On June 24, the Dong Nai People's Committee announced a decision granting national monument status to the Soc Bom Bo Historical Site and recognising the hand-pounded rice tradition of the S'tieng and M'nong communities as a national intangible cultural heritage.
Located in Bom Bo Commune, the Soc Bom Bo Historical Site includes two traditional longhouses, a festival ground, two groups of artistic sculptures, a community house and record-setting cultural works, including a gong ensemble and a lithophone collection.
The site commemorates the contributions of ethnic minority communities in Soc Bom Bo during Vietnam's resistance wars. Residents famously pounded rice by hand to supply food for revolutionary forces, helping support frontline troops during the struggle for national liberation.
The traditional rice-pounding practice of the S'tieng and M'nong peoples is regarded as a distinctive intangible heritage that reflects indigenous knowledge, agricultural customs, community life and cultural values passed down through generations.
Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Le Thi Ngoc Loan, director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Nai, said the sector would continue to prioritise heritage education and preservation while strengthening the role of local communities in safeguarding cultural traditions.
She added that authorities would also promote the use of digital technology to raise awareness of cultural heritage and enhance its value.
With the latest recognitions, Dong Nai now has 121 heritage sites, including six special national monuments and 42 national monuments.
The new designations are expected to support conservation efforts and help preserve the cultural identity and historical legacy of the region's ethnic communities.