History remains alive when it is told through stories that resonate with people's emotions. Through the epic art program "Dong Nai – Southern spirit, rising with the nation," Dong Nai's heroic history has been vividly brought to life and widely shared across digital platforms, attracting millions of views, shares and interactions.
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| The epic art program "Dong Nai – Southern spirit, rising with the nation," performed during the ceremony announcing the establishment of Dong Nai City on May 18 in Long Hung ward, is now being shared widely on social media platforms by local agencies and authorities. Photo: Huy Anh |
Beyond its artistic value and widespread appeal, the programme has fostered pride in Dong Nai's heritage, reinforced the community's cultural identity and inspired residents to work together in building a dynamic, compassionate, innovative and globally connected city.
Bringing history to life through digital storytelling
Over the past two months, video excerpts from the artistic epic have been widely shared on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. The production vividly retraces Dong Nai's 328-year history, from the early days of opening up Vietnam's Southern frontier to its development into a dynamic urban centre today.
Episodes such as Opening the Southern Frontier, The Spirit of Dong Nai, War Zone D, Beneath the Trung Quan Trees, together with segments depicting Dong Nai during the renewal era and its rapid development in recent years, have attracted widespread attention and positive feedback. Many viewers said the programme had given them a deeper appreciation of the history of the land where they were born and raised.
Nguyen Van Hoa, a resident of Tan An commune, said he was deeply moved by the carefully produced historical performances broadcast on social media. The programme presents our local history in a way that is both magnificent and relatable. It makes those of us who were born and raised here feel even prouder of our homeland. It is a natural and effective way to educate people, especially younger generations, about our traditions.
The city’s localities and organizations have also actively promoted the programme within their communities.
According to Nguyen Ngoc Thao An, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Tran Bien ward, the committee has actively shared the programme on social media while promoting it through community notice boards, leaflets and QR codes that allow residents to access additional information on Dong Nai's history and culture. As a result, our traditional values are no longer confined to history books but have become a living part of community life.
From July 17 to September 2, Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television (DNNRTV) is broadcasting the epic art program regularly on its DNNRTV1 HD, DNNRTV2 HD and DNNRTV3 HD channels. The broadcasts aim to further promote Dong Nai's historical and cultural values while bringing the programme to wider audiences both within and beyond the city.
The programme's spiritual message continues to inspire Dong Nai's development ambitions in a new era. On April 30, 2026, Dong Nai officially became Vietnam's seventh city. Against this backdrop, the artistic epic not only honours Dong Nai's proud history but also inspires people to look confidently towards the future. It reflects the city's aspiration to become a national economic centre driven by science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, while developing into a modern aviation hub for the Asia-Pacific region and, ultimately, a globally connected city with a high quality of life.
Such ambitions require more than economic resources and modern infrastructure. They also depend on cultural foundations built over generations, traditions of pioneering, solidarity, compassion and resilience that continue to shape Dong Nai's identity. As the enduring spirit of Southern Vietnam is carried forward by today's aspirations and determination, culture will continue to serve as a key driver of Dong Nai's rapid, sustainable and internationally integrated development.
Inspiring the younger generation to contribute
According to Phung Ngoc Long, Principal of Dong Nai Culture and Arts College, the artistic epic combines music, dance, theatre and modern performance technology to bring history closer to young audiences through an emotionally engaging artistic form. The programme helps students gain a deeper understanding of the locality’s revolutionary traditions and cultural identity while fostering pride in their homeland and encouraging them to contribute to its future development.
"For students studying music at our school, the artistic epic serves as a source of inspiration, helping them appreciate their profession and better understand their role in preserving and promoting Vietnam's artistic heritage. At the same time, it encourages them to innovate creatively by blending traditional values with contemporary artistic expression, bringing the arts closer to today's audiences," Long said.
As the new Dong Nai City was formed through the merger of the former Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces, the production carries special significance. By presenting the shared history and cultural identity of the two localities through the language of art, it fosters public pride, encourages the preservation of cultural heritage and strengthens solidarity among the city's 37 ethnic groups. Its humanistic values, the tradition of living a good secular and religious life while practising one's faith, and the enduring strength of national unity continue to spread throughout society, providing a solid spiritual foundation for Dong Nai's future development.
From the establishment of Tran Bien Citadel more than 328 years ago to its emergence as a dynamic urban centre today, Dong Nai's journey has been shaped by generations of pioneering spirit, self-reliance and determination. More than simply recounting Dong Nai's proud history, the artistic epic inspires confidence in the future and reinforces the city's determination to become a dynamic economic and cultural centre in Southern Vietnam and across the country.
By C.Thanh – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha
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