Building an eco-city from Dong Nai’s treasure of primary forests

Dong Nai is steadily emerging as a modern urban center distinguished from many other localities by its vast “treasure” of primary forests. The harmonious blend of dynamic urban life, green landscapes and heroic historical values has created an increasingly valuable foundation for sustainable development.

A foreign wildlife rescue specialist works at Cat Tien National Park. Photo: Cong Nghia

Former Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee Vo Van Mot shared: “Dong Nai has done an excellent job in protecting forests. Thanks to those efforts, both present and future generations can still enjoy immense stretches of primary forest rich in diverse flora and fauna. These forests serve as the green lungs and giant natural air filters for the entire Southeastern region, and they are becoming even more meaningful as Dong Nai develops into a modern city.”

A treasure for building a distinctive urban center

Nearly 30 years ago, Dong Nai became one of the first localities in Vietnam to completely close its natural forests to exploitation. As one of the leaders involved in making that decision, former Chairman Vo Van Mot recalled: “It was a historic, bold and decisive policy, one that even shocked the wood processing and export industry at that time. However, thanks to that strategic vision and decision, upstream forests have remained strictly protected until today.”

The historic administrative merger of the former Binh Phuoc province into Dong Nai on July 1, 2025 has further connected vast areas of primary forest into one uninterrupted green corridor. The seamless connection between Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve, Bu Gia Map National Park and protective forests such as Dak Mai, Bu Dop and Loc Ninh has created an invaluable “green treasure” rich in biodiversity for Dong Nai.

Beyond environmental significance, Dong Nai’s forest resources are also becoming a major driver for sustainable eco-tourism development and high economic value.

With its rich ecosystem, Dong Nai is not only home to hundreds of rare plant and animal species, but also a green jewel in the heart of the Southeastern region, playing a vital role in ecological balance, water protection and the living environment for surrounding communities. As Dong Nai becomes a city, we expect the natural and historical values associated with forests to become even more sustainable.

 Nguyen Hoang Hao, Director of the Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Dong Nai currently possesses more than 300,000 hectares of forest, the largest forest area in the Southeastern region. Notably, the province’s natural forests contain highly diverse ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

Cat Tien National Park and Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve are regarded as important biodiversity research centers not only for Vietnam but also for the world. These forests are home to many rare tree species such as Dalbergia, rosewood, Afzelia xylocarpa, black star and Siamese rosewood, along with valuable medicinal plants including Bo Chinh Ginseng, fleeceflower root and amomum.

Dong Nai’s forests are also inhabited by nearly 400 animal species, many of which are listed in Vietnam’s and the world’s Red Books, including Asian elephants, gaurs, black-shanked douc langurs, pygmy slow lorises, Edwards’s pheasants and green peafowls.

In 2011, the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve was recognized by UNESCO as the world’s 211th Biosphere Reserve. Later, in 2024, Cat Tien National Park was officially recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the world’s 72nd protected area to achieve Green List status.

These prestigious recognitions not only affirm Dong Nai’s determination in forest protection, but also serve as an important brand for attracting tourists and promoting sustainable green tourism.

Toward a modern ecological city

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, noted that Dong Nai’s forests hold not only enormous ecological value but also preserve the heroic revolutionary history of the Southeastern region. Beneath ancient forest canopies lie proud historical relics associated with wartime resistance, including legendary sites such as the Central Office for South Vietnam Base, the Eastern Region Party Committee Base and Ba Ra National Historical Relic Site. The blend of natural landscapes and historical heritage further strengthens Dong Nai City’s commitment to preserving and promoting these invaluable assets, contributing to the development of a city rich in identity, green growth and sustainability.

Wild animals at Cat Tien National Park. Photo: Nguyen Hoa

Nguyen Bui Kim Anh, a nature enthusiast from Ho Chi Minh City, shared that every summer her family leaves the bustling urban center to explore the forests of Dong Nai, traveling from Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve in Ma Da commune to Cat Tien National Park in Nam Cat Tien commune. “Immersing ourselves in vast green forests and especially observing wildlife at night in Cat Tien National Park is an unforgettable experience that makes all fatigue disappear,” she said.

Nguyen Thi Thuat, Vice Principal of Lac Hong Bilingual Primary, Secondary and High School in Tran Bien ward, said the school has been allocated land by Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve for students to carry out reforestation projects aimed at promoting environmental awareness. Each academic year, the school organizes field trips into the forest where students plant native trees while visiting revolutionary historical sites such as the Eastern Region Party Committee Base and the Central Office for South Vietnam Base. Such trips not only help students appreciate nature more deeply but also strengthen their awareness of forest protection and the revolutionary heritage of Dong Nai.

Development realities have increasingly proven a profound truth: the more modern and industrialized urban life becomes, the more valuable the original ecosystem of tropical forests grows. In an effort to transform these priceless resources into new growth drivers, Dong Nai is even considering more strategic plans, including selling  carbon credits generated from its primary forests for reinvestment in sustainable growth.

Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the City People’s Committee, said the city is accelerating sustainable forestry projects associated with circular economy models. Plans for dozens of eco-tourism and historical tourism destinations are also being implemented methodically, with the goal of maximizing potential while strictly adhering to the principle of not harming the natural environment.

By C. Nghia – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha