Dong Nai’s development milestones through newspaper pages

Dong Nai has experienced several stages of growth over the nearly 330 years since the establishment of the Tran Bien region, with key milestones in history, economy, culture, society, and national defense and security. Throughout this journey, the press has always accompanied the region, vividly capturing each stage of its transformation.

Dong Nai Newspaper issues are archived and displayed at the Dong Nai Library, providing readers with information on the city and its key development milestones. Photo: My Ny

Every article, photograph, and news report not only preserves a part of history but also helps spread the spirit of unity, innovation, and companionship with the city's strong development on its path toward regional and international integration.

From Tran Bien land to a dynamic city

The history of Dong Nai City's development is closely linked to the process of territorial expansion, development, and integration. Tracing its origins to the Tran Bien region established at the end of the 17th century, Dong Nai has gradually become one of the key economic centers of the Southeastern region and the country.

On July 1, 2025, Dong Nai Newspaper merged with Dong Nai Radio and Television Station, and Binh Phuoc Radio-Television and Newspaper to form Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television. This marked a new milestone for local media, aligning with the trend of multi-platform communication while enhancing its capacity to comprehensively reflect the image of the newly formed locality.

Following national reunification, Dong Nai entered a new phase focused on restoring production, stabilizing people's lives, and rebuilding the homeland after the war. In February 1976, the new Dong Nai Province was established through the merger of Bien Hoa, Ba Ria, and Long Khanh provinces, with Bien Hoa serving as the provincial capital. During this period, Dong Nai Newspaper was also established and officially became the organ of the Provincial Party Committee in October 1976, accompanying the locality's development from the early years of reconstruction.

The newspaper's first editions vividly reflected the atmosphere of labor emulation, production recovery, and efforts to build a new life among officials, soldiers, and the people. Although the early years of the renovation period were marked by numerous difficulties, the locality gradually developed a modern industrial foundation through a dynamic and creative spirit, becoming one of the country's major production centers. Newspaper pages reflected the spirit of labor and production at factories and construction sites. Articles on Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park, the first foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, and the new-style rural development program have become valuable records documenting Dong Nai's transformation.

Hoang Thi Bich Phu, Deputy Director of Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television, said, “Each stage of the city's development places new requirements on information and communications work across various media formats and digital platforms. Journalistic works not only fulfill the role of providing information and promptly reflecting achievements but also contribute to guiding public opinion and motivating officials, Party members, and residents to work together to build an increasingly developed Dong Nai. Through every page, program, and column, the image of Dong Nai is reflected not only through growth figures but also through the stories of specific individuals. This provides valuable historical records for today's generations to better understand the process of forming, developing, and building their homeland.”

As Dong Nai entered a period of deeper integration, Dong Nai Newspaper continued to accompany key projects such as the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway, Long Thanh International Airport, regional ring roads, and the process of building a civilized and modern city. In particular, the merger of the former provinces of Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc and the implementation of a two-tier local government model from July 1, 2025, opened new opportunities for development, connecting the strengths of industry, urban development, and services with high-tech agriculture, thereby creating additional momentum for the city's development in the new phase.

On April 30, 2026, Dong Nai officially became the country's seventh city. This historic milestone demonstrated the strong development of the Tran Bien–Dong Nai region after nearly 330 years of formation and growth, which the press promptly recorded and reflected as an important turning point for the locality. Accompanying this journey, Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio and Television continues to promote its role as a key media agency, constantly innovating its content and presentation methods, advancing the application of digital technology, and diversifying media formats to comprehensively reflect the city's new image, its achievements, and the goals set for the next stage of development.

Bringing Party’s voice to people

In addition to reflecting the city's development milestones, Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television serves as a bridge, bringing the Party's guidelines and orientations, as well as the State's policies and laws closer to the people. At the same time, it documents social developments from a practical and people-centered perspective, serving as a trusted companion and a multidimensional forum for residents and the business community.

As a reader who has followed Dong Nai Newspaper for the past 30 years, Master Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, Member of the Dong Nai City Innovation and Startup Council and Director of A Viet Law Company Limited in Long Binh ward, said that he began reading the newspaper in 1996 while working in accounting and concurrently serving as Chairman of the grassroots Trade Union at Apex Co., Ltd. For a trade union official at that time, the newspaper was a valuable “handbook” because it regularly provided timely legal information related to the rights and interests of employees. Additionally, the newspaper prominently featured its culture and history section. “After many years of following the newspaper, I am impressed by the way the local press records the important milestones of this land. From activities honoring the contributions of previous generations and traditional cultural events to development milestones such as urban construction, infrastructure development, Long Thanh International Airport, and the journey of Dong Nai City toward a new development space, all have been covered promptly and vividly,” Tuan said.

In addition to reporting on economic and political achievements, Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television also documents changes in cultural life, education, healthcare, social welfare, and national defense and security. It also promotes patriotic emulation movements, exemplary models, and creative approaches, helping build social consensus.

According to Pham Van Hoang, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television has made significant progress in the context of digital transformation by promoting the application of technology and diversifying methods of information dissemination across digital platforms. The integration of print, electronic newspapers, radio, and television, together with new formats such as short videos, infographics, and podcasts, has been highly appreciated by readers. The agency also updates news and articles on social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Zalo, helping information reach the public more quickly and conveniently in line with current information consumption trends.

Journalist Phuong Hang, a reporter with the Editorial Secretariat Department of Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television with years of experience covering Party affairs, said, “I have participated in reporting on the provincial (now the municipal) Party Congress many times. Each assignment at the congress is a great honor for me, helping me develop professionally and gain additional knowledge and experience. Through this work, I help widely disseminate the congress’s documents and resolutions to the people in a manner that is closely linked to reality and consistent with the Party's guidelines and policies.”

Each newspaper page represents a part of history. Through the timely and accurate reflection of important milestones, the press has contributed to preserving Dong Nai's development journey from the past to the present. Today's newspaper pages will continue to serve as witnesses, accompanying the locality on its new path and recording the achievements, aspirations, and progress of Dong Nai City in the years ahead.

By My Ny – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha