Dong Nai: Developing new-style rural areas rich in cultural identity

A standout achievement in Dong Nai’s implementation of the national target programme on building new-style rural areas is its focus on harmonious, sustainable development that balances the material and spiritual lives of rural residents.

Ethnic cultural house in Song Ray commune. Photo: Binh Nguyen

Accordingly, localities in the province not only focus on synchronous investment in infrastructure and economic development but also on building rural communities that live in solidarity and maintain a civilized lifestyle. In particular, traditional and indigenous cultural values are respected, preserved, and promoted.

Building civilized rural villages

Linked to the national target programme on building new-style rural areas, models of exemplary roads and residential areas continue to be replicated, helping create prosperous rural areas with beautiful landscapes and a clean environment. Effective models for building cultural hamlets and neighborhoods are being expanded, including self-managed roads for environmental protection, security cameras, household waste sorting, and the promotion of self-managed groups for environmental sanitation.

Doan Minh Hoai, Head of group 2, Phu Dien 4 hamlet, Phu Hoa commune, commented: Alongside the movement to build exemplary residential areas, community spirit in hamlets and residential areas has been strengthened. Maintaining a green - clean - beautiful environment, caring for trees, and keeping street lights operating all depend on the consensus of all residents in the residential area. Everyone is conscious of working together to meet the exemplary criteria. Roads now have lighting systems and cameras installed to ensure security, and residents’ awareness has continued to rise in maintaining public hygiene and safeguarding security, so the dog theft and petty theft that once occurred no longer appear.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment NGUYEN VAN THANG, after the merger, Dong Nai has even greater advantages for developing eco-tourism and agricultural tourism models. In particular, many localities are focusing on tapping the strengths of specialized fruit-growing areas, renowned local specialties, revitalizing traditional craft villages, and festivals rich in indigenous cultural identity to make rural villages attractive destinations for visitors.

Rural villages across the province are also focusing on developing regulations and conventions to build a united community with a cultured, civilized way of life. A civilized lifestyle begins with building a beautiful home. Along with the movement to construct exemplary residential areas, localities have launched a campaign to build cultural families that are not poor, do not violate the law or engage in social evils, have no domestic violence, and have no malnourished or out-of-school children. Rural families not only develop an awareness of keeping their homes, kitchens, and alleys clean, but also promote community spirit, working together to clean up, plant flowers, and keep village roads and lanes consistently clean and attractive.

Trinh Thi Quy, a resident of Xuan Dinh commune, commented: Households in the locality are actively implementing the criteria of bright - green - clean - beautiful in connection with programs for sorting waste at source, making fertilizer, and using safe pesticides for clean agricultural production. In particular, the role of women is being promoted in preserving family and village traditions, with good cultural values, including the standard behavior of respecting elders and yielding to juniors in the family, maintaining the tradition of valuing education, and actively participating in community activities, among others.

In the national target programme on building new-style rural areas, localities place great emphasis on investing in cultural and sports facilities. Grassroots cultural and sports activities are increasingly effective. Hamlet and neighborhood cultural houses, commune cultural houses, community cultural, sports, and learning centers, libraries... are being invested in synchronously to meet the spiritual needs of rural residents. Many localities also invest in parks or community activity areas equipped with outdoor exercise equipment and planted trees, attracting people to participate in physical training and sports. Many businesses and individuals also boldly invest in projects such as multi-functional sports centers, swimming pools, football fields, gyms, and children's playgrounds, contributing to the diversity of cultural and sports spaces for rural residents.

Associated with cultural institutions, many clubs have been formed, such as football, volleyball, tai chi (a form of traditional exercise), Don ca tai tu (southern Vietnamese folk music), folk songs... creating beneficial recreational spaces for different age groups, contributing to improved spiritual and cultural life as well as strengthening national unity.

Many villages still preserve the positive tradition of community cultural activities at communal houses, pagodas, and temples, among others. In particular, every spring, rural villages are lively with cultural activities such as: lion - unicorn - dragon dances; boat races; folk cultural performances... These activities not only attract older residents but also attract active participation from young people, reflecting a spirit of respect for and preservation of their ancestors’ traditional cultural values.

Rich in cultural identity

In building new-style rural areas, many localities cherish and preserve traditional cultural values in villages, especially the distinctive features of indigenous ethnic cultures. Accordingly, localities across the province focus on tapping and safeguarding diverse and unique indigenous cultural values, viewing them as precious assets that need to be protected and promoted so that rural areas are not only prosperous and beautiful but also rich in cultural identity.

The booth displaying brocade products of ethnic minorities in Tan Hung commune at the Dong Nai Province Agricultural Achievements Exhibition 2025 attracted visitors. Photo: Binh Nguyen

Associated with the implementation of cultural criteria in building new rural areas, many investment projects in cultural institutions for indigenous ethnic groups have received attention, such as longhouses in Ta Lai commune, community houses in Phu Ly commune; many localities are interested in restoring and developing traditional craft villages, organizing gong and drum performance teams associated with community tourism development, among others.

Dieu Thi Nheo, a S'tieng ethnic person and a member of the gong and drum performance team of Bu Gia Map National Park (in Bu Gia Map commune), shared: "As a member of the performance team, I have many ethnic costumes such as M'nong, S'tieng... In addition to performing, I wear my ethnic costume on holidays, Tet, and at community events, engagement ceremonies, and weddings, among others. Women in S'tieng ethnic families still maintain the custom that, before marriage, they must weave and prepare traditional costumes to give to the groom's family. I feel proud to wear my ethnic costume, thereby promoting my ethnic culture."

Clean, beautiful, and safe villages with civilized behavior and unique cultural identities not only create an ideal living environment for rural residents but also serve as an attractive meeting point for tourists from near and far. Among them, the unique cultural values and identities of indigenous ethnic groups are tapped, becoming a tourism specialty.

Van Thanh Toan, owner of Bon Mua (Four seasons) flower garden in Xuan Bac commune, said: What is interesting about visiting the garden is that tourists not only enjoy delicious fruit specialties and rural cuisine, but also experience life in the garden area and learn about indigenous culture. Therefore, our facility has expanded its linkages with local garden owners to form a closed service chain covering sightseeing, dining, the provision of tourism specialties, and a wider range of cultural activities, thereby increasing the value of the ecological garden agriculture model.

By Binh Nguyen – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho