Promoting Dong Nai cultural value through commissioned books

Over the years, the publication of state-budget-funded works (commissioned books) has moved beyond its original political mission to become a vital bridge connecting the history, culture, and people of Dong Nai with the public.

Books on Dong Nai’s politics, history, and culture are on display and introduced to readers at Dong Nai Publishing House. Photo: My Ny

Through carefully developed publications, Dong Nai’s rich cultural identity continues to be strengthened, local pride is rekindled, and sustainable reading habits are gradually fostered within the community.

Thousands of copies are published

Dong Nai Publishing House is a public service unit under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and is fully financially autonomous in covering its regular operating expenses. Between 2009 and 2025, the province commissioned and assigned the publishing house to undertake 173 projects, resulting in the production of a total of 173,000 copies, all of which were funded by the state budget. Among these, many publications hold significant ideological, historical, and educational value, such as "Dong Nai From Pioneering to Opening Up", "Hoang Sa – Truong Sa, Our Beloved Seas and Islands", "The Sacred Sovereignty of Vietnam’s Seas and Islands", and "Dong Nai Tourism – Nature Invites You."

In 2025 alone, Dong Nai Publishing House produced eight state-funded publications, totaling 8,000 copies. These commissioned works serve both political purposes and the goal of conveying traditional values, while also preserving local cultural identity. From content to presentation, each publication is carefully developed, with authors and researchers selected for their deep expertise in Dong Nai’s history and culture, ensuring scientific accuracy while remaining accessible and engaging to readers.

According to Deputy Director of Dong Nai Publishing House Truong Van Tuan, commissioned books are no longer limited to history, culture, and topics related to seas and islands, but have expanded to include politics, economics, tourism, and studies of the people and land of Dong Nai. Many titles have contributed to systematizing valuable documents on the province’s formation and development, while also highlighting its potential and strengths in the process of integration and growth. Bringing Dong Nai’s books to readers is, in itself, a form of cultural promotion, helping book lovers access valuable knowledge and contributing to the development of a reading culture within the community.

Alongside commissioned publications, the provincial book distribution network has continued to expand. Ngo Thi Hoang Oanh, Deputy Head of the Press and Publishing Management Division of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that: Dong Nai currently has seven book distribution companies including Book and Educational Equipment JSC of Dong Nai; Book and Educational Equipment JSC of Binh Phuoc; Fahasa; Thanh Nghia; Phuong Nam; Con Cung; and C Books, along with more than 350 distribution outlets. The whole province also has 108 printing enterprises, including 31 printing facilities for publications and 77 registered printing establishments, creating favorable conditions for the synchronized development of the publishing, printing, and distribution ecosystem.

Promoting and spreading Dong Nai’s culture

After publication, state budget-funded commissioned books in Dong Nai are widely distributed to the provincial library system, as well as to libraries of departments, sectors, localities, schools, and other institutions. As a result, books do not merely remain on the shelves but gradually enter social life, becoming practical resources for study, research, and cultural and spiritual activities for a broad range of residents across the province.

Drawing from commissioned titles and thematic publications on Dong Nai, the Provincial Library has established the Dong Nai Cultural Book Collection. According to Deputy Director of Dong Nai Provincial Library Vo Xuan Le, the collection has been continuously expanded and enhanced over the years, both in terms of quantity and quality. Notably, the library regularly conducts mobile book distribution to grassroots communities, while also accelerating the digitization of Dong Nai gazetteer materials and applying QR codes to publications on local history and culture, helping facilitate reader access to knowledge.

At the same time, the exhibition space at Dong Nai Publishing House currently showcases hundreds of valuable titles across a wide range of genres, including economics, politics, literature, cultural and historical research, photo books, and books for students. Each publication clearly portrays the historical depth and vivid image of Dong Nai, shaped by more than 325 years of formation and development.

From practical experience, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy, a teacher at Nguyen Du Primary School in Tan Trieu ward, shared: “Books on Dong Nai’s history and culture are practical resources that teachers can integrate into lessons and school communication activities. Notably, many students have actively read, learned, and participated in knowledge competitions organized by schools, the province, and central agencies, thereby nurturing in them a sense of respect for, preservation of, and commitment to promoting the cultural values of Dong Nai.”

With systematic and long-term investment by the province, commissioned publications are gradually becoming a key foundation for nurturing and spreading reading habits throughout the community. Each page not only preserves knowledge and historical memory but also serves as a bridge connecting the past with the present, contributing to the strengthening of cultural identity and creating momentum for Dong Nai’s balanced and sustainable development in both economic and spiritual life.

By My Ny - Translated by Thu Hien, Minho