Dong Nai creates breakthroughs in rural tourism development

Dong Nai province has, in recent years, focused its resources on advancing rural tourism based on the achievements of new-style rural construction to promote rural tourism as part of the new-style rural development program, in line with Prime Minister’s Decision No. 922/QD-TTg dated August 2, 2022, approving the Rural Tourism Development Program for the 2021–2025 period.

Women in Bu Gia Map commune demonstrate traditional brocade weaving for visitors. Photo: Ngoc Lien

To implement the Prime Minister’s directives, in 2023, both Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc developed rural tourism plans for the 2023–2025 period. Developing rural tourism based on cultural traditions, natural landscapes, and rural environments contributes to restructuring the rural economy and building sustainable new-style rural communities.

A variety of distinctive rural tourism products

In recent years, both Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc have pursued rural tourism development strategies tailored to their local strengths, achieving notable results.

A variety of rural tourism products have emerged as many farmers leverage natural landscapes and local agricultural specialties to develop tourism, creating communities that attract visitors from both within and outside the provinces. The Binh Loc Ecotourism Village (in Binh Loc ward), the Xuan Bac Community Tourism Village (in Xuan Bac commune), the community-based tourism model of the M’nong and S’tieng ethnic groups in the buffer zone of Bu Gia Map National Park, and the cultural experience tourism model of the S’tieng people at the S’tieng Ethnic Culture Conservation Area (in Bom Bo commune) have become distinctive tourism offerings rich in local cultural identity.

In the first 10 months of 2025, Dong Nai received over 4.6 million visitors. Revenue from tourism services surpassed 3.3 trillion VND, achieving 86.9% of the 2025 target.

Located in the northern part of Dong Nai province, Bu Gia Map National Park covers more than 25,500 hectares across the two communes of Bu Gia Map and Dak O. Most of the park is in Bu Gia Map commune, which is home to a population that is over 70% M’nong and S’tieng.

According to Vuong Duc Hoa, Director of Bu Gia Map National Park, the park has prioritized ecotourism investments in recent years, alongside efforts to protect and develop its forests. These efforts have created livelihoods and increased incomes for communities in the buffer zone, promoting local economic development alongside nature conservation. By 2025, the park’s ecotourism products were recognized as 3-star OCOP (One Commune, One Product) tourism products, highlighting the park’s potential and vital role in fostering green, clean community tourism in the border region.

Vuong Duc Hoa noted that the number of visitors to Bu Gia Map National Park for exploration and experiential activities has steadily and consistently increased each year. Visitors include students, nature-loving young people, and those with an interest in exploring natural forests and learning about the local indigenous cultures.

Toward sustainable development

With ongoing efforts to develop rural tourism products across localities, Dong Nai has made significant breakthroughs in expanding its offerings. Many rural destinations have been transformed from low-yield agricultural land into economically successful tourism sites thanks to their advantageous locations and distinctive natural landscapes. These include destinations such as Lung Chung May (Mid-Cloud Viewpoint) and Vinh Bon Mua (Bay of Four Seasons) in La Nga commune, as well as Sunrise Farm in Dong Xoai ward.

Particularly notable is that Dong Nai currently has four OCOP 3-star tourism products, including: the Gia Canh discovery tour "Land of Peace" by Meerkat Travel Services Co., Ltd., in Dinh Quan commune; the Xuan Bac Community-Based Tourism Village operated by the Xuan Bac Fruit Farm Ecotourism Cooperative; the Xuan Loc cocoa experience tour by the Suoi Cat Cocoa Agricultural Services Cooperative in Xuan Loc commune; and the Bu Gia Map National Park Ecotourism Site managed by the Center for Communication, Tourism, and Conservation Rescue in Bu Gia Map commune.

To further develop Dong Nai's rural tourism products with a unique identity, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism is currently working on the “Tan Trieu Cultural and Tourism Village” project. This initiative will be one of the province’s flagship tourism offerings, located in the Tan Trieu pomelo area (Tan Trieu riverine island).

Having visited many rural destinations in Dong Nai, Tran Quoc Nhan, a resident of Tran Bien ward, shared that the province features many impressive sites to explore year-round. To enjoy the natural scenery and local specialties around Tri An Lake, visitors can camp, kayak, and sample regional delicacies. During the peak fruit season from May to August each year, tourists can visit well-known fruit-growing regions such as Binh Loc and Xuan Loc. According to Nhan, these destinations embody the rich cultural, historical, and traditional values of the local people, offering highly engaging experiences.

Building on these achievements, Dong Nai continues to promote comprehensive tourism development, with a particular focus on rural tourism, to fully capitalize on the province’s potential and notable results in new-style rural construction. The province is also working to standardize rural tourism destinations and products, while accelerating digital transformation, promoting products, and other initiatives to further advance the rural tourism sector.

Sharing about the province’s efforts in rural tourism development in recent years and its future directions, Le Thi Ngoc Loan, a member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, explained that the province has implemented various support policies to encourage investment in rural tourism. Priority has been given to allocating state budget funds for training and capacity-building programmes for tourism personnel, providing consultancy for households in product development, and improving tourism-related infrastructure in rural areas in line with market demands. Furthermore, the department has strengthened intersectoral coordination in managing rural tourism destinations, increased the effectiveness of tourism promotion and destination connectivity, and enhanced the quality of the rural tourism workforce, thereby contributing to the diversification of Dong Nai’s tourism offerings.

At the same time, the department has studied and proposed mechanisms and policies to support investment and product development in rural tourism, effectively connecting with travel enterprises to attract visitors to rural areas. These efforts have contributed to promoting destinations and gradually building Dong Nai’s reputation on both the national and international tourism maps.

By Ngoc Lien – Translated by Hong Van, Minho