Final Part: Arousing cultural strength in the new era

To build and develop Dong Nai culture that is rich in identity and integrated, the city is steadily promoting traditional cultural values while fostering a generation of Dong Nai citizens who are comprehensive, friendly, compassionate, dynamic, and creative.

Alongside socio-economic development, Dong Nai is boosting the growth of cultural industries linked to digital transformation, innovation, and international integration, while prioritizing the training of high-quality human resources in the cultural sector, helping to unleash “soft power” and elevating the status of Dong Nai culture in the new era.

The artistic epic “Dong Nai – Southern spirit, rising with the nation” is being widely promoted on digital platforms. Photo: Huy Anh

Cultural industries create new momentum

With nearly 330 years of formation and development, Dong Nai is gradually transforming cultural values into resources for economic development through the growth of cultural industries. In particular, the city is prioritizing the development of several high-potential sectors, including cinema, performing arts, advertising, handicrafts, and cultural tourism associated with the city’s specific advantages.

Bien Hoa ceramics are among the products driving the development of cultural industries. In the photo: Local students learn about Bien Hoa ceramics at the Dong Nai Museum.

A notable highlight is the handicraft sector, with Bien Hoa ceramic products becoming increasingly diverse in design and gaining a growing presence not only in the domestic market but also in international markets. The Dong Nai College of Decorative Arts not only provides specialized training in ceramics but also emphasizes applied arts, creating favorable conditions for students to gain practical experience and strengthening cooperation with businesses. This approach is gradually fostering closer links between the institution and the labor market while expanding employment opportunities for graduates.

The performing arts sector has also recorded many positive changes. Nguyen Viet Bac, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Art Theater, said, “In recent years, the theater’s plays, cai luong (reformed opera) excerpts, water puppetry performances, and music and dance programs have received significant investment, harmoniously blending traditional and modern elements while incorporating LED technology and livestreaming on digital platforms, thereby enriching the spiritual life of the people. Notably, through the Heritage Connections project, the British Council selected Dong Nai cai luong for the production of a documentary aimed at introducing this traditional art form more widely to the public."

The cultural tourism sector is opening up many opportunities for development. Tourism routes linked to historical sites, festivals, craft villages, and local cuisine are being built with an experiential focus. From War Zone D and Tran Bien Temple of Literature to the Command Base of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam, Bom Bo hamlet, and other sites, many cultural values are being 'refreshed' with modern approaches, helping residents and tourists not only visit but also directly experience the cultural life of each region.

Dong Nai organizes the 2025 Hot Air Balloon Festival, contributing to promoting the city's image. Photo: Do Duy The

To promote tourism and foster the development of cultural industries, Dong Nai has recently organized a number of large-scale events, including the Hot Air Balloon Festival and the Bien Hoa–Dong Nai Traditional Ceramics Festival. In 2026, the city also organized the Golden Cashew Festival at the Golden Cashew Tourism Farm in Dong Tam commune. As part of the festival, the culinary competition “Flavors of the Three Regions – The Story of the Cashew Tree” was held, contributing to the promotion of local specialty products and cultural values.

Breakthroughs from digital technology applications

If cultural industries are creating new development momentum, digital transformation is becoming a breakthrough in preserving and promoting heritage values, helping Dong Nai culture spread more strongly.

The Tran Bien Temple of Literature, a recognized relic site, is featured in a 360-degree virtual tour produced by the Dong Nai Museum and introduced on digital platforms. Photo: My Ny

Nguyen Ngoc Yen, Director of the Dong Nai Museum, said, “The museum has digitized two-dimensional and three-dimensional artifacts and heritage records, while building an open database to support research activities. It has also implemented 360-degree virtual tours at the Tran Bien Temple of Literature, the Nguyen Huu Canh Temple, and the Binh Phuoc Cultural Exhibition Space, along with virtual exhibitions on National Treasures in Dong Nai and the biodiversity and indigenous culture of Cat Tien National Park. Notably, a QR code system and automated audio guide devices have been installed at the Tran Bien Temple of Literature, contributing to the modernization of heritage presentation and promotion activities.”

The city’s students look up documents at the Dong Nai Library using internet-connected smart devices. Photo: My Ny

At the Dong Nai Center for Culture and Cinema, mobile film screenings, art programs, and don ca tai tu performances have all incorporated technology and are being promoted on social media platforms. A number of virtual reality exhibitions, including “Don ca tai tu – Echoes of the South” and “Dong Nai Reaching New Heights,” have also left a strong impression on the public. At the Dong Nai Library, in addition to digitizing 100 percent of local documents, the library has generated QR codes for books and continued to maintain and develop its website, YouTube channel, and fanpage. The library regularly updates information on its activities while introducing books and video clips to meet the needs of readers both within and outside the city.

According to Nguyen Van Hai, Vice Chairman of the Dong Tam commune People’s Committee, the locality has recently focused on preserving, restoring, and promoting distinctive cultural values, including the establishment of hat then–dan tinh (Then singing-Tinh gourd lute) clubs and the organization of the Long Tong festival of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. At the same time, the commune has promoted digital transformation in the cultural sector through the operation of its website, the “Dong Tam 360 Degrees” Facebook page, and the Zalo OA platform of the commune People’s Committee. These channels have helped strengthen public engagement and provide official information to residents, forming a multi-platform communication ecosystem in support of local cultural development.

From resolutions to practical action

Based on Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, Dong Nai is building an action program for implementation in the city. To develop Dong Nai culture, many localities and units have proposed mechanisms to attract investment from individuals and businesses in the cultural sector, while also supporting artists, artisans, and young creative talents in promoting their capabilities and contributions.

The Politburo’s Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW designates November 24 annually as Vietnam Cultural Day, creating favorable conditions for people to enjoy cultural activities while encouraging writers and artists in their creative activities and spreading a civilized lifestyle.

According to Phung Ngoc Long, Principal of the Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts, in the context of strong digital transformation and international integration, the school is prioritizing the training of high-quality human resources in culture and the arts. In addition to continuing investment in facilities and improving training quality, the school is focusing on building a contingent of young artists with creative thinking and the ability to apply modern technology, thereby gradually meeting the requirements for cultural human resource development in the new era.

Dong Nai outlines its development orientation until 2065 in the artistic epic “Dong Nai – Southern spirit, rising with the nation.” Photo: Huy Anh

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, City Party Committee Member and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that in the coming period, Dong Nai will continue to improve and enhance the operational efficiency of its cultural and sports facility system to better serve the people’s needs for cultural activities, artistic creation, and cultural enjoyment. The system of cultural centers, community houses, libraries, museums, and public spaces will be invested in a modern and synchronized manner, in line with the process of urban development and new-style rural development.

Alongside preserving traditional cultural values, Dong Nai is also focusing on developing modern cultural and literary-artistic activities, encouraging artistic creativity, promoting cultural industries, and expanding cultural exchanges domestically and internationally. Culture is identified as both the spiritual foundation of society and an important endogenous resource that contributes to sustainable development, improves the quality of life for the people, and helps unleash the cultural strength of Dong Nai people in the new era.

In its development orientation through 2045, Dong Nai has set the goal of ensuring that 100 percent of cultural facilities and tourist destinations operate on smart management platforms. The city also aims to build a contingent of internationally qualified experts, artists, and designers to work and contribute locally. In particular, the Long Thanh International Airport area is expected to develop into a large-scale hub for events and entertainment, forming a “sleepless destination” associated with modern cultural, artistic, and entertainment activities.

By My Ny – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha