Dong Nai welcomes more than 4 million tourist arrivals

Dong Nai welcomed more than 4 million tourist arrivals in the first 8 months of 2026, equivalent to 69% of its full-year target, according to a report presented at a meeting of the City's Tourism Development Steering Committee on August 21. The meeting was chaired by Le Truong Son, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People's Committee and Deputy Head of the Steering Committee.

Le Truong Son, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People's Committee, chairs the meeting on August 21. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Reporting at the meeting, Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Director of the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DoCST), said the city recorded more than 4 million tourist arrivals during the eight-month period, including over 105,000 international visitors and nearly 3.9 million domestic visitors. Tourism revenue topped VND3 trillion, equivalent to 67.3% of the annual target.

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Director of the DoCST, reports on tourism performance in the first 8 months of 2026. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Over the past 8 months, a wide range of cultural, sports and tourism events have been held across the city, notably the Ong Pagoda Festival; fruit festivals in Hang Gon, Binh Loc and Long Khanh wards; the 2026 Golden Cashew Festival themed “Unlocking value – Elevating Vietnamese cashews”; the Cat Tien Jungle Path running event; the Olympic Run for Public Health; the National Youth Muay Championship; and, notably, the Asian Pencak Silat Championship, which the city organized for the first time in coordination with the Sports Authority of Vietnam. The events attracted large numbers of visitors and athletes, helping promote Dong Nai's tourism and attract more tourists.

Leader of the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DoAE) speaks at the meeting. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Alongside tourism activities, the Steering Committee also reported on the progress of several key tourism projects, including the Chua Chan Mountain resort and entertainment complex, a flagship tourism project; the preparation of a 1:10,000-scale master plan for the Tri An National Tourism Area; and the 1,200-hectare Ba Ra Mountain urban, service and eco-tourism project in Phuoc Long ward.

Leader of the Department of Finance reports at the meeting. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Despite these results, the Steering Committee noted that several tourism infrastructure projects approved by the city People's Committee had fallen behind schedule. Investors are facing difficulties in securing capital, while some projects are not considered sufficiently profitable, making them reluctant to proceed immediately. Other obstacles include land-use planning issues and difficulties in negotiating land-use rights transfers amid rising land prices.

Although the city's tourism products have continued to develop, its tourism infrastructure and facilities remain inadequate and lack connectivity. The city also lacks large-scale, high-quality tourism complexes capable of attracting more visitors. Meanwhile, areas with significant tourism potential, including the Tri An Lake area, the Dong Nai River waterfront, the area around Long Thanh International Airport, the Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve, and various eco-tourism and community-based tourism sites, are still undergoing planning reviews and finalization. As a result, the city lacks sufficient grounds to select investors and move these projects forward.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman Le Truong Son asked departments and local authorities to continue reviewing the progress of tourism-related projects and set clear roadmaps, timelines and specific targets for implementation. He assigned the DoCST to advise on major cultural events to be held in Dong Nai from now through the end of the year, develop a smart tourism app, review traditional craft villages and prepare plans for sports events. The department was also asked to closely follow the directive requiring 10 localities with potential for agricultural tourism to submit proposals on measures to develop the sector.

Vice Chairman Le Truong Son asked the DoAE to take the lead in reviewing and consolidating proposals on the leasing of forest environmental services and report on progress so that appropriate solutions can be considered. The move is expected to help remove bottlenecks, facilitate investment and unlock the city's potential for eco-tourism development, thereby contributing to the sustainable growth of the tourism sector.

Vice Chairman Le Truong Son also stressed the need for close coordination among departments and local authorities in implementing Resolution No. 10-NQ/TU on developing tourism into a major economic sector, with a focus on effective implementation and tangible results.

By N.Lien – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha