Tourists take cycling tour at the Cát Tiên National Park, a favourite destination in Đồng Nai City. Photo vietnamtourism.gov.vn

ĐỒNG NAI — Đồng Nai City has joined the national digitalisation programme to promote their destinations in line with pushing culture and sustainable tourism.

Authorites organised a seminar 'Digital transformation in destination branding, linked to the development of culture and sustainable tourism in Đồng Nai' which was part of the DIGIFEST Đồng Nai 2026 on November 1.

The move is part of efforts to implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, issued by the Politburo of the Communist Party of Việt Nam on December 22, 2024, which sets out strategic directions for achieving breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

Speaking at the event, deputy director of the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Khắc Vĩnh said Đồng Nai owns a system of diversed resources of culture and tourism which includes six special national heritage sites and 42 national heritage sites along with dozens of tourism zones and attractions that cater to visitors' needs for experiential activities and entertainment. These factors provide a favourable foundation for the city to develop a wide variety of tourism products.

To meet increasing demands of customers, the sectors of culture and tourism must consider digital transformation one of strong tools to enhance their competitiveness, expand their markets, improve serves quality and build strong destination brandings.

"In an era of rapid advancement in science, technology and innovation, digital transformation has become an essential trend – a key driver for modernising management and operational methods, as well as fostering socio-economic development," said Vĩnh.

"For the culture and tourism sectors, the application of technology also introduces new approaches to preserving and promoting the value of heritage, while optimising the visitor experience within the digital environment."

He added that digital transformation was not simply the technology application in working but also a process of changing mindsets and organisational methods, as well as leveraging and enhancing the value of cultural and tourism resources for best results.

At the seminar, experts and speakers shared insights and presentations on the strategic direction for developing 'smart destinations' in Đồng Nai, an initiative integrated with broader strategies for the digital economy, digital tourism, and the growth of cultural industries.

Discussions focused on solutions for connecting creative resources with technology, as well as the application of artificial intelligence (AI), virtual/augmented reality (AR/VR), and digital twins to enhance visitor experiences and promote the Đồng Nai brand.

They shared international lessons and policy implications, along with strategies for developing a high-quality workforce to support the tourism and creative economy sectors.

Deputy Director of the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Khắc Vĩnh speaks at the event. Photo courtesy of organisers

The seminar also explored ways to foster an ecosystem that bridges local communities with digital platforms, aiming to develop cultural and tourism products, attract investment and facilitate public-private partnerships.

Additionally, participants discussed practical mechanisms and models for positioning and building the Đồng Nai brand on a larger scale, particularly in the context of the rapid advancement of AI.

During the seminar, enterprises and international investment funds as well as e-commerce platforms signed contracts to promote and develop the city's products and services in the digital environment.

Concluding the event, deputy director Vĩnh said the seminar served as a vital platform within the ongoing research process aimed at advancing digital transformation integrated with the sustainable development of culture and tourism in Đồng Nai.

The city received valuable opinions, proposals and suggestions from experts which would be studied and realised in the near future. 

Each task would be assigned to a responsible entity, with a clear implementation roadmap and specific evaluation criteria.

He asked called for stronger engagement between government agencies, local authorities, experts, and the business community to mobilize the knowledge, technology and social resources necessary for further development. — VNS