Recognizing that external information is an integral and important component of people-to-people diplomacy, in recent years the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations has effectively played its core role by proactively and creatively implementing diverse external communication and information activities, particularly through the organization of numerous events and competitions. These efforts have contributed to raising profound awareness among officials and people across the province about the role, position, and significance of people-to-people diplomacy. As a result, coordination and implementation between departments, agencies at all levels and specialized bodies have been carried out in a synchronized and effective manner.
One of the most effective and far-reaching models is the online contest on learning about people-to-people diplomacy (held for three consecutive years), which has attracted tens of thousands of participants across the province. Notably, each question requires contestants to spend time researching with support from relatives and relevant materials. This approach helps disseminate information widely within the community and encourages broader participation.
Entries submitted to the Contest on Learning about People-to-People Diplomacy
In addition, for many consecutive years, the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations has organized competitions such as the Bilingual Communication Product Design Contest; the Friendship Gift Design Contest; and the Friendship Song Composition Contest. The submitted works have generated a valuable source of high-quality communication products serving people-to-people diplomatic events and promoting Dong Nai's culture and tourism to domestic and international visitors.
Moreover, member friendship associations within the DUFO system have proactively organized various other competitions, including painting contests, exhibitions, the Vietnam–U.S. Singing Contest, and Friendship Singing Festivals between Vietnam and Laos, and Vietnam and China. In particular, public speaking contests in English, French, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and other languages have attracted significant youth participation. Overall, these competitions not only enhance understanding of Vietnamese culture, history, and people in general, and Dong Nai Province in particular, but also help local people gain deeper insights into the cultures of partner countries. At the same time, they create opportunities for contestants to develop their linguistic strengths, analytical and argumentative abilities, and communication skills—thereby improving awareness and capacity to contribute to fostering friendly relations between Dong Nai and other countries.
Furthermore, for six consecutive years since 2020, the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations has organized the Friendship Melodies Festival and exchange programs with Consulates General of various countries in Ho Chi Minh City in coordination with friendship unions of partner provinces and cities. These events serve as meaningful platforms for member friendship associations. According to the organizing committee, each performance has left a distinctive impression on domestic and international audiences, reflecting the unique cultural characteristics of partner countries. Through these activities, the values of peace and friendship are spread, and the image of Vietnam and its people is promoted to international friends. This is a typical cultural diplomacy event that should be maintained and further developed.
To ensure that people-to-people diplomacy deeply permeates and spreads throughout society, since 2020 the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations has established a team of rapporteurs and developed lecture outlines for oral communication sessions. At the same time, it has launched a system-wide campaign under the slogan: “Each official and member is a communicator of people-to-people diplomacy." With this motto, nearly 11,000 members of DUFO have become active forces on the external information front. Each member bears responsibility not only for promoting people-to-people diplomacy but also for serving as a bridge in disseminating information about partner countries.
Thematic conference on people-to-people diplomacy for officials in charge of mass mobilization and front work at all levels in 2022
Alongside pioneering various models and competitions, DUFO has regularly organized and coordinated with the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commissions, as well as the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai Province, to hold numerous conferences, training courses, and thematic talks on people-to-people diplomacy. Most of these events have been attended by key officials, rapporteurs, and personnel responsible for external information work within the propaganda, mass mobilization, and front systems at all levels. This has helped disseminate the Party's and State's policies on people-to-people diplomacy down to the grassroots level.
In recent years, DUFO has proactively integrated communication activities into people-to-people diplomatic events and friendship exchanges, such as documentary film screenings, exhibitions, distribution of materials, and cultural and artistic performances. These efforts have helped spread the image of Vietnam and Dong Nai Province to the world, strengthened mutual understanding and trust, and contributed to promoting cooperation in various fields.
In addition, DUFO has coordinated with Dong Nai Newspaper and Dong Nai Radio and Television to develop monthly special columns titled “Friendship Bridge." It has also proactively published a quarterly Friendship Newsletter and regularly updated its electronic portal and social media platforms with information on people-to-people diplomacy. Through these activities, information on people-to-people diplomacy within the province has been promptly delivered to the public.
In 2025, marking the 75th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations successfully organized the 2025 Friendship Culture and Sports Week. This large-scale external event featured nearly 30 activities organized by the Union and its member friendship associations, attracting a large number of officials, members, citizens, diplomatic agencies, international organizations, foreign non-governmental organizations, and FDI enterprises.
Overall, in recent years, DUFO's external information activities have been highly appreciated by the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee in terms of both domestic and external communication, direct and indirect outreach. DUFO's activities have contributed effectively to the annual Work Program of the Provincial Steering Committee for External Information and have helped officials and people from all walks of life gain deeper awareness of the Party's foreign policy and actively participate in people-to-people diplomacy.
To achieve these results, multiple factors have played a role: from the Party's guidelines on people-to-people diplomacy and external information, to DUFO's effective utilization of the attention and support of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, departments, agencies, and mass organizations. Most importantly, the decisive factor behind success lies in the Union's own proactiveness. It must continuously innovate its content and operational methods, create professional working spaces and improve quality in order to produce effective communication products. The more effective its performance, the greater the trust and support from provincial leaders and the stronger the consensus and participation from the people.