A breath of fresh air for Dong Nai tourism

Dong Nai's tourism sector is experiencing renewed momentum following the provincial merger, leveraging its strengths in forest ecotourism, waterfalls, and lakes. Spiritual sites, revolutionary landmarks, and popular destinations are now being surveyed by travel and tour operators as they prepare to launch new experiential tour offerings across the province.

Dong Nai is home to two national parks, Bu Gia Map and Cat Tien, both famous for their unique forest ecosystems and rich biodiversity with rare species of flora and fauna. The province also features the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve and other vast forest landscapes of national significance. Beyond nature, Dong Nai offers historical and cultural relics that tell vivid stories about its past and the traditions of ethnic communities, such as the S'tieng Ethnic Culture Preservation Area in Bombo hamlet, Bom Bo commune, and the Ta Lai ethnic village in Ta Lai commune.

Impressive Destinations

Dong Nai is home to many remarkable destinations recognized both nationally and internationally. Dak Mai Waterfall in Bu Gia Map National Park was named one of the Top 7 most scenic ecotourism sites in 2023, while Bau Sau in Cat Tien National Park was also ranked among the Top 7 ecotourism destinations of the year. Notably, in 2024, Cat Tien National Park became the 72nd site worldwide, and the first in Vietnam, to be included on the IUCN Green List, certified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Other popular sites include Bo Cap Vang Ecotourism Area in Dai Phuoc Commune, ranked among Vietnam’s Top 10 favorite ecotourism destinations in 2024; Panorama Glamping in La Nga Commune, recognized as a “Glamping destination – Country winner” in 2024; and Tropical Eglamping, also in La Nga, which received the 2024 World Luxury Travel Award as a global glamping destination. Meanwhile, Chua Chan Mountain and Ba Ra Mountain, known as the “second” and “third” great southern peaks (after Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh), have become hubs for sports events, adventure tours, and forest exploration in southeastern Vietnam.

According to Tran Thi Thu Trang, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion, the province has built a plan to survey destinations and develop new tourism products following the merger. Under the 2025 theme “Dong Nai tourism takes off with aviation,” new tour products will link Long Thanh International Airport with unique destinations in Dong Nai, offering experiences that explore border gate areas, pristine nature, and the daily life of borderland communities. New tourism products are expected to launch by the end of 2025.

Developing Signature Tourism Products

Dong Nai features several well-known tourist areas, including Buu Long, My Le, Son Tien, and Son Ha Bird Island, alongside revolutionary landmarks like the D Battlefield, Command Headquarters for the Liberation Army of South Vietnam (Ta Thiet Base), and the S'tieng Ethnic Culture Preservation Area in Bom Bo hamlet. Alongside site-based tourism, the province and travel businesses are also focusing on creating new connected and experiential tour products.

In line with provincial strategies, agencies and businesses have developed signature offerings such as “returning to the root” tours to historical sites, forest eco-tours, weekend camping trips, spiritual tours with meditation, and volunteer tours combined with hands-on experiences.

Examples include eco-tours linking Ho Chi Minh City – My Le Ecotourism Area – Bang Lang Hill – Bu Gia Map National Park; cultural tours connecting Ho Chi Minh City – Son Ha Bird Island – Bom Bo Stieng Cultural Site – Bu Lach Grasslands; and heritage tours to the Provincial Museum – Van Thanh Buddhist Temple – Ta Thiet Base.

As one of Dong Nai’s active destinations, the My Le Ecotourism Area in Binh Tan Commune spans 48 hectares. Director of My Le Ecotourism Area Tran Hong Hai noted that after nearly 20 years of operation, it has secured a firm position in the market with steady visitor flows. The site mainly attracts residents in the locality during holidays and Tet, while summer brings more visitors from Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces.

In recent years, Dong Nai has attracted nearly VND 1 trillion in private investment for new tourism products. Projects include Son Tien Tourist Area launching its “Amazing World” theme park with high-quality entertainment; Bo Cap Vang tourism site introducing waterfall swimming activities; the Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve opening lakeside accommodations at Ba Hao Lake; and Dinh Quan District debuting the adventure tourism product “Welcome to Dinh Quan.”  

Tran Hong Hai emphasized: “Dong Nai has enormous potential in natural landscapes, distinctive culture, and unique cuisine. To develop tourism, the province must strengthen linkages among destinations and tour routes, creating fresh attractions and signature products that set Dong Nai apart.”

Pham Huong Son, Chairman of the Dong Nai Tourism Association, affirmed that the association will continue to closely follow provincial leadership’s directives, building cohesive programs that unite tourism businesses to jointly drive the industry forward in line with the province’s development roadmap.

Looking ahead, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Le Thi Ngoc Loan stressed that the sector will further raise social awareness of tourism’s importance. The department will continue to promote the implementation of Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU (dated December 30, 2021) issued by the Provincial Party Committee on making tourism a key economic sector. The department will also implement new Party and State directives, affirming tourism’s role in socio-economic development. In line with current national strategies, the province will also emphasize tourism’s role in economic and social development through diverse communication channels, including conferences, seminars, online platforms, and local media such as Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio-Television, while fostering a culture of politeness, professionalism, friendliness, and hospitality in tourism services.

By: Ngoc Lien
Translated by: Thuc Oanh - Minho