Promoting cultural and historical values through tourism

With nearly 330 years of history and development, Dong Nai City is emerging as a distinctive destination where rich historical and cultural heritage forms the foundation of its tourism appeal.

The Tran Bien Temple of Literature is one of the best-known tourist destinations. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Dong Nai is home to more than 1,000 historical and cultural sites, ranging from local landmarks to officially designated heritage sites, many of which are being preserved and promoted through tourism activities and festivals.

A distinctive cultural identity

An increasing number of visitors from within and outside the city are choosing Dong Nai's historical and cultural sites for sightseeing, historical research, and cultural studies. Educational heritage tours designed for students have also been introduced by travel companies, attracting large numbers of participants.

According to the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city is home to 37 ethnic groups, including the Cho Ro, S'tieng, Ma, M'nong, K’ho, and Khmer communities. These groups possess rich cultural traditions reflected in their festivals, languages, traditional crafts, indigenous knowledge, folk songs, folk dances, musical instruments, cuisine, and communal cultural practices.

Heritage conservation efforts have produced significant results. Dong Nai currently has 121 officially recognized heritage sites, including six special national relics, 42 national relics, and 73 provincial-level relics. The city also boasts two UNESCO-inscribed Intangible Cultural Heritage elements, Art of Don ca tai tu music and song in southern Viet Nam and Tugging rituals and games, along with 11 items of national intangible cultural heritage, numerous traditional festivals, craft villages, folk knowledge, and distinctive cultural traditions of local ethnic communities. These resources serve as valuable assets for preserving historical traditions, strengthening local identity, and supporting sustainable tourism development.

Integrating heritage conservation with tourism

Nguyen Ngoc Yen, Director of the Dong Nai Museum, said that every year the museum and major historical attractions, including the Tran Bien Temple of Literature, Nguyen Huu Canh Temple, Bien Hoa Ancient Citadel, Tan Hiep Prison, Diplomatic Guest House, and the Headquarters of the Logistics Department of the Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam, welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to learn about history and offer incense. Most visitors are school and university students from institutions both within and outside Dong Nai, participating in educational field trips that provide meaningful opportunities to learn about the nation's history. Looking ahead, the museum plans to gradually digitize information about historical sites to provide visitors with more convenient and engaging access to heritage resources.

Speaking during the question-and-answer session at the third meeting of the first Dong Nai City People's Council, Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the City Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that digital transformation is central to preserving and promoting cultural and historical heritage. Building on existing achievements, the department will continue developing comprehensive digital databases covering cultural heritage, artisans, festivals, and cultural institutions. It also plans to introduce 3D technology, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) into museum exhibitions, heritage education, tourism promotion, and public access to cultural resources. By 2030, Dong Nai aims to complete the digitization of 100 percent of national and special national relics, in accordance with central government directives, while expanding virtual exhibitions and online displays.

Dong Nai is also working to integrate cultural preservation with tourism development and community livelihoods, particularly in areas inhabited by the Cho Ro, S'tieng, Ma, and M'nong ethnic groups, as well as locations associated with historical sites, scenic attractions, traditional craft villages, and festivals. Authorities plan to collaborate with local communities to develop community-based tourism, cultural tourism, culinary experiences, traditional craft demonstrations, folk music and dance performances, and indigenous musical showcases. These initiatives are expected to encourage local communities to preserve their cultural heritage while creating new economic opportunities.

To date, Dong Nai has digitized thousands of heritage records, artifacts, documentary films, festival archives, traditional craft materials, and collections of indigenous knowledge from ethnic communities across the city. The application of digital technology has modernized heritage preservation, improved management and promotion of cultural assets, and expanded access for residents, students, researchers, and tourists alike.

By Ngoc Lien – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho