A multicultural land, converging the strength of great national solidarity

From the historical milestone when Commandant, Marquis of Le Thanh, Nguyen Huu Canh, under the order of Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu, administered the South, Dong Nai was officially named on the map of Vietnam. Through many historical upheavals and population migrations, this land has constantly affirmed its position.

With many ethnic groups coming here to live and settle, Dong Nai has become a land of unique cultural convergence. That intersection not only creates a multicolored picture but also nurtures and spreads the strength of great national solidarity through generations.

In 1698, the Marquis of Le Thanh, Nguyen Huu Canh, administered the South. In the photo: 3D mapping light performance at the memorial ceremony of the Marquis of Le Thanh, Nguyen Huu Canh, in 2025 attracted a large number of residents and visitors. Photo: My Ny

Unique cultural convergence and intersection

Before the 16th century, Dong Nai remained a pristine land, untouched by pioneers. In the early 17th century, Vietnamese migrants from Thuan Quang headed south, reclaiming land, founding villages, and transforming the area into a fertile region. In 1679, after the failure of the pro-Minh, anti-Qing movement, Tran Thuong Xuyen and more than 3,000 Chinese migrants and their families sailed southward and settled on Pho island (Cu lao Pho). From that point, Dong Nai entered a new phase of development, helping to shape the present-day landscape of the Southern region.

In the spring of the Mau Dan year (1698), under the order of Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu, Commandant, Marquis of Le Thanh, Nguyen Huu Canh advanced southward to administer the land, laying administrative foundations for Dong Nai. He established Gia Dinh prefecture with 2 districts: Phuoc Long, setting up Tran Bien garrison, and Tan Binh, setting up Phien Tran garrison.

In a short time, Nguyen Huu Canh organized land reclamation, arranged administrative units, set taxes, established population registers, and gathered people from all directions... These steps not only opened up opportunities for development for Dong Nai - Gia Dinh but also affirmed that this land was an official part of the territory of Vietnam.

Entering the renewal period, Dong Nai has been rising strongly, affirming its role as one of the country’s key growth poles and a bright spot in innovation, as well as in rapid, sustainable, and comprehensive development. Notably, on July 1, 2025, following its merger with the former Binh Phuoc province, the newly expanded Dong Nai province presents a broader and more diverse identity, two regions, one shared essence. The merger of Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc is not merely an expansion of administrative boundaries, but more profoundly, a broadening of cultural stature and historical depth.

Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai provincial People’s Committee

From the initial pioneering imprint, Dong Nai soon became a meeting place for many groups of residents: Vietnamese, Chinese, Cham, Khmer, Choro, Ma, S’tieng, K’Ho… Throughout historical periods, with the migration of ethnic minorities from across the country, this land gradually formed a rich and diverse cultural space. The highlight of Dong Nai is that each ethnic community brings its own cultural values, blending but not losing its identity.

Dr Nguyen Van Quyet, Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Dong Nai province, stated: The convergence of multiple waves of residents and cultures in Dong Nai has shaped a vibrant and distinctive cultural identity. What is especially valuable is that the local communities not only live in harmony but also respect and preserve the unique traditions of each ethnic group, while simultaneously engaging in mutual exchange, adaptation, and enrichment for shared development. For instance, the Vietnamese maintain traditional customs, from village festivals and Lunar New Year celebrations to the art of don ca tai tu music in the southern region. Meanwhile, the Chinese, Cho Ro, S’tieng, Cham, Khmer, Tay, Nung, and others have been preserving and promoting gong culture, traditional crafts, cuisine (such as can wine, bamboo-tube rice, and canh boi), as well as cultural festivals like Sayangva, Ong Pagoda Festival, and Long Tong Festival, altogether creating a space of harmonious cultural fusion.

“Not only stopping at coexistence, Dong Nai is also the place that converges the strength of great national solidarity. In the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the American imperialists, it was the bond and mutual support among ethnic groups that created great strength, leading to many resounding victories. Today, that spirit continues to be promoted in the cause of socio-economic development,” Dr Nguyen Van Quyet said.

Artists of Dong Nai Art Theater performing for audiences inside and outside the province in September 2025

Joining forces and hearts to build the homeland

In the journey of more than 3 centuries of formation and development, the strength of great national solidarity has always been the solid foundation for Dong Nai to rise and integrate.

Nguyen Van Khang, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic Affairs and Religion, said: For many years, all levels, sectors, and localities have cared and implemented many social security policies, supporting ethnic minorities to stabilize their lives and improve material and spiritual living standards. Cultural preservation models, restoration of traditional crafts, organization of folk festivals... not only preserve and promote values but also contribute to promoting tourism and introducing the image of Dong Nai to friends at home and abroad.

Village elder Nguyen Van Long (70 years old, from Hang Gon quarter, Hang Gon ward) shared: “In the past, ethnic minority communities in Hang Gon faced great hardship, lacking both farmland and capital for livelihood. But thanks to the support of the Party, the State, and local authorities, people received access to credit, as well as guidance in crop cultivation and livestock farming. Their children were able to attend school. Life has since improved while people are more connected, united, and committed to preserving their cultural traditions while working together to build a prosperous homeland. Today, Hang Gon quarter is home to more than 200 ethnic minority households, mostly of the Cho Ro, K’Ho, and S’tieng groups.”

Not only in Hang Gon, but also in many other localities across Dong Nai, the spirit of great national unity has been strongly fostered. In Phu Ly commune, the Cho Ro people continue to preserve their folk songs, gong music, and the Sayangva festival, while actively participating in movements to build new-style rural areas and protect forests. In communes such as Dinh Quan, Ta Lai, and Dong Tam, the Ma, S’tieng, and Khmer communities are developing garden-based economies while maintaining traditional brocade weaving, contributing to the creation of distinctive tourism products.

Alongside 10 national intangible cultural heritages already recognized such as: Ba Ra Temple Festival, Cau Bong Festival of the Kinh people in Binh Phuoc, Brocade weaving of the M'nong people, Basket weaving of the S’tieng people, Ong Pagoda Festival…, the cultural sector is building a distribution map of heritage locations and completing dossiers for the Long Tong festival (field festival) of the Tay people in the former Dinh Quan, Tan Phu areas to be submitted for inclusion in the list of national intangible cultural heritages.

Secretary of the Nam Do hamlet Party cell in Dong Tam commune, Phan Hoang Vinh, said: Nam Do is one of the hamlets with a large ethnic minority population. The local people maintain close ties and actively participate in movements to build new-style rural areas, promote a modern cultural lifestyle, ensure security and order, and protect the environment. In addition to preserving and promoting traditional values, ethnic minority communities have also embraced innovation, improving their livelihoods so that their children have better access to education and opportunities for the future.

Spreading Dong Nai’s identity on the integration journey

Built on the foundation of great national unity, Dong Nai has for many years placed special emphasis on cultural affairs, particularly the preservation and promotion of traditional values among ethnic minority communities. This feature is regarded as a vital "key" for the province to shape its unique identity and assert its position in the process of integration.

Since 2020, Dong Nai has invested in the restoration and preservation of 14 historical sites, with a total budget of over 131 billion VND sourced from both the state budget and social contributions. Many sites, such as Tran Bien Temple of Literature, Tan Hiep Prison, Bien Hoa Ancient Citadel, To Su Temple, Phuoc Thien Communal House, Tan Lan Communal House, VK99 fuel depot, the Victory Site at the Tau O blockade, and the Tomb of 3,000 An Loc compatriots massacred by American imperialist forces on October 3, 1972, along with dozens of other national and provincial relics, have become significant cultural and historical landmarks, attracting large numbers of visitors for tourism and research.

S’tieng ethnic people in Bom Bo commune performing gongs at the New Rice Festival

At the same time, Dong Nai focuses on restoring and promoting intangible cultural values. Many traditional festivals, gong spaces, brocade weaving, pottery… are preserved and widely spread in life. In particular, in 2025, 2 major festivals: the memorial ceremony of the Marquis of Le Thanh, Nguyen Huu Canh and the Sayangva festival of the Cho Ro people were recognized in the list of national intangible cultural heritages, raising the province’s total to 10 national intangible cultural heritages. This feature is not only a pride of the people of Dong Nai but also a “soft resource” to promote tourism development and create livelihoods for the community.

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: The cultural sector always affirms that the preservation and promotion of the cultural identity of ethnic minority groups must go beyond mere conservation. It must be linked with creativity, promotion, and transforming culture into a driving force for socio-economic development. The province prioritizes the development of key cultural products with strong potential and competitive advantages, such as performing arts, music, and cultural tourism. A number of large-scale cultural and artistic events have been held in Dong Nai, including the hot air balloon festival and the pottery festival, helping to promote the image of Dong Nai and strengthen connections with friends both at home and abroad.

As of July 2025, Dong Nai has 119 officially recognized relics and nearly 1,700 inventoried sites, along with more than 400 types of festivals held annually. Across the province, there are 31 tourist areas and destinations, with over 5,400 people working directly in the tourism sector. Dong Nai is also home to four universities and colleges offering tourism-related programs, contributing to the improvement of the province’s tourism workforce quality.

The cultural sector is currently accelerating the application of digital technology across various fields, with a focus on promoting Dong Nai’s cultural products to enhance accessibility for both residents and visitors. Hundreds of art livestreams have been broadcast on the Facebook and YouTube channels of relevant units; dozens of virtual cultural exhibitions have been held; and thousands of museum artifacts have been digitized, including five national treasures. Multiple 360-degree virtual tours of heritage sites have been introduced on the websites of local agencies and communities, offering new and engaging experiences to the public and tourists alike. These efforts help eliminate geographical barriers and extend the reach of Dong Nai’s unique cultural values.

According to Tran Quang Toai, M.Sc., Chairman of the Dong Nai Historical Science Association, Dong Nai is a land with a rich historical legacy. In this place, multiple cultures have converged and intersected over time. If properly leveraged, that cultural diversity can become a competitive advantage in developing tourism and cultural industries. The key lies in preserving and promoting traditional values while also encouraging creativity to align with modern life. This endeavor will serve as a driving force for Dong Nai to assert its position in the integration process and to share its unique cultural identity with both domestic and international audiences.

Entering a new stage with the joint efforts of authorities and people, along with the companionship of modern technology, the multicultural land of Dong Nai will not only be a destination but also a source of new values, contributing to the glory of the southern land in the flow of global integration.

By My Ny – Translated by Minh Hanh, Minho