Awakening the 'soft power' of culture (Final part)

>>Awakening the 'soft power' of culture (Part 2)

FINAL ARTICLE: UNLEASHING CULTURAL POWER IN THE NEW ERA

With the goal of building and developing a distinct and integrated Dong Nai culture, the city is gradually promoting traditional cultural values and building well-rounded, friendly, compassionate, dynamic, and creative Dong Nai people.

Along with socio-economic development, Dong Nai is promoting the development of cultural industries associated with digital transformation, innovation, and international integration; while also focusing on training high-quality cultural human resources, contributing to unleashing soft power and elevating the cultural status of Dong Nai in the new era.

The epic art performance "Dong Nai - The Spirit of the South, Rising with the Nation" is being promoted and disseminated on digital platforms. Photo: Huy Anh

New impetus from the cultural industry

With nearly 330 years of formation and development, Dong Nai province is gradually transforming its cultural values into economic development resources through the cultural industry. In particular, the city prioritizes the development of several promising sectors such as: film, performing arts, advertising, handicrafts, and cultural tourism , leveraging the unique advantages of the locality.

Bien Hoa pottery is one of the products contributing to the development of the cultural industry. In the photo: Students in the city learn about Bien Hoa pottery at the Dong Nai Museum. Photo: Contributor.

Particularly noteworthy is the handicraft sector, with Bien Hoa ceramics increasingly diverse in design, not only consumed domestically but also exported to international markets. Dong Nai College of Decorative Arts not only provides specialized training in ceramics but also focuses on applied arts, creating opportunities for students to gain practical experience, strengthening links with businesses, and gradually building a relationship between the school and the labor market, expanding job opportunities after graduation.

Performing arts have also seen many positive changes. Nguyen Viet Bac, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Arts Theatre, said: “Over the years, the theatre's performances, excerpts of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera), water puppetry, and music and dance programs have been meticulously produced, harmoniously combining traditional and modern elements, utilizing LED screens and livestreaming on digital platforms, creating a widespread impact on people's spiritual lives. In particular, the British Council, in its Heritage Connect project, has selected Dong Nai Cai Luong to produce a documentary film, introducing it widely to the public.”

The field of cultural tourism is opening up many opportunities for development. Tourism routes linked to historical sites, festivals, traditional crafts, and local cuisine are being developed with an experiential focus. From the D War Zone and Tran Bien Temple of Literature to the Headquarters of the South Vietnam Liberation Army and Bom Bo village, many cultural values are being "rejuvenated" with a modern approach, allowing locals and tourists not only to visit but also to directly experience the cultural life of each region.

Dong Nai will host the 2025 Hot Air Balloon Festival to help promote the city's image. Photo: Do Duy The

To promote tourism and boost the cultural industry, Dong Nai has recently organized many large-scale events such as the Hot Air Balloon Festival and the Bien Hoa - Dong Nai Traditional Pottery Festival. In 2026, Dong Nai will host the Golden Cashew Festival at the Golden Cashew Tourist Farm in Dong Tam commune. Within the framework of the festival, a culinary competition titled "Flavors of the Three Regions - The Story of the Cashew Tree" will be held, contributing to the promotion of local specialties and culture.

Breakthroughs from the application of digital technology.

While the cultural industry is creating new impetus for development, digital transformation is becoming a breakthrough in the preservation and promotion of heritage values, helping Dong Nai's culture spread more widely.

The Tran Bien Temple of Literature is being showcased on digital platforms through a 360° virtual reality tour by the Dong Nai Museum. Photo: My Ny

According to Nguyen Ngoc Yen, Director of the Dong Nai Museum: “Currently, the museum has digitized 2D and 3D artifacts and relic records, built an open database to serve research; implemented 360° virtual reality tours at Tran Bien Temple of Literature, Nguyen Huu Canh Temple, and Binh Phuoc Cultural Exhibition Space; organized virtual reality exhibitions of national treasures in Dong Nai, biodiversity and indigenous culture of Cat Tien National Park. In particular, a QR code system and automatic audio guides have been installed at Tran Bien Temple of Literature, contributing to the modernization of heritage promotion activities.”

The Tran Bien Temple of Literature is being showcased on digital platforms through a 360° virtual reality tour by the Dong Nai Museum. Photo: My Ny

At the Dong Nai Cultural and Film Center, mobile film screenings, cultural programs, and traditional music performances all utilize technology and are promoted on social media platforms. Many virtual reality exhibitions, such as "Traditional Music - Echoes of Southern Vietnam" and "Dong Nai Reaching New Heights," have also made a strong impression on the public. Similarly, at the Dong Nai Library, in addition to digitizing 100% of its local history documents, the library has created QR codes for books; maintained and developed its website, YouTube channel, and Fanpage, regularly updating activities such as book introductions and video clips to serve the needs of readers both within and outside the city.

According to Nguyen Van Hai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Tam commune, the locality has focused on preserving, restoring, and promoting distinctive cultural values, such as establishing clubs for singing Then and playing the Tinh instrument; and organizing the Long Tong Festival of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. At the same time, the commune has promoted digital transformation in the cultural sector through the operation of the website, Facebook page "Dong Tam 360 degrees," and Zalo OA of the People's Committee, strengthening connections and providing official information to the people, forming a multi-platform communication ecosystem to serve the development of local culture.

From resolution to practical action

Based on Resolution 80, Dong Nai is developing an action plan for implementation throughout the province. To develop Dong Nai's culture, many localities and units have proposed mechanisms to attract individuals and businesses to invest in the cultural sector; and at the same time, support artists, artisans, and young creative forces to develop their abilities.

Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo designates November 24th each year as Vietnam Culture Day. This aims to create conditions for people to enjoy culture, encourage artists to create, and spread a civilized lifestyle.

According to Phung Ngoc Long, Principal of Dong Nai College of Culture and Arts, in the context of strong digital transformation and international integration, the training of high-quality cultural and artistic human resources is a priority for the school. Not only is the school continuing to invest in facilities and improve training quality, but it also aims to build a team of young artists with creative thinking and the ability to apply modern technology, gradually meeting the requirements for training cultural human resources in the new era.

Dong Nai City's development plan until 2065 is outlined in the artistic epic "Dong Nai - The Spirit of the South, Rising with the Nation". Photo: Huy Anh

According to Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the City Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism: In the coming time, Dong Nai will continue to improve and enhance the effectiveness of the system of cultural and sports facilities, ensuring that it serves the cultural needs, artistic creation, and cultural enjoyment of the people. The system of cultural centers, community centers, libraries, museums, and community spaces will be invested in a modern, synchronized manner, suitable for the process of urban development and the construction of new rural areas.

Along with preserving traditional cultural values, Dong Nai also focuses on developing modern cultural, literary, and artistic activities, encouraging artistic creativity, developing the cultural industry, and expanding cultural exchanges domestically and internationally. Culture is recognized as both the spiritual foundation of society and an important endogenous resource contributing to sustainable development, improving the quality of life for the people, and unleashing the cultural strength and human potential of Dong Nai in the new era.

In its development plan for 2045, Dong Nai aims for 100% of its cultural facilities and tourist destinations to operate on a smart management platform. The city also aims to build a team of world-class experts, artists, and designers to work and contribute locally. In particular, the Long Thanh International Airport area is expected to become a large-scale event and entertainment center, forming a "sleepless destination" associated with modern cultural, artistic, and entertainment activities.

My Ny

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/thanh-pho-dong-nai/202605/danh-thuc-suc-manh-mem-van-hoa-bai-cuoi-68f06bf/