Half a century of nurturing artistic talent

The year 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment and development of Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts. Over the past half-century, the school has remained dedicated to nurturing artistic passion and fostering young talent, establishing its reputation as a prestigious institution for training cultural and artistic personnel for Dong Nai and the surrounding region.

Teachers and students of Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts perform for residents across the city.

Behind this journey are the dedication and contributions of generations of teachers and students who, driven by their passion for the arts, have continued to carry forward and promote cultural values throughout Dong Nai.

Reputable center for arts education

Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts was established in 1976, originally operating as the Dong Nai School of Culture and Information Training. Throughout its various stages of development, the school has maintained its performing arts training programs, supplying personnel to cultural and artistic organizations in the locality and neighboring provinces and cities.

Having been associated with Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts for nearly 40 years, composer Cao Hong Son, a member of the Music Department of Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, still vividly recalls his first encounter with the institution. In 1984, while visiting relatives in Dong Nai, he met the late principal Nguyen Van Vy. After hearing him perform two pieces on the guitar, Vy invited Son to join the teaching staff. That invitation marked the beginning of Cao Hong Son's journey of dedication, creativity, and tireless teaching, during which he has passed on his passion for music to generations of students in Dong Nai.

Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts currently offers training in four majors: traditional musical instruments, Western musical instruments, vocal music, and dance. The school has consistently maintained high-quality teaching methods, particularly its one-on-one instruction model. Through proactive advance enrollment outreach and close coordination with local authorities, village elders, and community leaders, the school has consistently met or exceeded its annual enrollment targets, admitting approximately 80 to 100 students each year.

In the 2026–2027 academic year, the school is managing and training 301 students, including 87 newly admitted students selected from 352 applications. For the school, students' achievements are reflected not merely in the figures on their report cards but also in the thousands of hours they devote to practicing musical instruments, vocal techniques, and dance movements, as well as the maturity and confidence they develop through stage performances.

Speaking about the milestone marking the school's 50th anniversary, Phung Ngoc Long, who holds a master's degree and serves as Principal of Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts, said emotionally, "Half a century has been an extraordinary journey! Our achievements today are the result of the tireless efforts of generations of students, the unwavering dedication of teachers, and the quiet support of parents. As we enter our 50th academic year, the school remains committed to placing training quality at the center, regarding teachers as the foundation and students as active participants in the educational process. We will step up training through performance programs, competitions and arts festivals, while closely linking training with the city's cultural and artistic activities."

Putting knowledge into practice

Among the training programs offered by Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts, traditional music receives particular attention, with instruction in instruments such as dan tranh (traditional Vietnamese zither), dan bau (monochord zither), dan nguyet (moon-shaped and double-stringed lute), dan nhi (two-stringed fiddle), dan t'rung (bamboo xylophone), and bamboo flute. Alongside classroom instruction, students participate in performances, competitions, festivals, and cultural exchanges, enabling them to develop their stage skills and apply their knowledge in practice. These activities also provide opportunities for students to preserve and promote traditional cultural values while bringing cultural heritage closer to the public.

In addition to its training activities, the school creates opportunities for teachers and students to participate in international cultural exchanges and performances. Notable events include performances in Georgia in 1989, Thailand in 1994, South Korea in 1995, 2009, and 2011, Laos in 2016, and India in 2025. These friendship and cooperation activities have been regularly maintained, providing students with broader opportunities for practical experience, helping them develop confidence and stage presence, while promoting the land and people of Dong Nai internationally.

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the Dong Nai City Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, noted that the 2026–2027 academic year holds special significance for Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts as it approaches its 50th anniversary. This is also the first academic year in which the school carries out its educational mission since Dong Nai became Vietnam's seventh city and implements the Politburo's Resolution No. 80 on the development of Vietnamese culture.

"This presents an opportunity while also placing greater demands on the cultural and artistic sector. Culture is recognized as an important resource for development. Cultural industries, including the performing arts, need to harness their potential and contribute actively to local socioeconomic development," emphasized Loan.

The director expressed her hope that, building on its 50 years of development and achievements, Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts would continue to capitalize on its strengths in arts education and strengthen ties with arts organizations and cultural institutions, creating opportunities for the school's pupils and students enrolled in joint training programs with the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music and Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture to engage in professional artistic activities after graduation, participate in performances and serve the cultural life of local people. She also urged the school to proactively study and identify appropriate development directions to meet the city's increasingly high requirements in the new period.

Over its half-century of development, Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts has nurtured generations of students who have gone on to become prominent artists, making significant contributions to the cultural and artistic development of Dong Nai. Notable alumni include People's Artist Que Anh, Meritorious Artist Xuan Vui, guitarist Cao Hong Ha, cai luong (reformed opera) artist Thanh Vinh, and singer Hoai Nam.

By My Ny – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha