Southern Vietnam's Đồng Nai province is getting serious about technology. On November 1, during the DIGIFEST Đồng Nai 2026 event, the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism ran a seminar on digital transformation in destination branding, tied to culture and sustainable tourism — part of Vietnam's broader national push under Resolution 57-NQ/TW, issued by the Politburo in December 2024 to drive science, tech and digital transformation nationwide.

Why does a policy seminar matter to travellers? Because Đồng Nai has a lot more on the shelf than most visitors realise. According to Nguyễn Khắc Vĩnh, deputy director of the department, the province counts six special national heritage sites and 42 national heritage sites, plus dozens of tourism zones and attractions. Cát Tiên National Park — a favourite for cycling tours and wildlife encounters — sits in the province, and the region blends history, nature and riverside culture within easy reach of Ho Chi Minh City.

The seminar's pitch was that 'smart destination' thinking can modernise how these places are managed and experienced. Speakers explored how AI, virtual and augmented reality, and digital twins could be used to interpret heritage sites, enhance visitor experiences and build a stronger Đồng Nai brand, alongside international case studies and plans for training a workforce for the tourism and creative economy.

There were concrete outcomes too. Enterprises, international investment funds and e-commerce platforms signed agreements at the event to promote and sell the city's products and services digitally. Officials closed by promising that expert proposals would be assigned to specific entities with clear roadmaps and evaluation criteria — so expect digital booking tools, better heritage interpretation and online promotion of Đồng Nai experiences to roll out over the coming years.

For holidaymakers, the takeaway is simple: Đồng Nai is positioning itself as more than a drive-through province on the way to the Central Highlands. Better digital infrastructure usually means easier trip planning, richer context at heritage sites and more community-run products getting online visibility. Travellers who like to be ahead of the curve — or who want a nature-and-culture fix withoutHCMC's crowds — should keep an eye on this corner of southern Vietnam.