Paying heed to the investment and development of Dong Nai’s cultural sector

Alongside socio-economic development, in recent years, Dong Nai province has placed special emphasis on investing in the cultural sector in a coordinated and comprehensive way.

Investing in culture not only enriches people's spiritual and cultural lives but also establishes a strong foundation and resources to support sustainable development goals.

An artistic performance staged at the cultural park in Binh Long ward. Photo Minh Duc

Maximizing local resources for cultural development

In recent years, many localities across Dong Nai province have actively utilized and enhanced resources for cultural investment. Among them, Trang Bom commune has focused on the strategic use of state budget funds, support from higher authorities, and socialized funding to develop and improve cultural infrastructure from the commune to the hamlet level.

According to Le Ngoc Tien, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Trang Bom Commune, 21 of the 22 hamlets in the commune now have hamlet cultural houses that meet official standards and serve the community’s social and cultural activities. Simultaneously, the works of monitoring and evaluating investment effectiveness have been strengthened, ensuring the timely resolution of challenges during implementation and safeguarding the progress and quality of projects.

Notably, Trang Bom has actively mobilized enterprises, organizations, and individuals to invest in cultural and sports activities. Many projects have yielded tangible benefits, such as the construction of a multifunctional sports court in Doan Ket Hamlet, valued at over 1 billion VND and sponsored by Nike Group, and a socially funded mini football field in Hamlet 4, valued at over 800 million VND. These initiatives have created community cultural spaces while promoting local socio-economic development.

Similarly, in Binh Long ward, investment in cultural and sports facilities has been robust. The ward now has 30 neighborhood cultural houses, a community learning and sports center, two children’s playgrounds, three swimming pools, a gym, a tennis court, a library with over 8,500 titles, and 66 smart public broadcasting clusters. These spaces serve as hubs for social interaction and sports training, helping reduce social vices.

The Resolution of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress in 2025-2030 period highlights the importance of cultural development alongside economic growth. This involves planning and building coordinated cultural and sports infrastructure from the provincial level down to local communities, as well as investing in modern facilities capable of hosting regional and international events.

In Long Khanh Ward, investment in and preservation of heritage sites have also been prioritized. The Long Khanh Administrative Office Historical Site was restored in 2004, 2020, and 2021 with a total local budget of over 1.6 billion VND, helping preserve the original structure and conserve 69 artifacts currently housed on-site. Several components of the Xuan Loc Communal House – Xuan Hoa Pagoda relic complex were renovated and reconstructed through socialized funding mobilized by the Communal House Management Committee and Religious Affairs Board, including the restoration of the main hall and Pho Dong tower at Xuan Hoa Pagoda with 1.8 billion VND and the construction of the rear hall of Xuan Loc Communal House with 100 million VND. The artifacts and worship objects at these sites are well-preserved, helping protect the locality’s long-standing spiritual and cultural heritage.

Towards sustainable development goals

Currently, Dong Nai province is implementing the Bien Hoa Ancient Citadel Revitalization Project to build the Citadel Square and develop creative cultural spaces. Notably, the province is establishing a Creative Space for artists on the outdoor grounds of the Dong Nai Provincial Museum (Tan Trieu ward) and creating a book and reading culture area within the Provincial Library campus (also in Tan Trieu ward). These initiatives are seen as essential steps in fostering a healthy cultural environment and meeting the growing demand for cultural enjoyment among residents.

From an artist’s perspective, musician Cao Hong Son of the Music Department at the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association highlights that cultural investments should have clearly defined goals and mechanisms to objectively assess their effectiveness. Specifically in music, local artists hope to see the creation of a community theater that supports all artistic activities, independent of any single organization.

According to Cao Hong Son, in cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Hai Phong, community theaters have proven highly effective, serving as regular cultural centers for residents. Meanwhile, Dong Nai, a highly industrialized province with a large workforce, still lacks a professional, large-scale performance venue accessible to the community. Investing in a community theater would not only meet residents’ cultural needs but also lay a vital foundation for the province’s cultural development.

Under the 2025–2030 development orientation, Dong Nai’s cultural sector continues to implement Resolution No. 33-NQ/TW of the 11th Party Central Committee on building and developing Vietnamese culture and people to meet the country’s sustainable development needs. At the same time, the province is promoting investment in cultural development alongside economic growth, focusing on narrowing cultural access gaps between urban and rural areas, ethnic minority regions, and border areas, aiming for balanced and sustainable development across the province.

By My Ny - Translated by Hong Van, Thu Ha