Dong Nai calls for investment in trillion-dollar tourism project

Tourists paddleboard (SUP) on Tri An Lake, a very popular activity. Photo: Ngoc Lien

The tourist routes and destinations are planned according to the Ecotourism, Resort, and Entertainment Project of the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve, giai đoạn 2021-2030 (referred to as the Ecotourism Project), which was approved by the Provincial People's Committee at the end of 2023, with a total estimated investment of nearly 1 trillion VND.

Discover the "green lung" of the Southeast region of Vietnam.

The Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve has a total natural area of over 100,000 hectares. Of this, nearly 66,000 hectares are forested, and about 2,000 hectares are non-forested; Tri An Lake covers over 32,000 hectares and is one of the locations planned for development into a national tourist destination.

Once known as the "green lung" of the Southeast region, the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve boasts characteristic forest and lake ecosystems, including: dense evergreen broadleaf forests; mixed bamboo and broadleaf forests; pure bamboo forests; grassland and shrub ecosystems; and river and lakeside ecosystems.

With its diverse and abundant flora and fauna, the reserve is home to over 600 plant species and nearly 1,900 animal species. Among them are many rare species listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world, such as the Asian elephant, gaur, sun bear, clouded leopard, black-footed langur, pheasant, and many endemic bird species. Notably, it is also home to Vietnam's last remaining wild elephant herd, with approximately 22 individuals, making it an extremely attractive destination for wildlife viewing tours and scientific research.

Providing further information on the values of the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve, Mr. Nguyen Van Ha, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for the Implementation of the Ecotourism Project, stated: Besides its natural values, the reserve also possesses cultural values with the presence of ethnic minority communities. These unique cultural features are valuable resources for developing community-based tourism models, allowing visitors to experience the lives of indigenous peoples more deeply. In addition, the area boasts famous historical sites such as the Central Committee Headquarters of the Southern Region and the Ma Da Martyrs' Cemetery… these are significant destinations for young people, students, and travel businesses to organize meaningful and exciting tours that combine historical exploration with exploring the lush green forest.

Opportunities for investors and tourism development.

With the goal of effectively exploiting the potential and advantages of natural resources, biodiversity, and cultural and historical values to create unique, high-quality, and competitive tourism products in accordance with the province's Ecotourism Project, Dong Nai hopes to find visionary and pioneering investors to seize opportunities and register for investment in world-class tourism development projects. These tourism projects are sure to promise outstanding profits and contribute to the sustainable development of Dong Nai tourism as well as the Vietnamese tourism industry.

Sharing the advantages for investors coming to the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve, Deputy Director Dinh Thi Lan Huong affirmed: Investors can rest assured when investing in projects planned according to the Ecotourism Project approved by the Provincial People's Committee. In addition to the advantage of being well-planned, these projects have been given a solid, safe, and transparent legal foundation through decisions and directives from the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee.

With 51 clearly planned tourism development sites and 37 forest exploration routes, this area will serve as a foundation for domestic and international businesses to visit this "precious gem" in the world's biodiversity ecosystem. This is because it was recognized by UNESCO as the core area of the Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve in 2011 – a "golden guarantee" of its value and brand on the global tourism map.

Forest exploration activities at the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Reserve, organized by Tri An Adventure Co., Ltd. Photo: Ngoc Lien.

To facilitate investment, the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve has introduced six outstanding investment projects, including: a high-end resort complex planned to include resorts and villas along Tri An Lake, taking advantage of the waterfront landscape and the tranquility of the forest. The planned area is approximately 326 hectares, targeting high-end customers and MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions); and a wildlife breeding and observation area (Safari) with a planned area of 412 hectares, where visitors can experience observing wildlife in its natural environment. This model is extremely attractive to domestic and international tourists, combining educational activities and wildlife photography.

According to Ms. Dinh Thi Lan Huong, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve, the reserve's ecotourism project currently has 12 registered investors. Dong Nai hopes that potential investors will show interest and work with the locality to explore this invaluable potential, jointly creating a world-class ecotourism destination that brings harmonious benefits to businesses, the community, and nature.

Adventure and aerial sports tourism aims to exploit diverse terrains to develop activities such as trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, and especially aviation sports parks with aerial sightseeing experiences (hot air balloons, paragliding), catering to the experiential tourism trends of young people.

Other projects include: a Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center planned with an area of 240 hectares; community and cultural tourism in cooperation with local people to build homestays, cultural experience tours, and local cuisine, creating sustainable livelihoods and in-depth tourism products; and a Carbon Credit Project aimed at leveraging the vast forest area to participate in the carbon credit market, a new and promising field, generating dual revenue from tourism and forest environmental services. This is a leading investment in the green economy and sustainable development trend.

Ngoc Lien

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202508/dong-nai-keu-goi-dau-tu-du-an-du-lich-ngan-ty-b2e20cb/