Dong Nai culture: An 80-year journey alongside the nation

From a land closely associated with the history of the Southern expansion, Dong Nai has affirmed its position not only as an industrial and key economic hub but also as a "blessed land" of unique cultural values.

Dong Nai Culture - Cinema Center holds music performances to serve the people of communes and wards in the province, August 2025. Photo: My Ny

Over 80 years of formation and development, the Dong Nai cultural sector has continuously strived, overcome difficulties, and fulfilled its pioneering mission on the cultural front, continuing the "guiding" source, contributing to building  comprehensively developed citizens of Dong Nai, and improving the spiritual life of the people.

Investing in culture

Immediately after the August Revolution in 1945, the then Bien Hoa Party Committee focused on building a revolutionary culture. In 1947, the Bien Hoa Department of Culture - Information was established, and in charge of organizing newspapers, printing, and building art troupes to serve War Zone D and the temporarily occupied areas. Despite the lack of food, facilities, all cadres, and personnel, the art troupes and performers of the department took part in musical performances and production activities, becoming a pioneering force on the ideological and cultural front, encouraging spirit, consolidating faith, and the fighting spirit of the military and people in the two resistance wars.

After the complete liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 1975), Dong Nai province quickly established the Department of Culture - Information and the Department of Sports (the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism now), laying the foundation for building a new culture, associated with the task of building and defending the Fatherland. With diverse and rich activities, the Dong Nai cultural sector has promoted the strength of the masses, ignited widespread cultural, artistic, and sports movements, creating conditions for the people to create many new cultural values.

Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Thi Ngoc Loan said: Since the 6th National Party Congress, Dong Nai has entered a period of comprehensive renovation, and socio-cultural life has also taken on a new look. The movement "All people unite to build a cultural life" has been widely implemented, becoming an important driving force in building a healthy cultural environment, associated with patriotic emulation movements. Cultural institutions have been invested from the provincial to grassroots levels, and many institutions have become symbols of Dong Nai culture, contributing to improving the cultural and spiritual life of local people.

In parallel, Dong Nai pays attention to preserving and promoting cultural heritage, especially promoting the restoration and embellishment of relics. Currently, the entire province has 119 relics, including many special national-level relics such as: The Headquarters of the Command of the Liberation Army of Southern Vietnam (Ta Thiet Base, Loc Thanh commune); VK98 Fuel Depot - Fuel Storage (on Truong Son Road - Ho Chi Minh Road, Loc Quang commune); VK96 Fuel Depot - Fuel Storage (on Truong Son Road - Ho Chi Minh Road, Bu Gia Map commune); Hang Gon Megalithic Tomb (Hang Gon commune); Cat Tien National Park (Ta Lai commune)...

Traditional festivals in the province are maintained and organized annually, and many festivals are listed in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Specifically: Dua Tpeng Festival (breaking the pond) of the Khmer people, Loc Hung commune; Ba Ra Temple Festival, Phuoc Long ward; Cau Bong Festival of the Kinh people in Binh Phuoc; Ong Pagoda Festival, Tran Bien ward; Sayangva Festival (worshipping the God of Rice) of the Choro people in Dong Nai... All create a rich cultural picture of Dong Nai.

Over the past 80 years, along with strong advances on the cultural front, Dong Nai has always considered family work as the foundation, a solid support for building new people and sustainable social development. Many projects, programs, and action plans have been issued and effectively promoted. Movements such as exemplary grandparents and parents, filial children and grandchildren, cultural families... have spread widely, becoming a driving force for building a healthy cultural environment, promoting the role of the family in shaping personality and preserving national cultural identity amidst the wave of integration.

Dong Nai culture in the new rhythm of life

According to Tran Duc Hoa, Chairman of Binh Minh Commune People's Committee, although cultural institutions in the commune have faced difficulties in terms of facilities recently, their activities have been relatively effective. Many art and sports clubs operate vibrantly, participating in competitions and performances at all levels and achieving positive results. In the new context, the local government continues to pay attention to cultural development, inheriting traditional values while innovating to meet the needs of the people.

M.A. Tran Quang Toai, Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial Association of Historical Sciences stated: The interaction and convergence of many cultural currents have created a vibrant vitality and rich identity for Dong Nai culture. Throughout history, the pioneering role of culture in connecting communities, fostering patriotism, and igniting the aspiration for development can be clearly seen. What is important now is for Dong Nai to have appropriate mechanisms to invest in and develop culture to a worthy level. This will preserve, conserve, and promote traditional cultural values; at the same time, it will promote the image of a dynamic, creative, and integrated Dong Nai.

2025 marks 80 years of formation and development of the culture, sports, and tourism sector. Through many historical periods, Dong Nai culture has continuously inherited, innovated, and spread unique values. This is an important foundation for the province to continue building and developing a comprehensive Dong Nai culture and people.

From the perspective of state management, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Thi Ngoc Loan said: In the coming time, Dong Nai's cultural sector will focus on improving the effectiveness of state management, clearly defining the responsibilities of each level and sector, ensuring uniformity in the organization and implementation of cultural policies. In parallel, the province will continue to invest in and synchronize the system of cultural institutions, gradually forming a modern public cultural service network that is suitable for local characteristics and meets the increasing needs of the people.

In addition, Dong Nai particularly emphasizes the conservation and promotion of heritage values, prioritizing the restoration and rehabilitation of typical historical-cultural relics, serving both traditional education and local tourism and economic development. Furthermore, the sector will develop distinctive cultural products, leverage existing advantages, promote the application of modern technology; at the same time, strongly mobilize socialized resources to build worthy cultural works, contributing to the continued spread and sustainable development of Dong Nai culture.

By: My Ny

Translated by: Mai Nga – Thu Ha