Cultural diplomacy – Bridging and showcasing Dong Nai’s image

Over the past five years of implementing its Cultural Diplomacy Strategy toward 2030, Dong Nai has been asserting its pioneering role in turning culture into a form of “soft power”, contributing to enhancing the province’s stature and promoting its image on the global stage.

Artists and performers from the Dong Nai Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association perform and engage in cultural exchanges as part of diplomatic activities. Photo: My Ny

By hosting numerous diverse and lively cultural, sports, and tourism events, cultural diplomacy not only strengthens understanding but also nurtures pride, fosters a spirit of integration, and encourages creativity among every resident of Dong Nai, further enhancing local engagement and cultural participation.

Remarkable achievements

The Dong Nai Arts Theater is one of pioneering units in producing and performing artistic programs that support political initiatives, as well as domestic and international diplomacy, while enhancing the cultural life of local residents. With expertise in both traditional and modern art forms such as Vietnamese modern folk opera, song-and-dance music, and water puppetry, over the past five years (2020–2025), the theater has staged dozens of performances, including participation in the Dong Nai Friendship Melody Festival, ASEAN cultural exchanges, and collaborative events with artistic troupes from Japan, South Korea, and India.

In the first nine months of 2025, the Dong Nai Arts Theater hosted events such as exchanges with a high-level delegation from Champasak Province, Laos, during their visit to Dong Nai, and supported commemorations including the 75th anniversaries of Vietnam’s diplomatic relations with China and Russia, the 30th anniversary of Vietnam–U.S. diplomatic relations, as well as the Vietnam–U.S. Photo Exhibition held in Dong Nai Province.

People’s Artist Giang Manh Ha, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Stage Artists and President of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, stated that the province’s artists have long demonstrated remarkable creativity, participating in regional and international arts platforms and earning numerous prestigious awards, especially in photography and literature.

“Beyond creative work, the association has expanded its international cultural exchanges, taking part in the signing of a memorandum and a poetry exchange with the Jeollabuk Provincial Writers’ Association in South Korea. This initiative is especially meaningful, providing artists from both regions the opportunity to deepen mutual understanding and share the unique cultural and literary treasures of their respective areas” Ha shared.

Since the beginning of 2025, Dong Nai has taken part in various promotional, cultural, and tourism events, drawing large numbers of domestic and international visitors. By the end of the first nine months, the province received an estimated 4.2 million visitors and generated more than 3 trillion VND in tourism revenue

Alongside promoting cultural activities, the Dong Nai College of Culture and Arts has actively developed artistic programs and cultural exchanges to showcase the province’s distinctive heritage to international audiences. Most recently, in April 2025, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the college took part in an exchange and performance in India, presenting outstanding pieces such as Forest Song – The Great Northwestern Melody, the Golden Tray of Nine Dragons dance, Cham Lung – The Ancient Tower Dance, and the Lotus Dance, a symbol of Vietnam’s culture and spirit.

Dong Nai Library is focusing on developing its foreign-language reading collection. With a continuous addition of newspapers and magazines in English, French, and other languages, readers can access a wide range of information and better understand Vietnam’s stance on regional and global issues.

Dong Nai Museum keeps its permanent exhibitions open to both domestic and international visitors, while the province’s historical, cultural, and scenic sites have attracted numerous groups from China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, offering them opportunities to explore and gain insights.

In addition to its cultural accomplishments, Dong Nai has made a strong impact in sports, achieving notable results in regional and international competitions. Athletes have competed in Thailand, Indonesia, India, China, Germany, and Switzerland, securing gold, silver, and bronze medals in diving, badminton, bodybuilding, kickboxing, judo, and yoga, reflecting the province’s commitment, ambition, and drive in its journey toward growth and global integration.

Integrating and showcasing Dong Nai’s cultural identity

Dong Nai’s culture, sports, and tourism sector is modernizing its communication and promotion strategies to highlight Vietnam, particularly portraying Dong Nai as dynamic, progressive, and globally connected. At the same time, it preserves and promotes traditional arts through annual performances, exhibitions, and festivals, while combining publicity with tourism incentives to raise the province’s profile nationally and internationally.

Master Phung Ngoc Long, Principal of Dong Nai College of Culture and Arts, stated that from 2026 to 2030, the college will focus on developing artistic programs highlighting Dong Nai’s cultural identity and Vietnamese heritage to support diplomatic efforts. It will strengthen collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs to conduct training programs and cultural exchanges, gradually expanding international partnerships in music whenever foreign delegations visit for economic, cultural, or educational purposes.

Nguyen Thanh Tri, President of the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations, stated that cultural diplomacy is a major and key priority for the Union under the Government’s Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030, which has been carefully designed and set forth. Working closely with various agencies, organizations, and local authorities, the Union actively organizes cultural and artistic exchanges, exhibitions, and sports events. These activities help to strengthen long-lasting international ties, promote better mutual understanding, and enhance solidarity between Dong Nai and its friends around the world. At the same time, they showcase both Vietnam’s culture in general and Dong Nai’s unique and distinctive cultural heritage in particular.

By My Ny – Translated by Tam Binh, Thu Ha