them have been featured in artistic photo exhibitions that serve both political and spiritual purposes, thereby contributing to the promotion of a dynamic and culturally rich image of a new Dong Nai.

Photographer Nguyen Van Thuong, Executive Committee Member of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists in charge of the Southeast region, remarked: "Following the merger, the new Dong Nai has tremendous potential for development and for promoting its image through photographic art. With its advantageous border location, the Hoa Lu International Border Gate, Cat Tien National Park, Long Thanh International Airport, as well as its system of rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and diverse ecological zones, the province has all the elements to become a boundless source of inspiration for artists both within and beyond the region."

By My Ny – Translated by My Le, Thu Ha