Religious compatriots join hands for local development

Dong Nai province is currently home to 24 organizations representing 10 religions, with more than 2,100 religious establishments. The province also has 2,500 dignitaries, 29,300 religious functionaries, and 2.6 million followers, accounting for approximately 60% of the provincial population. Although each religion differs in doctrine and organizational practice, they share a common goal of guiding followers toward ethical values and contributing positively to community development.

This shared foundation has fostered harmony among religions and strengthened interfaith bonds in daily life.

Ton Ngoc Hanh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Council, receives New Year congratulatory flowers on behalf of the Provincial Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee from a delegation of the Xuan Loc Bishop’s Office. Photo: Van Truyen

Joining efforts to support local communities

According to Tran Thanh Hoa, Director of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, the majority of dignitaries, clergy, functionaries, and followers of religions in Dong Nai comply with the law, place their trust in the leadership of the Party and the State’s management, and actively respond and join in patriotic emulation movements launched by Party committees, authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and mass organizations. These activities aim to improve the material and spiritual well-being of the people, regardless of religious affiliation.

Specifically, across Dong Nai, most parishes have built clean water systems to serve local communities. The water is available not only to parishioners but to any household in need, free of charge or at a cost based on each family’s ability.

According to Father Nguyen Minh Chanh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics and Parish Priest of An Khuong Parish, Phu Cuong Diocese in Tan Hung commune, for many years the parish has maintained two clean-water plants serving the needs of the locals and also has provided free daily meals to 70 elderly people. Most beneficiaries are non-religious individuals or followers of other religions. The parish aims to foster good relationships among followers of different faiths and between religious and non-religious residents, thereby strengthening solidarity and harmony within the community.

On behalf of more than one million parishioners of Xuan Loc Diocese, Bishop Do Van Ngan, Bishop of Xuan Loc Diocese, stated that in the early days of spring 2026, Dong Nai province, together with the rest of the country, will conduct elections of deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term. Dignitaries, functionaries, and clergy of Xuan Loc Diocese will coordinate with authorities to encourage followers to fulfill their civic rights and duties.

Nguyen Thi Thanh, a resident of Tan Hung commune, shared that although her family is not Catholic, they have used clean water provided by An Khuong Parish for many years. On parish celebrations and Tet occasions, her family attends celebrations, receives gifts, and joins parishioners in festivities within the commune.

Additionally, all religious establishments across the province conduct monthly social welfare activities to support disadvantaged individuals without religious discrimination.

According to Father Nguyen Manh Cuong, Dean of Tan Mai Deanery, Head of the Caritas Xuan Loc Social Charity Committee, and Parish Priest of Tan Mai Parish (Xuan Loc Diocese), charitable activities across Xuan Loc Diocese amounted to 241 billion VND in 2025, supporting humanitarian and community service programs. Recipients include individuals and families from other religions.

At the same time, Dong Nai Buddhist community mobilized nearly 270 billion VND to coordinate with local authorities in implementing social welfare programs. During the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 alone, the Provincial Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and temples across the province provided more than 2 billion VND in gifts to residents of different religions.

Particularly, the monks of Phuoc Quang Pagoda (Phuoc Thai commune) organized visits and gift-giving for disadvantaged Catholic families. Over the years, the pagoda has also provided monthly support of rice and essential food items to 100 disadvantaged individuals, including the elderly living alone, people with disabilities, and elderly freelance workers with very low daily incomes.

Venerable Thich Nguyen Thong, Abbot of Phuoc Quang Pagoda, noted that nearly half of the beneficiaries belong to different religions. On major Buddhist occasions, the pagoda also organizes visits to Catholic, Protestant, and Hoa Hao Buddhist followers to share and encourage one another through hardship.

Strengthening solidarity among religions

To continue supporting community life and strengthening the great national unity bloc, religious dignitaries, functionaries, and clergy in Dong Nai are committed to upholding the Party and the State's policies on solidarity.

Monk from Phuoc Quang Pagoda visits and presents Tet gifts to a disadvantaged Catholic family.

One of the most notable expressions of this spirit is the tradition of mutual visits during major religious celebrations. During the Vesak celebrations of Dong Nai’s Buddhist community, delegations from the Xuan Loc Diocese and the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee of the province, as well as various parishes, visited and extended congratulations to the Provincial Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and various pagodas. Conversely, Buddhist clergy formed delegations to join in the celebrations with Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and clergy on Christmas Day.

In addition, as in many localities across Vietnam, religious and non-religious residents of Dong Nai province live side by side in the same residential areas, and religious establishments of different faiths often stand close to one another on the same road. As a result, daily interactions among followers of different faiths and between religious and non-religious residents are maintained in a spirit of neighborly solidarity.

Father Ngo Hung Trang, who has served as Parish Priest of Xuan Duc Parish (Dau Giay commune) since 2023, said that the residential area surrounding the church is home to people of many religions or none. Families of all religions invite him and parish members to weddings and memorial ceremonies regardless of religious background. Likewise, on major parish celebrations, the parish invites neighboring families of all faiths to join. Thus, these interactions help maintain warm and harmonious relationships among residents.

To further promote mutual respect and unity among religions, dignitaries and clergy of the Provincial Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Xuan Loc Diocese, Phu Cuong Diocese, Buon Me Thuot Diocese, and the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Southern Region), among others, have joined efforts to mobilize followers to actively participate in social welfare, contribute to local development, and comply with legal regulations.

Pastor Dieu Huynh, Member of the Executive Committee of the General Confederation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Southern region) and in charge of pastoral activities in Dong Nai province, stated that the Church consistently encourages followers to implement the Party’s guidelines and the policies of the State and Dong Nai province. Through these efforts, religious followers demonstrate their role and responsibility in community life and in the province’s overall development.

By Van Truyen – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha