Enhancing quality of life

Dong Nai is home to more than 357,000 older adults, including 277,700 members of the Elderly Association. Seniors across the province actively apply their experience and skills, helping to foster a positive image of elderly seniors within their communities.

Lam Chon Nam, a respected figure among the Khmer community in Dinh Quan Commune, Dong Nai Province, guides young people in a traditional five-tone music class. Photo: Van Truyen

Engaging in traditional education for the younger generation

Older adults play a vital role in passing on tradition and fostering patriotism among the younger generation. Those who took part directly in the revolution provide firsthand accounts, sharing authentic experiences from the nation’s history.

Dinh Cong The, 77, a member of the Dong Nai Association of Former Revolutionary Soldiers Imprisoned by the Enemy from Dong Xoai Ward, remains actively involved in passing on history and tradition. He regularly participates in school and youth organization events, wearing his veteran uniform decorated with gleaming medals. Through his stories of life-and-death struggles, he vividly conveys the courage, resilience, and unwavering spirit of a revolutionary soldier.

“We are living witnesses who returned from the enemy’s prisons, bearing countless wounds both physical and emotional. That is why we want to remind the younger generation to cherish the independence and freedom the country enjoys today,” he shared.

Tran Thanh Hung, Chairman of the Dong Nai Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association, plays an active role in passing on tradition to the younger generation. Beyond participating in commemorative events, he brings together veteran seniors to share stories of patriotism and encourages young people to adopt positive, healthy lifestyles.

Annually, Tran Thanh Hung and the Dong Nai Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association organize trips to communities throughout Cambodia to offer medical care, distribute medicines, and provide gifts to both Cambodian residents and Vietnamese living there. The association receives visiting Cambodian delegations in Dong Nai, with a focus on the 125 Regiment Historical Site in Long Giao Commune. For Cambodian students and residents in Dong Nai, it arranges cultural exchanges, culinary events, and educational talks, meeting both practical and personal needs. He and the association further connect young people from both countries through the “Nurturing Friendship” program, strengthening lasting ties and shared traditions.

At over 70, Liu Tac Sang, owner of Thuan Huong Enterprise in La Nga Commune, Dong Nai Province, remains actively involved in daily operations, overseeing production and advising local farmers on fruit cultivation techniques. His dedication has earned his dried fruit brand OCOP (One Commune, One Product) recognition and widespread distribution both domestically and abroad. He is a leading senior figure in the province, contributing to community life through social initiatives, the preservation of traditional culture, and the education of young people in patriotism and heritage.

Contributing to the development of grassroots culture

Seniors serve a central role at the local level in preserving traditional culture and developing community cultural initiatives. Nguyen Thi Kim Lien, Chairwoman of the Association of the Elderly, notes that over 80 percent of seniors in the province take part in cultural, sports, and wellness clubs, fostering a culture of healthy, joyful, and purposeful living.

In every household, seniors act as the family’s moral anchor and exemplars of civilized living and strong family values. Tens of thousands of households headed by older adults have received recognition as “Cultural Families” or “Model Grandparents – Dutiful Descendants.” They share their knowledge, uphold and transmit traditions, and play a role in reducing social problems, including divorce and domestic violence. Annually, thousands of exemplary seniors are celebrated for their contributions.

During a recent provincial conference honoring outstanding figures among ethnic minority communities in Dong Nai for the 2023–2025 period, Lam Chon Nam of the Khmer community in Dinh Quan Commune and Cho Ro musician Dieu Duoc from La Nga Commune were recognized for their efforts in preserving traditional culture.

Lam Chon Nam has played a key role in sustaining the traditional five-tone music club and Khmer folk dance. As the abbot of Thai Hoa Pagoda, he also collects Khmer cultural artifacts for exhibition at the community cultural center, helping to preserve and showcase the ethnic group’s heritage.

Lam Chon Nam explained that when the Khmer community migrated from the southwestern provinces to Dong Nai, few individuals were familiar with traditional five-tone music or folk dance. As a result, when culturally knowledgeable individuals were unexpectedly unavailable, many festival performances had to be scaled back or omitted. In response to this reality, he and other senior community members established classes to teach music and dance. Today, many young people have learned to play traditional instruments and perform the dances, ensuring that cultural performances are no longer lacking during festival seasons in the Khmer community of Dinh Quan.

Musician Dieu Duoc, a Cho Ro singer and composer, is renowned for creating and performing songs that reflect the Cho Ro people’s affection for life, the Party, and President Ho Chi Minh. Several of his compositions have been featured in Cho Ro festivals and performed widely on stages both within and beyond the province, earning him numerous awards. Notable achievements include his song Nguoi Cho Ro nho on Bac Ho, which won the B Prize at the Third Trinh Hoai Duc Literature and Arts Awards (2006–2010) and a gold medal at the Lang Sen (Sen Village) Singing Festival organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2015.

Musician Nguyen Khanh Hoa, the former Chair of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, noted that Dieu Duoc’s success extends beyond awards, reflecting his efforts to introduce Cho Ro culture to the public and enrich the local traditional heritage.

By Van Truyen - Translated by Tam Binh, Minho