Opportunities to invest in high-end tourism projects in Dong Nai

In January 2026, the Dong Nai Nature – Culture Reserve (hereinafter referred to as the Reserve, located in Tri An commune) signed a contract to lease the forest environment with its first enterprise to implement investment and business activities in ecotourism, resort tourism, and entertainment at the Ho Sen tourist site, in the Ba Hao Lake area of the Reserve.

Nguyen Van Ut (far right), Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee, surveys Tri An Lake in December 2025. Photo: Ngoc Lien

This event marks the opening move to attract investors to participate in the construction of 37 ecotourism routes and the development of 23 areas with 51 locations that have potential for ecotourism, resort tourism and entertainment, in line with the Ecotourism, Resort and Entertainment Development Scheme of the Reserve for the 2021–2030 period, which was approved by the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee at the end of 2023.

An attractive investment destination

With a total managed area of more than 100 thousand hectares, including over 63 thousand hectares of natural forest, more than 4.7 thousand hectares of production forest land, and over 32.5 thousand hectares in the Tri An Lake area, and guided by the principle of conserving and promoting forest values, in recent years the Reserve has made full use of the distinctive features of forest and lake ecosystems in line with tourism development orientations. These include the exploration of typical forest ecosystems such as evergreen broadleaf forests, mixed bamboo–broadleaf forests, pure bamboo forests, grassland and shrub ecosystems, and river and lakeside ecosystems.

For many years, the Reserve has become an attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists, especially visitors from neighboring provinces and cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, and Lam Dong.

For tourism investors, the Reserve is considered an attractive destination due to its advantages in planning and its rich natural, cultural, and historical values. In particular, the Tri An Lake area of the Reserve has been included on the list of designated National Tourism Areas for many years. In September 2025, at the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME-18) held in Malaysia, the Reserve was officially recognized as an ASEAN Heritage Park. With this recognition, it became one of only three national parks in Vietnam to receive this title, alongside Pu Mat National Park in Nghe An province and Xuan Thuy National Park in Ninh Binh province.

As the first enterprise to sign a contract for leasing forest environment land to invest in ecotourism development at the Reserve, Nguyen Que Anh, Permanent Deputy General Director of Viet An Trade, Education and Investment Joint Stock Company (Viet An Company), shared that with an area of more than 17 hectares, Viet An Company selected the Ho Sen site in the Ba Hao Lake area of the Reserve to invest in the Ho Sen Ecotourism and Resort Complex Project. The project aims to become a trend-setting resort tourism destination, oriented toward sustainable development and aligned with international standards, including eligibility for sustainable development certification (green, clean, and beautiful; high-quality human resources), high-end quality and amenities, and conservation and development. This initiative is an ecotourism and resort project integrated with proactive healthcare services, expected to be completed and operational by early 2028.

The Reserve features rich biodiversity, with nearly 2,200 animal species and more than 1,500 plant species living and thriving. It is one of the most attractive destinations for young people passionate about exploration in Dong Nai.

Creating the best conditions for investors in Dong Nai

At the end of 2023, the Ecotourism, Resort and Entertainment Development Scheme of the Reserve for the 2021–2030 period was approved by the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee. The scheme orients the development of nine ecotourism products, including: nature exploration; resort tourism and lake-based ecotourism; revolutionary historical sites and ethnic minority community culture; sports and adventure tourism; integrated entertainment tourism; ecotourism combined with conferences, seminars (MICE) and events; community-based tourism (homestay, farmstay); specialized tourism for scientific themes, research, internships and environmental education; and restaurant, dining, cuisine, shopping and other services serving tourists.

Speaking about the preparation process and efforts to attract investors, Director of the Reserve Nguyen Hoang Hao said that in recent times, the Reserve has received applications from 12 organizations and individuals expressing interest in investing in tourism projects under the scheme issued by the provincial People's Committee. Following a review process, the Reserve selected Viet An Trade, Education and Investment Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City) to sign a contract to lease forest environment land for ecotourism, resort, and entertainment services. According to Hao, this marks a significant milestone, signifying a new phase in the management and rational utilization of forest resource values in line with the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies and laws, and the development orientation of Dong Nai province.

The Reserve identifies this not merely as a simple investment cooperation activity, but also as a significant responsibility to ensure harmony between economic and tourism development goals and the tasks of nature conservation, biodiversity preservation, protection of environmental landscapes, and safeguarding cultural and historical values.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the forest environment lease contract between the Reserve and the investor in mid-January 2026, Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang emphasized that the Resolution of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term identifies tourism as one of the key economic sectors that should be prioritized for investment and developed along a sustainable path. Therefore, promoting the development of ecotourism, resort tourism, and entertainment at the Reserve will effectively tap the potential and advantages of forest resources and natural landscapes, while generating additional resources for forest management and protection, as well as biodiversity conservation in Dong Nai. At the same time, it will help improve local incomes and attract investment capital for high-quality ecotourism projects oriented toward sustainability, green development, and environmental friendliness.

By Ngoc Lien - Translated by Quynh Nhu, Minho