The foundation for developing Dong Nai’s cultural industries

Performing arts training in Dong Nai not only focuses on discovering and nurturing talent but also opens a sustainable pathway that serves as a foundation for the development of the province’s cultural industries.

The orchestra of Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts performs at a cultural diplomacy event in 2025. Photo: My Ny

This feature is seen as a “key” for Dong Nai to develop a high-quality workforce, create distinctive cultural products, meet the demands of integration, and contribute to improving the spiritual life of its people.

Effort in nurturing young talents

Each year, Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts trains more than 250 students in performing arts majors. The curriculum does not stop at theory, as the training is tightly connected with performance practice, from traditional stages to modern art programs.

Phung Ngoc Long, principal of the Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts, said the school currently offers four majors: traditional musical instruments, Western musical instruments, dance, and vocal music. In 2025 alone, the school received 243 applications, with 105 students admitted. Notably, the traditional musical instruments major, including dan bau, dan nguyet, dan nhi, dan tranh, attracted 31 applicants, many of whom are children from ethnic minority communities.

In addition to training, the school places strong emphasis on creating opportunities for students to perform, exchange, and gain practical experience. Regularly held art practice programs serve as “stages” where new talent is discovered and nurtured. Students are also encouraged to participate in festivals, competitions, and performances at the provincial, regional, and national levels. Through these activities, many students have made a strong impression, becoming collaborators with arts organizations and cultural centers, laying the groundwork to advance further in their professional careers.

Nguyen Huy Quyen is one of the standout graduates to emerge from Dong Nai’s arts training environment. He has been actively involved in numerous performance programs and serves as a dynamic collaborator with cultural organizations at both the provincial and commune/ward levels. These experiences have helped him hone his skills while spreading a love for music among the public, especially the youth. Quyen is currently studying Music Education at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, while continuing his connection to traditional music, majoring in dan tranh, at the Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts.

Alongside formal training, the Dong Nai Center for Culture and Cinema annually offers many classes guiding “Don Ca Tai Tu”, “Cai Luong”, composition and performance for students, local cultural officers, and members of music and arts clubs. A notable point is that all these classes invite reputable, experienced artists from Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City to teach directly, giving learners access to in-depth training methods. Many learners from these classes become outstanding individuals of the cultural movements at the grassroots level, contributing to the preservation and development of traditional arts.

Toward a sustainable cultural industry

According to Phung Ngoc Long, training in performing arts majors at the Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts is always closely linked to real-life social contexts. As a result, graduates are not only well-equipped with professional skills but also able to adapt quickly to the workplace. Most find stable employment at educational institutions, cultural centers, or arts organizations, while others continue their studies to enhance their qualifications further. This outcome contributes to strengthening a young, skilled workforce that supports the development of Dong Nai’s cultural industries in the new phase.

According to the province’s development orientation for the 2025–2030 period, one of the key solutions to elevate culture, sports, and tourism to be on par with economic development is to promote cultural industries. The focus lies in creating high-quality products and services tied to regional and international cooperation. Dong Nai is emphasizing expanding cultural exchange and promoting the province’s image, people, and culture to the world, while also advancing cultural diplomacy and applying technology to bring cultural products closer to both residents and visitors.

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, member of the Provincial Party Committee and director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that in the coming period, Dong Nai will prioritize the development of several key cultural products with strong potential and comparative advantages, such as performing arts, photography, cultural tourism, and fine arts. At the same time, the province is gradually enhancing the competitiveness of its cultural industries and formulating a development strategy for sectors in which Dong Nai holds an advantage, aligned with the demands of the new era.

In addition to its intermediate-level programs, the Dong Nai Intermediate School of Culture and Arts also partners with arts institutions in Ho Chi Minh City, enabling students to access professional training environments. This collaboration creates opportunities for learners to enhance their qualifications and professional skills, while also inspiring young talents to pursue their artistic passions further.

With a clear orientation and systematic investment, Dong Nai is steadily asserting its role as a locality with rich potential in cultural industry development. This undertaking will be the foundation for the province to both preserve traditional identity and produce modern, globally integrated cultural products.

By My Ny - Translated by Thuc Oanh, Minho