Part 2: Challenges of preserving cultural identity

Despite gaining many notable achievements, Dong Nai has still encountered considerable difficulties and challenges in its efforts to build and develop culture and human resources in recent years.

Achieving a harmonious balance between economic development and the preservation of cultural identity, while fostering the comprehensive development of Dong Nai's citizens and promoting the characteristic qualities of friendliness, gratitude, civility, and modernity, has become a key task and an endogenous resource for sustainable development.

Many challenges remain ahead

People’s Artist Giang Manh Ha, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association and Chairman of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, stated that, in order to implement the goals and tasks set out in the Politburo’s Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW dated January 7, 2026, on the development of Vietnamese culture (Resolution 80), Dong Nai needs to develop a national-brand creative space for arts and performances associated with tourism. Dong Nai currently lacks a comprehensive master plan for its land fund – a prerequisite for establishing an ecosystem that facilitates the development of activity hubs. Within these complexes, the primary focus must be the construction of a modern cultural infrastructure system, including stages, multi-purpose theaters and an outdoor performing arts center with a capacity of up to 50,000 people.

Artists and actors from the Dong Nai Art Theater stage a public performance celebrating the establishment of Dong Nai City at Khanh Hung Theater in Tran Bien ward. Photo: My Ny

“Dong Nai’s community of artists and writers highly anticipates the political resolve of the city's leadership as the city moves toward the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 85th anniversary of the nation's founding, and the review of the 1st Dong Nai City Party Congress. Dong Nai City should have at least one literary and artistic creative space of national stature that reflects the distinctive identity and cultural brand of Dong Nai,” Ha stated.

As a locality undergoing rapid urbanization, Dong Nai is facing considerable challenges in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values. In particular, the system of grassroots cultural and sports institutions has yet to meet the requirements of the city’s development. In many areas, cultural houses and recreational facilities remain insufficient and underdeveloped, with limited space and outdated equipment. Meanwhile, the socialization of cultural and sporting activities continues to encounter significant challenges.

According to Hoang Van Thiet, Vice Chairman of the Xuan Bac commune People’s Committee, the commune currently has a General Service Center equipped with three badminton courts, one volleyball court, five outdoor fitness facilities, and five children’s playground facilities. In addition, all 19 hamlets in the commune have cultural houses built in accordance with facility standards prescribed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The commune also maintains six cultural and arts clubs and 11 sports clubs operating within these cultural and sports facilities.

However, activities at the Xuan Bac commune General Service Center and hamlet cultural houses remain limited in diversity and are not organized on a regular basis, focusing only on short-term, occasional activities. Several hamlet cultural houses are modest in scale, with space sufficient only for office functions and basic sports grounds, lacking the facilities needed to attract broad public participation. Efforts to mobilize social resources for investment in infrastructure and the organization of activities at these institutions continue to face difficulties due to limited profitability and complicated legal procedures.

Members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and local youth in Phuoc Son commune participate in a volleyball exchange to celebrate the establishment of Dong Nai City.

Meanwhile, in Phuoc Son commune, all 26 villages have cultural houses equipped with facilities serving meetings and cultural and artistic activities. The commune currently maintains two Then singing clubs and 26 mass art performance teams operating regularly. The commune People’s Committee has established General Service Center; however, it has yet to be provided with a dedicated headquarters. In addition, the commune does not yet have a library or separate reading room, with book and newspaper reading activities integrated into the commune hall and village cultural houses during periodic meetings.

A report assessing the operations of grassroots cultural and sports institutions in Phuoc Son commune indicates that facilities and equipment at these institutions remain inadequate and deteriorated. Many hamlet cultural houses have not been repaired or upgraded because they are located within the planning area of a bauxite project, preventing investment in construction and renovation. In addition, the Commune Culture and Sports Center has not yet received adequate investment, resulting in the continued use of the commune hall or the grounds of the People’s Committee for organizing activities. This situation has limited both the scale of activities and the conditions for their implementation.

Among the 11 mountainous communes and wards in Dong Nai, seven communes have yet to establish cultural centers, namely Bu Gia Map, Tho Son, Bom Bo, Dak Nhau, Nghia Trung, Dak O, and Phuoc Son. Although General Service Center has been established in Phuoc Son commune, it still lacks a dedicated headquarters and is temporarily using rooms and the hall of the commune People’s Committee for its operations. Meanwhile, four communes and wards currently have cultural centers, including Bu Dang, Phu Nghia, Phuoc Long, and Hang Gon. However, the Bu Dang commune Cultural Center has deteriorated and requires upgrading and repairs.

Prioritizing resources for grassroots cultural investment

Recognizing these difficulties, Dong Nai has, in recent years, implemented various solutions aimed at sustainable development, while prioritizing substantial resources for cultural investment, particularly in industrial zones, border areas, and localities with ethnic minority and religious communities. Numerous projects to expand and renovate public cultural spaces, develop grassroots cultural and sports institutions, and restore and preserve historical relic sites have been carried out, making an important contribution to improving the spiritual and cultural life of local residents.

According to Le Ngoc Tien, Chairman of the Trang Bom ward People’s Committee, the ward has focused on effectively mobilizing and utilizing investment resources for cultural development, ensuring their proper, economical, and practical use for the benefit of the community.

State budget funding, support from higher levels, and socialized resources have been allocated in a balanced manner for the construction, upgrading, and repair of the system of cultural institutions from the communes to the hamlets, thereby contributing to improving the quality of services provided to local residents.

Hung Vuong Cultural Park in Trang Bom ward has been invested in and developed into a cultural center serving local residents. Photo: Thanh Toan

Currently, 21 out of 22 hamlets in Trang Bom ward have cultural houses that meet prescribed standards. The ward has also encouraged businesses, organizations, and individuals to invest in cultural services and expand community activity spaces. Notable initiatives include the mobilization of support from the Nike Group for the construction of a multi-purpose sports field in Doan Ket Hamlet valued at more than 1 billion VND, as well as the socialized development of a mini football field in Hamlet 4 worth over 800 million VND. These efforts have contributed to clear improvements in grassroots cultural life and made a positive contribution to the ward’s socio-economic development.

At the same time, grassroots cultural and arts clubs, along with sports groups, are being encouraged to expand. On that basis, Dong Nai is gradually shaping a new system of human values founded on four pillars: compassion, dynamism, creativity, and integration. This serves not only as a development orientation for the people of Dong Nai but also contributes to the broader goal of building the Vietnamese people in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 80.

The Choro ethnic cultural house in Bao Vinh ward has become a venue for young generations to learn about traditional culture. Photo: My Ny

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the City Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated that Dong Nai is accelerating focused and strategic investment in cultural sectors in association with economic growth, while striving to narrow the gap in cultural access between urban and rural areas, border regions, and ethnic minority communities. Priority is being given to key tasks such as improving infrastructure and cultural institutions, developing human resources, building and positioning the city’s cultural brand, and enhancing cooperation and promoting the image, cultural values and people of Dong Nai to the region and the world.

Dong Nai is implementing a project to renovate the Bien Hoa Ancient Citadel area into Ancient Citadel Square, while urgently carrying out repairs to the Western Ancient House, the Eastern Ancient House, and the infrastructure of the Bien Hoa Ancient Citadel relic. At the same time, the city is developing a project to establish a Creative Space for Dong Nai artists and writers on the grounds of the Dong Nai City Museum, along with a project to create a Dong Nai Book and Reading Culture Space in Tran Bien ward.

By My Ny – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha