Dong Nai OCOP transition: [Article 3] Linking tourism with OCOP product consumption

After the merger, Dong Nai has many more tourism products meeting 3-star OCOP standards, contributing to increasing the value of local agricultural products and developing a sustainable rural economy.

Integrating agriculture with experiential tourism.

Known as the "fruit capital" of the Southeast region, Dong Nai is famous for its specialties such as rambutan, durian, mangosteen, and green pomelo. During the harvest season, the orchards laden with fruit in Xuan Bac commune, Binh Loc ward, Hang Gon ward, etc., become attractive destinations for tourists, adding to the rich and colorful rural landscape.

During harvest season, the orchards laden with fruit in Xuan Bac commune, Binh Loc ward, Hang Gon ward, etc., become attractive destinations for tourists, adding to the rich and colorful rural landscape. Photo: Minh Sang.

Beyond simply being tourist attractions, agro-tourism models offer visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the lives of farmers, directly participating in planting, caring for, harvesting, and processing agricultural products. This enhances the value of products, while also creating jobs, increasing income, and providing impetus for rural economic development.

One of the outstanding examples is the Suoi Cat Cocoa Agricultural Service Cooperative (Suoi Cat 2 hamlet, Xuan Loc commune), which has successfully built the "Thanh Y Cocoa" brand, with a diverse range of products such as cocoa butter, cocoa butter, and lipstick, pure cocoa powder, as well as various types of dark, white, milk, matcha, cashew, peanut, and strawberry chocolates. Of these, two products, pure cocoa powder and milk chocolate, have received OCOP 3-star provincial certification, affirming their quality and standardized production processes.

In particular, the fermented cocoa beans from the cooperative are considered by businesses from the US, Japan, Singapore, and China to be of the highest quality in Vietnam, and they are willing to purchase them at high prices. The success of Suoi Cat Cocoa clearly demonstrates the prestige and brand value of Dong Nai agricultural products in the international market, and also shows the right direction in developing deep-processed agriculture and high-quality OCOP products.

The processed cocoa products of Suoi Cat Cocoa Cooperative are considered the best quality in Vietnam by businesses from the US, Japan, Singapore, and China, who are willing to purchase them at high prices. Photo: Hoang Phuc.

Similarly, Xuan Bac Community Tourism Village is also popular with tourists from both within and outside the province. This model connects households growing fruit trees, organizing "a day as a farmer" experience tours where tourists can directly pick fruit, enjoy it in the orchard, and participate in outdoor activities and hands-on work. Mr. Van Thanh Toan, Head of the Xuan Bac Tourism Cooperative, shared: "Tourists coming to Xuan Bac not only visit but also immerse themselves in the life of farmers, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and the sweet taste of homegrown fruit."

Along with agro-tourism, Dong Nai also boasts many unique eco-tourism products. A prime example is the Bu Gia Map National Park eco-tourism area, which was recently recognized as a 3-star OCOP product in May 2025.

Located on the border with the Central Highlands, Bu Gia Map is the "green lung" of the region, where tourists can trek through the forest, camp overnight, and explore the rich ecosystem with many rare species of flora and fauna. Visitors can also participate in weaving brocade, basket making, cooking bamboo rice, enjoying traditional rice wine, experiencing gong music, and especially trying "canh thut," one of the 121 typical Vietnamese dishes.

Bu Gia Map National Park ecotourism area was recently recognized as a 3-star OCOP standard tourist destination in May 2025. Photo: Hoang Phuc.

These activities not only help promote the natural beauty of Dong Nai but also spread the cultural values ​​of the indigenous ethnic groups, contributing to the sustainable development of ecotourism. This is not only an important milestone in the "One Commune, One Product" program but also contributes to enhancing the value of agricultural products, promoting rural economy in a sustainable direction, and linking agriculture with experiential tourism.

Connecting tourism and OCOP (One Commune One Product) for a "double benefit"

Dong Nai is moving towards a model of experiential tourism combined with the consumption of OCOP products, creating a natural distribution channel while opening up avenues for green and circular economic development. Especially in recent years, the movement for green production and deep processing has spread increasingly widely. However, for OCOP to develop sustainably, the core element is not only product quality but also expanding a stable consumer market.

Dong Nai is moving towards a model of experiential tourism combined with the consumption of OCOP products, creating a natural distribution channel, while also opening up avenues for green and circular economic development. Photo: Minh Sang.

According to experts, linking tourism with the consumption of OCOP products helps promote agricultural brands and create unique characteristics for each destination. When tourists can witness the production process firsthand and enjoy the products on-site, they are more willing to buy them as gifts, creating a consumption flow linked to cultural and local experiences.

Starting her business four years ago with only raw honey, Ms. Vu Thi Thanh Thuy, Director of Vang Anh Honey Production Facility (An Vien commune, Dong Nai province), has applied modern processing technology to create a diverse range of environmentally friendly honey products. Currently, the facility has 9 products, including 5 products that have achieved OCOP 3-star status and 1 pre-OCOP product, namely raw honeycomb honey, male papaya flower honey, freeze-dried chewy ginger jam, ginger-infused honey, and fresh turmeric infused with honey.

Ms. Vu Thi Thanh Thuy shared: “Thanks to the combination with experiential tourism models and products applying new technologies in preservation and processing, they were quickly accepted by the market, creating motivation for me to expand more OCOP products each year. We aim not only to export products but also to promote the image of clean, creative agricultural products with Vietnamese identity to friends around the world.”

The Golden Oriole Honey Farm (An Vien commune, Dong Nai province) aims not only to export its products but also to promote the image of clean, innovative agricultural products with Vietnamese identity to the world. Photo: Minh Sang.

Notably, not only has the Golden Oriole Honey brand begun exporting to the South Korean market, affirming the potential for further expansion of Dong Nai's OCOP products.

Ms. Le Thi Anh Tuyet, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Nai province, shared: “Currently, Dong Nai has many outstanding tourist areas such as Long Khanh, Vinh Cuu, Xuan Loc, Tan Phu, Dinh Quan… attracting 3-4 million visitors each year. If just half of them choose to buy OCOP products or handicrafts, the revenue generated will be enormous, contributing to increasing the value of agricultural products and promoting domestic consumption.”

The connection between tourism and the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program is bringing a "double benefit": the tourism industry gains unique products to attract tourists, while agriculture gains a sustainable consumption and promotion channel. Traditional craft villages also have the opportunity to expand their markets, forming value chains from production to experience and consumption.

Ms. Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Nai province, said: “The province's 3-star OCOP tourism products mainly focus on two groups: community-based agricultural tourism and forest-based ecotourism combined with indigenous ethnic culture. This model makes good use of natural advantages, effectively exploiting resources while enhancing the value of agricultural products and regional identity.”

According to Ms. Loan, in the coming time, the Department will continue to survey and support localities in building and upgrading OCOP products, especially the group of eco-tourism, agricultural, and cultural products, aiming to make Dong Nai a distinctive destination in the Southeast region, where tourism is closely linked with agricultural production and environmental conservation.

Thanks to the combination with experiential tourism models and products utilizing new technologies in preservation and processing, the OCOP products of Vang Anh Honey Production Facility have quickly gained market acceptance. Photo: Minh Sang.

From orchards laden with fruit to vast primeval forests, OCOP tourism products are becoming a bridge between agriculture and tourism, demonstrating Dong Nai's correct direction in building a green economy, ecological agriculture, and sustainable new rural areas.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Nai province, developing 3-star OCOP tourism products not only helps promote the image of a green and friendly Dong Nai, but also contributes to diversifying livelihoods, increasing income for rural people, and promoting the One Commune One Product Program to become more effective and substantial.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/buoc-chuyen-ocop-dong-nai-bai-3-gan-du-lich-with-tieu-thu-san-pham-ocop-d782988.html