“New breeze” for Dong Nai tourism

Dong Nai's tourism industry is experiencing a "new wave" after the province's merger, with advantages and potential in eco-tourism, forests, waterfalls, and lakes; spiritual destinations, historical sites, and famous landmarks are being surveyed by tourism and travel businesses, preparing to launch new Dong Nai experiential tour products.

Colonel Vo Thanh Danh, Standing Committee member of the Provincial Party Committee and Commander of the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command, and Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang, discussed the traditional brocade weaving craft with the M'nong people in Bu Gia Map commune. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Dong Nai boasts two national parks, Bu Gia Map and Cat Tien, renowned for their unique forest habitats and biodiversity with rare animal and plant species, along with the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve and its famous forests. In addition, historical and cultural sites in Dong Nai offer visitors many fascinating stories, helping them better understand the history, culture, and customs of ethnic minority communities, such as the S'tieng ethnic cultural conservation area in Bom Bo commune and the Ta Lai ethnic village (Ta Lai commune).

Impressive destinations

Dong Nai boasts many impressive destinations that have achieved national and international accolades, such as: Dak Mai Waterfall in Bu Gia Map National Park (Bu Gia Map commune), which was honored as one of the Top 7 most impressive ecotourism destinations in 2023; and Cat Tien National Park, whose Bau Sau area was recognized as one of the Top 7 ecotourism destinations in 2023. Notably, in 2024, Cat Tien National Park became the 72nd protected area in the world and the first national park in Vietnam to receive the IUCN Green List designation from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In addition, the province also has many other tourist areas and attractions that are among the top impressive destinations rated by tourists, such as: Bo Cap Vang Eco-tourism Area (Dai Phuoc commune) in the Top 10 most favorite eco-tourism destinations in 2024; Panorama Glamping destination (La Nga commune) recognized as the world's glamping destination in 2024; Tropical Eglamping destination (La Nga commune) recognized as the world's glamping destination in 2024 by the Luxury Travel Awards Organization. Or Chua Chan Mountain and Ba Ra Mountain, dubbed the "second" and "third" most beautiful mountains (after Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh province), are considered centers for organizing sports and entertainment events, and tours exploring the forests and wild nature of the Southeast region.

According to Tran Thi Thu Trang, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center: After the merger, with new advantages and tourism potential, the center has developed a plan to survey destinations in the province and create new tourism products for Dong Nai. With the mission of closely following the province's tourism development theme for 2025: "Dong Nai Tourism Takes Flight with Aviation," the Dong Nai Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center will develop tourism products connecting Long Thanh International Airport to unique tourist destinations in Dong Nai, focusing on exploring border areas, experiencing nature, and the lives of people in border regions of Dong Nai. The new tourism product is expected to launch at the end of 2025.

Developing distinctive tourism products

Dong Nai boasts many well-known tourist areas such as Buu Long, My Le, Son Tien, Son Ha Island, and historical revolutionary sites like the D War Zone, the Headquarters of the Southern Vietnam Liberation Army (Ta Thiet Base), and the S'tieng ethnic cultural conservation area in Bom Bo village, spread throughout Dong Nai province. Besides developing tourism at these destinations, Dong Nai and travel agencies both within and outside the province are also very interested in connecting tours and offering new travel experiences.

Based on the province's tourism product development orientations, recently, several agencies and units have proactively surveyed, developed, and effectively exploited distinctive local tourism products such as: heritage tourism, forest ecotourism and weekend camping tourism; spiritual tourism products associated with guided meditation activities; and volunteer tourism products associated with experiential activities.

Specifically, these include: ecotourism tours with destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City - My Le Ecotourism Area - Bang Lang Hill - Bu Gia Map National Park; cultural experience tours of Ho Chi Minh City - Son Ha Swiftlet Island Tourist Area - S'tieng ethnic cultural conservation area in Bom Bo - Bu Lach grassland; and tours to historical sites such as the Provincial Museum - Van Thanh Buddhist Temple - Ta Thiet Base…

As one of the destinations with strong connections and developing tourism in Dong Nai, Tran Hong Hai, Director of My Le Eco-tourism Area (Binh Tan commune, Dong Nai province), shared: My Le Eco-tourism Area covers an area of ​​48 hectares. After nearly 20 years of operation, the area has established a strong position in the tourism market with a stable number of visitors. During holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), it attracts local tourists; during the summer, it attracts more tourists from Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces.

In recent years, Dong Nai has attracted nearly 1 trillion VND in business capital to develop new tourism products such as: Son Tien Tourist Area, which has put into operation the Son Tien Amazing World themed park with many high-quality entertainment activities; Bo Cap Vang Tourist Area, which has put into operation a waterfall bathing area; Dong Nai Nature and Culture Conservation Area, which has opened accommodation at Ba Hao Lake; and Dinh Quan district, which has launched the adventure tourism product "Dinh Quan beckons"... to enhance attracting tourists.

Mr. Tran Hong Hai commented: Dong Nai has enormous potential with its natural landscapes, unique cultural characteristics, and distinctive cuisine. To develop the local tourism industry, Dong Nai needs to connect and link the development of new destinations and tourist routes, creating new features and unique products for Dong Nai tourism.

Pham Huong Son, Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial Tourism Association, said: "The Association will always strive to closely follow the guidance of the provincial leaders, develop programs and plans, and create connections among tourism businesses in the province to jointly promote the development of the tourism industry in the coming time according to the plan."

Discussing the future development of tourism, Ms. Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Provincial Party Committee member and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Nai province, said: The tourism sector will continue to direct and promote the dissemination of information to raise public awareness about tourism development. In particular, it will continue to promote Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated December 30, 2021, of the Provincial Party Committee on developing tourism into an important economic sector; while closely adhering to the new guiding principles of the Party and State on tourism development… In addition, it will clearly affirm the role of tourism in the socio-economic development of the province, thereby organizing activities to raise awareness and actions of tourism service businesses; Building a culture of civilized, polite, friendly, and hospitable behavior and attitudes in welcoming and serving tourists through various forms such as conferences, seminars, information on electronic information websites, newspapers, and Dong Nai radio and television...

Ngoc Lien

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/giai-tri/202508/lan-gio-moi-cho-du-lich-dong-nai-602194b/