Promoting legal awareness in communities

In Dong Nai, legal education and outreach have been actively promoted through cultural and artistic activities, receiving strong attention from authorities at all levels. Regarded as a regular and essential task, these efforts aim to raise public awareness of legal compliance, promote a healthy cultural environment, and lay the groundwork for sustainable development.

The Mobile Propaganda Team of the Dong Nai Provincial Centre for Culture and Cinema raises awareness on drowning prevention and interacting with local pupils. Photo: My Ny

Through various creative, flexible, and practical approaches, units and localities in the province have been gradually bringing cultural laws closer to the people, contributing to the development of a progressive and humane cultural environment within the community.

 Creative approaches close to daily life

To support the 2025 campaign against drugs and social evils, the Dong Nai Art Theater recently staged and live-streamed the short play Return. The performance resonated with audiences thanks to its relatable storyline, reflecting how some young people fall into vices.

Return centers on Tuan, who sinks into gambling and soccer betting, leaving him deep in debt and pursued by “gangsters”. The tragedy reaches its peak when his mother, out of love for her son, sells the family house, becomes exhausted by illness, and eventually passes away. After the loss, Tuan is taken in by his aunt and uncle, but his gambling addiction persists. Once again, gangsters come to his aunt’s home, smashing property and forcing the family to pay off Tuan’s debts.

After a period in hiding, Tuan learns from his uncle about all that had happened. Tormented by guilt, he decides to leave his hometown and seek a livelihood in the city. Instead of reforming, however, he is drawn deeper into the criminal underworld and forced to transport goods for drug traffickers operating under the guise of loan sharks. Fortunately, police intervened in time to dismantle the ring and rescue Tuan. Confronted with his mistakes, he resolved to leave behind his troubled past and rebuild his life through honest work.

Beyond stage performances, provincial units and localities have flexibly integrated legal communication into the cultural field, such as community gatherings, legal knowledge contests, visual campaigns, and grassroots art performances. In particular, mobile propaganda sessions and mobile film screenings have been combined with messages on preventing social evils, school violence, domestic violence, traffic accidents, food safety issues, the preservation of ethnic cultural identity, and etiquette in public spaces. These events have attracted large participation, especially among young people across the province.

Nguyen Tien Dung, head of the Cinema Department at the Dong Nai Cultural and Cinema Center, said: “Mobile film screenings at grassroots venues not only provide entertainment but also help residents absorb legal knowledge in a light and accessible way.”

To spread legal knowledge within communities, cultural sector units have actively taken part in a wide range of communication activities. The Dong Nai Library, in particular, has not only served readers on-site but also expanded its mobile services, regularly rotating legal books to schools. Since 2023, the library has circulated more than 44,000 copies of books, newspapers, and magazines to over 32 locations across the province.

Harnessing technology, strengthening community roles

In the digital era, Dong Nai has kept pace with the trend by promoting legal communication in the cultural sector through official websites and social media. Short videos, illustrated posts, and legal infographics are shared on fan pages and community groups, allowing information to spread quickly and reach hundreds of thousands of viewers. Notably, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism maintains a 24/7 Family Counseling Corner on its website, providing timely information and legal advice on the prevention of domestic violence.

In addition, grassroots networks such as Domestic Violence Prevention Clubs, Village and Hamlet Stories Clubs, local opinion-monitoring groups, and community-based legal education teams have also played a pivotal role. Through monthly meetings, residents can exchange views, discuss issues, and receive answers to their questions, thereby raising awareness and fostering voluntary compliance with the law.

Vo Tan Tai, head of the Village and Hamlet Stories Club in Phuoc An commune, said: Since the model was introduced, many skits have been created to convey legal messages. Villagers now have a place to share opinions and receive timely answers to questions about policies and laws. As a result, family conflicts and minor community disputes have significantly declined. People have become more conscious of practicing civility and complying with the law.

According to the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in recent years, the sector has intensified efforts to disseminate legal knowledge across culture, sports, tourism, and family affairs. Each month, it partners with Dong Nai Newspaper, Radio and Television to produce reports, specialized pages, and programs on building cultural lifestyles and family values, including family-themed game shows. The department has also provided hundreds of legal bookcases and uniforms for family clubs in communes and wards across the province.

Diverse, creative, and community-oriented initiatives are helping legal education and outreach in Dong Nai’s cultural sector gain depth and earn strong public support. As a result, legal awareness, efforts to build a civilized living environment, and a sense of community responsibility are being strengthened, laying a solid foundation for the province’s sustainable development in the new era.

By: My Ny

Translated by: Thu Hien - Minho