Dong Nai is not only a major industrial center but also holds strong potential for ecotourism, boasting a unique cultural heritage that reflects the coexistence of many ethnic communities. How can Dong Nai tourism be developed in a way that respects, preserves, and promotes the cultural identity of local ethnic groups? Reporters from Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television interviewed with Vu Xuan Truong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Nai province, to discuss this issue.
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Dak Mai Waterfall (Bu Gia Map commune) is one of the most attractive destinations for tourists to visit, admire, and explore the local ethnic minority culture. Photo: TRUONG GIANG Core orientation
* After the merger, Dong Nai has a lot of potential to develop ecotourism and cultural tourism associated with ethnic minority communities. Could you please tell us the core orientation of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in exploiting these potentials? - Dong Nai province holds significant potential for both ecotourism and cultural tourism, particularly in the distinctive cultural values of ethnic minority groups such as the S'tieng, Chau Ma, M'nong, Muong, and others. This feature is an invaluable asset, serving as a vital resource and driving force for the province’s comprehensive and sustainable development. The orientation of the culture, sports, and tourism sector in tapping into this potential, while upholding the principle of respecting and promoting local cultural identity and linking it to sustainable livelihoods, is defined by us through the following three key areas: First, respecting culture should be considered as a resource (this is the core principle). The tourism sector has identified three core principles that must be upheld throughout the development process to ensure respect for cultural values and the community’s right to self-determination. Firstly, culture is both the foundation and the ultimate goal of tourism development. Secondly, the community is the central actor in all tourism activities. This principle provides a concrete expression of the viewpoint outlined in Resolution No. 12 of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, which emphasizes the importance of “building and promoting the cultural values and people of Dong Nai as key resources and driving forces for development.” Thirdly, it should pose no harm when the authority strictly prohibits all acts of commercialization, distortion, or exploitation of national culture for purely business purposes, which dilute traditional cultural identity. Second, an exploitation orientation is linked to sustainable livelihoods. To transform cultural potential into economic benefits for the community, the tourism sector has identified its core orientation as developing sustainable tourism models, with a focus on two main directions. Firstly, promoting community-based tourism in connection with improving local capacity. The sector will provide training in tourism knowledge and skills, homestay management, food safety and hygiene, as well as communication and service skills, to youth and ethnic minority groups. At the same time, it will support the restoration and promotion of traditional craft villages such as brocade weaving, basketry, and musical instrument making; preserve folk performing arts such as gongs and don ca tai tu; and develop local cuisine to create tourism products that are unique, authentic, and of high value. The industry will also establish cooperative groups and develop transparent operational regulations to ensure that ethnic minority communities receive a fair share of tourism revenue. This endeavor, in turn, will encourage them to preserve and promote their cultural identity voluntarily. Second, it will develop a chain of inter-regional tourism products to create distinctive travel routes that reflect the local culture and ecological characteristics of the Southeast region. These include the "Forest Culture – Ecology" route, which connects Cat Tien National Park with Bu Gia Map National Park, two areas known for the presence and vibrant cultural exchange of the S'tieng and Chau Ma ethnic groups; and the "Border Culture – History" route, which leverages national historical sites while integrating the introduction of the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities who have stood alongside the nation through various historical periods, thereby contributing to tradition-building and promoting the cultural values of border regions. Local ethnic minorities hold central positions * In community tourism models, how do you evaluate the role of local ethnic minorities in both becoming the subject of community tourism activities and directly preserving and promoting cultural identity, while turning those values into sustainable livelihoods for the community? - I think that the role of local ethnic minorities in cultural tourism models, especially at places like Bu Gia Map, Ta Lai, or Bom Bo village, holds a central position and is decisive for the success and sustainability of community tourism models.
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People are not only the creators and custodians of traditional cultural heritage, but also the ones who directly share the story of their national identity with visitors. It is the community’s proactive, confident, and organized participation that breathes real life into cultural tourism products. When people are empowered, equipped with tourism skills, and fully engaged in the process of development, operation, and benefit-sharing, traditional cultural values no longer remain "static resources" but are transformed into a driving force for sustainable livelihood development.
For tourists, beyond learning about, exploring, and experiencing cultural activities connected with nature at the destination, they also directly contribute to preserving and promoting indigenous culture by using community-based tourism products. Each tourist can be seen as a responsible actor in tourism, helping to maintain cultural identity, generate sustainable livelihoods for residents, and contribute to forest and ecological conservation.
From the perspective of state management, we consistently affirm that the development of community-based cultural tourism must be closely aligned with cultural preservation, resource protection, and long-term livelihood security for local communities. As such, the province, departments, sectors, and local authorities are actively promoting training support programs and fostering links between businesses, communities, and government agencies to help residents truly become both the primary actors and rightful beneficiaries of local tourism activities.
Awakening the role of young generation in tourism
* To develop tourism associated with cultural preservation more effectively and sustainably, what strategic orientation does the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism have to promote the role of the young generation, those considered the "fire keepers" of national culture?
- Sustainable tourism development must go hand in hand with building and nurturing a generation of young, capable, and dedicated artisans and cultural specialists. The provincial tourism sector has recognized the need for a loan support policy targeting cultural tourism start-up projects led by ethnic minority youth, encouraging them to confidently innovate and integrate traditional cultural values into their business activities.
With the motto “preserve to develop – develop to preserve,” and with the young generation at the heart of all activities, we believe that the combination of indigenous knowledge, youthful enthusiasm, and the support of authorities at all levels will enable Dong Nai tourism to become not only a key economic sector but also a meaningful journey to affirm the right to preserve and promote national cultural identity effectively and sustainably.
Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Nai province VU XUAN TRUONG
Additionally, the province will provide financial support to ethnic minority students pursuing degrees in culture, tourism, and conservation at universities and colleges. It will also regularly recognize and honor young artisans who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in studying, practicing, and promoting cultural heritage.
Notably, there should be policies in place to support the next generation of artisans, comprising young individuals who are learning from and inheriting the legacy of senior artisans, thereby ensuring they can earn a living from their craft. This undertaking, in turn, will inspire younger generations to continue the work of preserving national culture.
* Thank you very much!
By Thu Ha – Translated by Quoc Dung, Minho
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