[Photo series] What is special about Dong Nai's tourism product that just won the 'Southeast Asia Responsible Tourism 2025' award?

(DN) - The Southeast Asia Sustainable Tourism Certification Program (ICRT-SEA) has just announced that the Ta Lai Eco Lodge tourism product at Ta Lai Community Tourism Village in Ta Lai Commune, Tan Phu District, Dong Nai Province has won the Southeast Asia Responsible Tourism Award 2025.

Image of Ma ethnic people with brocade weaving and knitting materials with tourists . Photo: K.Ká

Ta Lai Eco Lodge was founded by Ka Tuyen - a young woman of the Ma ethnic group in March 2024. This is a sustainable ecotourism model, not only improving the livelihoods of local people but also preserving indigenous cultures and protecting the environment.

People teach bamboo weaving from environmentally friendly materials. Photo: K.Ká

Coming to Ta Lai Eco Lodge, visitors will be provided with services with profound and unique experiences about the customs, habits, culture and cuisine of the Ma and S'tieng ethnic groups.

Specifically: staying in traditional stilt houses of the Ma people, restored with natural materials such as bamboo and rattan; participating in hiking trips in the forest guided by local guides, experienced and knowledgeable about the forest, to share indigenous knowledge about the land and plants...

In addition, at Ta Lai Eco Lodge, visitors can also experience traditional crafts such as brocade weaving, bamboo basket weaving, making eco-bags from pandan leaves, etc. At the same time, they can participate in environmental sanitation activities (Green Sunday), cultural performances led by youth, and community language classes in Ma and English.

Brocade weaving profession of Ma women. Photo: K.Ka

Ta Lai Eco Lodge is built on the empowerment of local people. Villagers, especially women, the elderly and youth are recruited and trained to participate in important roles such as: reception, guiding, making handicrafts and introducing culture...

To date, the project has created jobs for 30 people and supported dozens more through rotating participation ineducational and craft programs.

Folk games are enthusiastically participated by tourists. Photo: K.Ká

Ma girls' dance in Ta Lai. Photo: N. Lien

Cuisine for tourists. Photo: N. Lien

Coming to Ta Lai Eco Lodge, tourists are immersed in the green natural space. Photo: N. Lien

Lessons on environmental protection are one of the messages that Ta Lai Eco Lodge sends to visitors when they come to Ta Lai. Photo: K.Ká

Tourists coming to Ta Lai not only explore the culture, nature and people but also receive love through small gifts for the local people. Photo: N. Lien

The results of garbage collection in Ta Lai with the contributions of local people, tourists, and foreign volunteers when coming to Ta Lai. Photo: K.Ká

With the values it has brought to the community, up to now, Ta Lai Eco Lodge has attracted over 1 thousand visitors and is becoming an attractive destination for tourists who want to explore and learn about the cultures of ethnic minorities, the values of nature, environment...

Ngoc Lien

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/tin-moi/202505/chum-anh-san-pham-du-lich-cua-dong-nai-vua-dat-giai-thuong-du-lich-co-trach-nhiem-dong-nam-a-2025-co-gi-dac-sac-8282e4d/