Discovering Dong Nai’s 3-Star OCOP tourism products

(ĐN) - After the recent administrative merger, Dong Nai province now has 4 tourism products recognized with a 3-star OCOP rating.

Specifically, 4 Dong Nai’s 3-star OCOP tourism products include: Xuan Loc Cocoa Experience Tour by Suoi Cat Cocoa Agricultural Service Cooperative, Xuan Loc Commune; Xuan Bac Community-Based Tourism Village by Xuan Bac Fruit Garden Ecotourism Cooperative, Xuan Bac Commune; Gia Canh Discovery – “The Peaceful Land” by Meerkat Travel Co., Ltd., Dinh Quan Commune; Bu Gia Map National Park Ecotourism Site by the Center for Communication, Tourism, and Conservation Rescue (Bu Gia Map National Park, Bu Gia Map Commune).

Visitors experience garden tours at Xuan Bac Community-Based Tourism Village (Xuan Bac Commune). Photo: Ngoc Lien

Elevating agricultural products through agrotourism

Dong Nai is known as the fruit capital of the Southeast region, boasting famous specialties such as rambutan, durian, and mangosteen… During peak harvest season, vast fruit orchards paint a vibrant picture of the countryside, especially in localities such as Xuan Bac Commune, Binh Loc Ward, and Hang Gon Ward…

In addition to orchards that draw a large number of visitors, Dong Nai also boasts destinations offering rich experiences from exploring nature and immersing in the daily life of local residents, to learning about farmers’ production activities. Through these agricultural and rural experiential tourism models, the economic value of local farm products has been elevated, contributing to the socio-economic development of rural areas.

Tourists check-in at an orchard in Xuan Bac Commune. Photo: Ngoc Lien

As one of the cooperatives that has long operated effectively in cocoa cultivation and processing, the Suoi Cat Cocoa Agricultural Service Cooperative (Xuan Loc Commune) has earned recognition with a 3-star OCOP tourism product. It is also an attractive destination for both domestic and international visitors. Cocoa products here are highly popular among tourists. When visiting the cocoa garden, travelers can experience firsthand the processes of planting, caring for, and processing cocoa, as well as enjoy a wide range of chocolate-based products. Alongside its achievements in agrotourism, the cooperative is currently supplying raw materials to chocolate brands from France, the Republic of Korea (RoK), China, Belgium, and others.

Suoi Cat Cocoa Garden, a destination recognized as a 3-star OCOP tourism product. Photo: Ngoc Lien

The Xuan Bac community-based tourism village, operated by the Xuan Bac Fruit garden ecotourism cooperative, has long been known to visitors both within and outside the province for its community-based ecotourism model that links together local orchards. This community tour has proven highly attractive to tourists.

According to Van Thanh Toan, Head of the Ecotourism Cooperative, visitors to the fruit orchards in Xuan Bac can experience harvesting and tasting delicious fruits such as mangosteen, green-skinned pomelo, jackfruit, rambutan, and guava... In addition, the cooperative has recently partnered with businesses to organize field trips and farming experience tours for students, which have been highly appreciated.

Discovering nature combined with local culture and cuisine

In addition to its standout agrotourism products that attract visitors, Dong Nai offers forest ecotourism experiences intertwined with the cultural and culinary values of local ethnic communities.

At the Gia Canh Discovery – “The Peaceful Land” tourism product in Dinh Quan Commune, developed and operated by Meerkat Travel Co., Ltd., visitors can immerse themselves in the fresh air of the vast Gia Canh forest. They can enjoy unique experiences such as strolling along picturesque rural paths and admiring rice fields at different stages of the season.

Beyond hands-on experiences, tourists can listen to captivating local stories and visit agricultural production models operated by local residents. One of the must-try activities of the Gia Canh Discovery tour is cycling through the forest to admire waterfalls, climbing rocky mountains, and hearing fascinating tales about stones (such as the Seven-Sample Rock and Lovers’ Rock), as well as about biodiversity.

Visitors will also be treated to a wide array of local delicacies, including grilled La Nga catfish, catfish hotpot with forest vegetables, and free-range chicken…

Cycling through the Gia Canh forest – a must-try activity when experiencing the OCOP tourism product – Gia Canh Discovery. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Since July 1, 2025, the merger of Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces has brought the new Dong Nai additional potential for tourism development, including waterfall and forest ecotourism, scenic relics, and more. Bu Gia Map National Park is one of the major resources for boosting the province’s tourism sector. In May 2025, the Ecotourism Site at Bu Gia Map National Park was officially recognized as a 3-star OCOP tourism product.

According to Do Truong Giang, Deputy Director of the Center for Tourism Propaganda, and Conservation Rescue at Bu Gia Map National Park, the Bu Gia Map National Park’s 3-star OCOP tourism product includes ecotourism tours that allow visitors to explore the National Park’s rich biodiversity.

At Bu Gia Map, tourists can enjoy trekking to waterfalls and heritage trees, camping overnight in the forest, and discovering the wonders of pristine nature along with its diverse flora and fauna, all accompanied by local S’tieng and M’nong ethnic residents.

All experiential tourism activities in Bu Gia Map National Park are closely tied to the cultural and culinary spaces of ethnic minority communities living in the National Park’s buffer zone. Visitors can immerse themselves in gong culture, join campfires, stay overnight in traditional S’tieng longhouses, and explore traditional handicrafts such as basket weaving and brocade weaving – both recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage. They can also savor unique local dishes such as grilled meats, bamboo-tube rice, stream fish, and canh thuc (thut) – a specialty soup honored in 2022 as one of Vietnam’s 121 outstanding dishes.

Beautiful waterfalls at Bu Gia Map National Park. Photo: Truong Giang

Brocade weaving of the M’nong ethnic people – one of the community cultural experience activities at Bu Gia Map National Park. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Commenting on the OCOP tourism products in the province, Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Provincial Party Committee Member and Director of the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, noted: The 3-star OCOP tourism products in Dong Nai are community-based agricultural tourism and forest ecotourism products combined with the cultural identity of local ethnic groups. These products are built on the province’s existing resources, offering visitors authentic experiences of nature as well as the cultural and artistic heritage of ethnic communities.

In particular, the OCOP tourism product of Bu Gia Map National Park harmoniously blends ecotourism with the cultural promotion of the S’tieng and M’nong ethnic groups, alongside showcasing local farming, production, and harvesting practices. These include brocade weaving, stem liquor making, cocoa processing, seasonal fruit cultivation, and rural lifestyles… All of these activities contribute to enhancing the value of local agricultural products.

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Provincial Party Committee Member and Director of the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism emphasized: "In the coming time, the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will continue to conduct surveys, encourage, and support localities to leverage their advantages in developing tourism products, thereby contributing to the growth of Dong Nai’s tourism sector as well as the province’s socio-economic development."

By: Ngoc Lien

Translated by: Quynh Giao - Thu Ha