Unlocking the tourism potential of Ia Dom border commune.

Ia Dom commune (Gia Lai province) boasts a vast, lush teak forest, pristine streams, and the Le Thanh International Border Gate connecting it to the Kingdom of Cambodia.

These unique advantages are expected by the commune to contribute to the formation of eco-tourism, experiential tourism, and community-based cultural tourism products with their own distinctive characteristics.

Rare advantages

In the western border region of the province, the Ia Krêl stream and the Mook Trê stream flow from different directions through the mountains and forests before converging at a meeting point in Ia Dom commune. After meeting, they merge into the Twin Streams, which then flow down to the Pô Cô River, continuing their journey into Cambodia.

The pristine beauty of Ia Krêl stream is a potential asset for Ia Dom commune to develop ecotourism. Photo: Hoang Ngoc

These are not just streams and rivers with names on geographical maps; their shapes seem to capture the natural beauty of Mother Vietnam before crossing the border, carrying silt and life-giving resources downstream.

Before merging into the Twin Streams, the Ia Krêl River meanders through the mountains and forests of the Ia Dom border region. The streambed is wide, with rocky areas bearing unique traces of petrified wood.

With its diverse ecosystem, the border commune of Ia Dom has great potential for developing ecotourism. Photo: Hoang Ngoc

Meanwhile, the Twin Stream boasts large, flat rocks on its wide bed, forming small rapids and waterfalls along its long course under the cool, green canopy of ancient forests. This place seems tailor-made for picnics and camping trips.

Getting to these streams isn't too difficult. Visitors can combine driving a car or motorbike and then trekking a short distance under the rubber trees to reach the pristine beauty of the border region.

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The 32-hectare teak forest is one of the distinctive tourism resources of Ia Dom commune.

While the Doi stream captivates visitors with its rocky rapids and crystal-clear water year-round, about 5 km from the stream lies a 32-hectare teak forest planted in 1997, considered a "green treasure" created by human hands.

After nearly three decades of taking root in the border region, the teak trees have grown tall, forming straight rows. Their canopies intertwine above, weaving a lush green canopy, so that every step through the forest feels like entering a "sanctuary of nature."

Creating a new tourist destination in the far western region of Gia Lai.

To unlock the beauty of the pristine streams and teak forests in the border region, the People's Committee of Ia Dom commune, in coordination with the Provincial Tourism Association and travel businesses, recently conducted a field survey to assess the potential for ecotourism development in the area.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Thanh - former Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Association, Director of Tan Thanh Tourism Service Co., Ltd. (Dien Hong ward) - observed: Ia Dom possesses a special advantage as it is located on National Highway 19, directly connecting to the Le Thanh International Border Gate and the Kingdom of Cambodia, creating a unique competitive advantage for the locality in tourism development.

According to Mr. Thanh, Ia Dom could develop into a closed-loop experiential tourism product chain, combining visits to the border gate, exploring the Doi stream, camping under the teak forest canopy, and experiencing community culture in Bi village - a place that still preserves many traditional cultural values ​​of the Jrai people.

Suoi Doi (Double Stream) is formed by two streams, boasting a majestic beauty with flat rock formations and countless waterfalls and rapids along its course. Photo: Hoang Ngoc

This is also one of the rare areas where ecotourism, community tourism, and border tourism can be combined in a single itinerary. However, the tourism development process needs to avoid the concrete overburdening of the landscape and must preserve the forest ecosystem and natural water sources to conserve the pristine values ​​of this border region.

Participating in the survey, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang - Director of Dai Ngan Tourism and Event Services Co., Ltd. (Pleiku ward) suggested that, among the many streams and rivers in Gia Lai, Ia Dom needs to create its own unique identity so that tourists will remember Ia Krel stream and Doi stream.

According to Ms. Trang, the locality could create landscape highlights that harmonize with nature and utilize the image of fossilized tree trunks as a unique identifying feature. Studying the geological value and the story behind the formation of these relics would also contribute to enhancing the visitor experience.

The border commune of Ia Dom possesses rare advantages in terms of streams and forests.

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Mr. Tran Ngoc Phan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Ia Dom commune, said: After the survey trip, the commune will incorporate feedback from experts and travel businesses, and also refer to the tourism development experiences of many localities to gradually include destinations in the planning.

From there, the commune will proactively mobilize resources from national target programs, local budgets, and other legitimate sources to invest in infrastructure serving tourism development.

According to Mr. Phan, Ia Dom's orientation is to develop tourism in conjunction with the conservation of the natural environment, preserving the forest and stream landscapes, while creating conditions for local people to participate in tourism.

Along with that, it is important to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the people in the border region, such as the gong and drum space, rain-praying ceremonies, and water-offering rituals, and gradually restore unique cultural features to create a distinct identity for the destination.

According to Gia Lai Newspaper

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/danh-thuc-tiem-nang-du-lich-xa-vung-bien-ia-dom-a487862.html