Ethnic minorities in Dong Nai look forward to new opportunities

The policy of developing Dong Nai into a centrally governed city not only opens up strong prospects for growth but also inspires confidence and expectations among all strata of the population. At the grassroots level, reputable community figures are contributing to spreading awareness of this major policy through their trust and practical aspirations for their homeland.

In An Loc Ward, Dieu Cang, a respected community leader and Head of Can Le neighborhood, said that when hearing the news that Dong Nai is about to become a centrally-governed city, local residents are excited and hold high hopes for positive changes in the near future.

Focusing on livelihoods, promoting the role and preserving the cultural identity of ethnic minorities

Dieu Cang, Head of Can Le neighborhood, An Loc Ward, Dong Nai province, hopes for greater attention paid to ethnic minorities so that local children can have better learning conditions. Photo: Ngoc Thao

Dieu Cang expressed his wish that when Dong Nai becomes a centrally governed city, people's lives will become increasingly stable, especially with better heed paid to social welfare policies and health insurance. At the same time, more importance should be attached to the preservation of ethnic cultural identity in the development process.

According to him, in recent years, thanks to the attention of the Party and the State, people's lives have significantly improved. The transportation system has become increasingly spacious, facilitating daily life and economic development. In particular, what makes people excited is that children in the neighborhood are increasingly receiving full attention to their education.

Lam Duong, Head of Hamlet 4, a respected figure in Loc Hung Commune, Dong Nai province, expresses: "We hope the State will pay more attention to the Khmer cultural identity, not only in Loc Hung Commune but also among Khmer people in general, so that traditional values are preserved and promoted." Photo: Ngoc Thao

Sharing the same belief, in Loc Hung commune, Lam Duong, Head of Hamlet 4, and a respected figure among the Khmer ethnic community, said that the local people are very supportive of the major policies of the Central and provincial  governments, and also have many expectations for positive changes in the coming time.

According to Lam Duong, for people, especially ethnic minorities, to develop a sustainable economy, there is a great need for support in terms of capital and access to science and technology, improved production methods, and suitable livestock and crop support to increase productivity. Duong shared: "Local residents really need support in terms of capital and technology to work more effectively, thereby stabilizing their lives."

In addition, he also particularly emphasized the preservation and promotion of the cultural identity of the Khmer people. According to him, in the process of development, preserving traditional cultural values is extremely necessary and needs to be given due attention to protect the cultural values from being lost. In particular, the Khmer people are preparing to celebrate their traditional New Year, Chol Chnam Thmay, the most important festival of the year. This provides an occasion for reunion, a space to preserve and transmit the unique cultural beauty of the Khmer people.

Apart from expressing his wishes, Lam Duong, in his role as Hamlet Head and a respected figure in the community, also said that he would continue to uphold his responsibility, working with local authorities to propagate and mobilize people to strictly abide by the Party's and State's policies. At the same time, he will actively engage in production, economic development, maintain security and order, and build a cultural life in the residential area.

Expectations for breakthrough development for ethnic minority communities

Dieu Hon, Former Provincial Party Committee member, former Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the People’s Council of former Binh Phuoc Province, hopes for a breakthrough development for ethnic minority communities when Dong Nai becomes a centrally-governed city. Photo: Tran Canh

According to Dieu Hon, former Provincial Party Committee member, former Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the People’s Council of former Binh Phuoc Province, becoming a centrally governed city means Dong Nai's position will be elevated, and investment resources from the central government to the locality will be stronger. For ethnic minority people, this is an opportunity to narrow the gap with the surrounding community and with people nationwide. He hopes that the appearance of rural areas, especially the unique regions of the S'tieng, Chau Ro ethnic people, etc., will undergo a fundamental qualitative change.

"I really hope that the central government will have special mechanisms, including prioritizing transport infrastructure connecting regions to serve people's production and trade, creating new momentum for socio-economic development in remote, isolated, and particularly difficult areas. When Dong Nai becomes a centrally governed city, the pace of urbanization and integration will be very fast. If people still maintain old ways of thinking, relying on support, we will fall behind right in our own homeland," - Dieu Hon emphasized.

According to Dieu Hon, when people from all corners of the nation come to Dong Nai to start a career, bringing with them new knowledge and skills, it is an opportunity for ethnic minority people. People cannot continue farming in the old way but must learn to apply science and technology, learn high-tech agriculture, and develop services and community tourism based on their ethnic cultural identity.

"Dong Nai has a rich treasure trove of ethnic minority culture with gong and drum art, distinctive festivals, and extremely unique traditional brocade weaving... I hope the future city will have policies for preservation associated with tourism development. When culture becomes an asset, people will earn more income and be prouder of their roots. The consensus between “Party's will and people's aspiration” will be the key for us to be both modern and rich in identity,"- Dieu Hon said.

By Thu Ha, Tran Canh – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha