A memorable festival for young people

With 27 diverse activities across multiple fields, the Dong Nai Youth Festival has become a vibrant cultural event, offering youth union members, teenagers and children an opportunity to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere and express their abilities and creativity in various fields.

Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of the province, Secretary of Dong Nai Youth Union Nguyen Minh Kien, stated that one of the festival’s notable successes was attracting nearly 20,000 participants, including youth union members, teenagers, children and local residents. On that basis, the Provincial Youth Union organised a range of orientation and educational activities for the young generation.

Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the VFF Committee of the province, and Secretary of the Dong Nai Youth Union Nguyen Minh Kien visits the youth start-up product exhibition booth. Photo: Nga Son

Creating both a playground and a platform for orientation

This year’s Dong Nai Youth Festival took place from October 30 to November 16 across three clusters: Chon Thanh ward, Binh Phuoc ward, and Tran Bien ward. The festival featured a wide array of activities designed for youth union members and teenagers. Notably, the activities were held on weekends following the first semester's mid-term examinations of the 2025–2026 academic year, enabling broad participation of youth union members, teenagers and children. In addition, the festival organizing committee incorporated many appealing programs and activities that are attractive to groups of union members, teenagers and children.

The Dong Nai's Power Day programme, held in 2 clusters of Binh Phuoc and Tran Bien wards, attracted 36 teams with nearly 500 young union members and young participants.

After many times giving her all in the Radiant Journey programme organised by the local Youth Union, Duong Minh Thu, a resident of Trang Bom commune, encouraged her friends to register for Dong Nai's Power Day in Tran Bien. Thu shared that the programme not only brought joy, laughter, and dynamism but also provided opportunities to explore historical sites and local destinations in Tran Bien ward. These experiences helped her gain a deeper understanding of Dong Nai’s rich traditions.

Alongside lively playgrounds such as the Modern Dance Groups Festival, the Youth Audio Showcase, and the Dong Nai Secondary and High School Students Football Championship, the festival also included educational and orientation-focused activities. These featured the Young Pioneers’ Communication Teams Festival on preventing child abduction and abuse, and the Revolutionary Songs Propaganda Festival.

Furthermore, within the framework of the festival, youth union members attended sessions on the values of the model Dong Nai youth in the new era, and studied President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle.

Nguyen Doan Minh Khanh, a resident of Quarter 7, Chon Thanh ward, said it was his first time experiencing such an energetic youth festival. He expressed hope that the model would be expanded so that more young people could participate.

Demonstrating the youth union’s companionship with young people

According to Secretary of the provincial Youth Union Nguyen Minh Kien, in addition to creating a vibrant playground and opportunity for youth union members and young people to exchange, connect, communicate, and receive education and orientation, the festival also featured various activities highlighting the Youth Union's role in supporting young people in study, work, and innovation.

At the Dong Nai Creative and Responsible Youth Festive Day, held in Chon Thanh cluster, the Provincial Youth Union honoured groups and individuals with outstanding achievements in the Young Innovation Movement, the Three-Responsibility Movement, and in production and business activities.

Although the commendation ceremony took place in Chon Thanh ward, 70 km from his workplace, Nguyen Danh Nghia from Changshin Vietnam Co. Ltd. in Tan Trieu ward travelled to attend after learning he would be honoured for his achievements in the Young Innovation Movement. Nghia said that the commendation from the Provincial Youth Union is a recognition of his continuous efforts and a source of encouragement that motivates him to strive harder and contribute more to production activities.

The festival offered youth union members, teenagers and children opportunities to access numerous activities across different fields. Following the event, the Tran Bien Ward Youth Union plans to study and implement several activities organised by the Provincial Youth Union within the festival’s framework, with the aim of creating more opportunities for local union members, teenagers and children to participate and gain hands-on experience.

Bui Thi Khanh Linh, Vice Chairwoman of the VFF Committee of the ward, and Secretary of Tran Bien Ward Youth Union

Alongside booths showcasing youth start-up products, the Youth Union organised multiple programmes and activities to support young people in entrepreneurship and innovation. At the workshop on start-up knowledge and management for small and medium-sized enterprises, participants were equipped with in-depth knowledge on building modern business models, understanding start-up trends in the digital transformation era, market analysis, and developing new products. They also gained insights into brand positioning, customer-access strategies, financial and human-resource management, risk control, and digital tools applicable to business operations.

In the field of start-ups and innovation, a conference was also held to connect investment funds with start-up projects. Selected project owners presented their initiatives and development plans to investors, participating funds and partner enterprises. Throughout the process, start-up experts and advisors provided guidance on refining projects and developing effective business development strategies.

Teams participate in the contest: Dong Nai Youth accompanying OCOP products. Photo: Nguyen Tuyet

The festival also contributed to local development through the contest: Dong Nai Youth accompanying OCOP (One Commune One Product) items. At each location, teams livestreamed to introduce, promote, and sell OCOP products on TikTok. The competition allowed young participants to showcase their digital sales abilities, enhance digital transformation skills, and help local OCOP products reach a wider audience, thereby expanding market access.

“Although the Dong Nai Youth Festival has concluded, its spirit remains alive in every young person. I hope these experiences at the festival will inspire Youth Union branches at all levels to design suitable activity chains, and encourage the youth union members and young people to continue promoting their dynamism and creativity, writing their own stories and contributing more to the development of their homeland and the country,” shared the Provincial Youth Union Secretary Nguyen Minh Kien.

By Nga Son – Translated by My Le, Thu Ha