Religions accompany Dong Nai’s development

Among the total population of 4.42 million in Dong Nai province, there are approximately 2.65 million religious followers. In recent times, dignitaries, religious workers, and followers of various religions have actively contributed to patriotic emulation movements launched by the government and the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Ton Ngoc Hanh converses with Dong Nai Buddhist dignitaries at the Meeting Program for Representatives of Reputable Individuals, Religious Dignitaries, Intellectuals, Artists, and Outstanding Entrepreneurs on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (2-9-1945 - 2-9-2025). Photo: Van Truyen

Through these actions, religious communities have demonstrated their role in joining Party committees, local authorities, and the broader population in advancing national development and the growth of Dong Nai province.

Joyful about the achievements of the country and locality

Dong Nai has the largest number of religious followers in the country. Specifically, there are more than 1.31 million Catholic followers, over 1 million Buddhists, and more than 80 thousand Protestants. These followers are active in approximately 1,500 parishes, temples, and religious orders.

In 2025, the country will organize many important events, including: the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification; the 80th anniversary of National Day; Party congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term, moving towards to the 14th National Party Congress... Along with the people nationwide, religious followers joyfully welcome the important milestones of the country and the achievements of Vietnam and Dong Nai.

Most Venerable Thich Hue Khai, Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the province, said: Over 80 years, under the leadership of the Party and State, Vietnam has achieved many important accomplishments on the path of development and integration. These achievements include the contributions of Vietnamese Buddhism, including monks, nuns, and Buddhists in Dong Nai, who have always accompanied the nation, aiming for the goal of "Dharma - Nation - Socialism".

According to Tran Thanh Hoa, Director of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Dong Nai province, dignitaries, religious workers, and followers of various faiths have actively participated in patriotic emulation movements, contributed to maintaining security and public order, and effectively carried out social welfare initiatives. The province hopes they will continue to play an active role in building the homeland and in implementing the Party's and State's guidelines and policies.

At the same time, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai province, and the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the province coordinated to organize a Grand Memorial Ceremony to express gratitude and pray for the souls of fallen heroes, and to present over 1,000 gifts to policy families, meritorious individuals, and poor households.

According to Nguyen Minh Chanh, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics in the province, priests, religious workers, and laypeople in both the national and provincial Committees for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics, as well as dignitaries and Catholic followers in Dong Nai, have expressed joy over the achievements made by the country and the province in recent years. As part of this overall progress, the Catholic community in Dong Nai has actively contributed by participating in patriotic emulation movements.

Meanwhile, Pastor Nguyen The Hien, Member of the Executive Board of the General Confederation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Southern region), stated: "pastors and followers are pleased with the development of the country and Dong Nai province in recent years. He expressed confidence that under the leadership, direction, and administration of the Party, the State, and the Party Committee and government of Dong Nai, the country and localities will continue to make rapid progress, and the lives of the people will be increasingly improved."

Joining hands and hearts for the development of Dong Nai

Along with the joy, dignitaries, functionaries, and followers of religions in Dong Nai have been contributing to the development of the country and Dong Nai province through specific and practical actions.

Each year, religions in Dong Nai have contributed more than 400 billion VND to carry out social welfare activities, operate dozens of social protection facilities nurturing orphans and lonely elderly seniors, and provide free healthcare for all strata of people through traditional and western medicine clinics...

In addition, each year, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province and member organizations of the Front sign cooperation programs with religions in propagating the Party's and State's guidelines and policies, assisting people in difficult circumstances, showing gratitude to policy families, fostering great unity among religions, disseminating legal knowledge...

Priest Tran Xuan Thao, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee of the province, said: Each parish and monastery has a social welfare program in coordination with local authorities to serve the community, such as building sturdy houses for the disadvantaged, providing free meals on fixed days of the week... Especially in the process of implementing patriotic emulation movements, including building new rural areas and civilized urban areas, each parish and Catholic community proactively cleans alleys, plants trees to create landscapes, reminds their children and grandchildren to comply with legal regulations, especially civilized behavior when participating in traffic and in daily life. Catholic dignitaries, functionaries, and followers in Dong Nai will continue to promote the tradition of patriotism, solidarity, and accompany the government and people in the cause of building a more prosperous and thriving country and Dong Nai province.

According to Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (Quoc An Khai Tuong Pagoda, Long Phuoc Commune), Vietnamese Buddhism, including the Buddhist community in Dong Nai province, has always stood alongside the nation, guided by the motto "Dharma – Nation – Socialism". In the time ahead, all monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers will continue to uphold the tradition of patriotism and solidarity, joining hands with the government and the people in building a more prosperous and thriving country and Dong Nai province.

By: Van Truyen

Translated by: Mai Nga - Minho