Golden opportunity for Dong Nai to connect regional and international tourism

Dong Nai province's tourism sector is gaining momentum, seizing a golden opportunity to strengthen linkages and cooperation for tourism development through various promotion activities, contributing to boosting Dong Nai tourism growth to double digits in the near future.

Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DCST) of Dong Nai province, Le Thi Ngoc Loan (3rd from right) presents souvenirs to leaders of the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the provinces: Vinh Long, Dong Thap and Can Tho City at the Tourism Development Signing Conference organized by Dong Nai in 2025. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Notably, linkages and cooperation for tourism development with other regions and localities are being actively promoted. Most recently, a cooperation agreement for tourism development was signed with three provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region: Vinh Long, Dong Thap, and Can Tho.

The signing of this cooperation agreement aims to concretize the guidelines of the central government and the province on tourism development cooperation, opening up new opportunities for Dong Nai’s tourism sector with more diverse and higher-quality offerings, while fostering healthy competition in the tourism market both within the province and nationwide.

Developing inter-regional tourism products

Dong Nai province currently has 28 tourist sites and attractions operating in various forms, including sightseeing, entertainment, eco-tourism, sports, religious, and cultural tourism. Among them are many well-known destinations, notable for their scale, modernity, and distinctive natural landscapes, which attract both domestic and international visitors.

To promote the natural, cultural, and human values of Dong Nai, the province has continuously supported businesses in developing tourism products, while accelerating the implementation of transport infrastructure and tourism projects to connect destinations and foster regional tourism product linkages.

Chairman of Dong Nai Tourism Association Pham Huong Son (2nd from right) presents a souvenir painting of Long Thanh International Airport, heritage trees, and vast rubber forests of Dong Nai to leaders of the Tourism Associations of 3 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Assessing Dong Nai’s tourism potential, Sam Long Giang, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho city, shared that after surveying several local destinations, such as pottery-making establishments, the Tran Bien Temple of Literature relic site, Buu Long Tourist Area, Son Tien, among others, along with information on the province’s forest and lake resources and historical sites, it is clear that Dong Nai holds significant potential for tourism development. With a diverse range of tourism products, Dong Nai offers distinct experiences compared to Can Tho.

Sam Long Giang emphasized that following the survey trip, the Can Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will review and reassess the strengths of each locality in order to foster linkages and develop unique, appealing tourism products that can attract visitors to explore both Dong Nai and Can Tho city.

Tourists experience Dong Nai's virtual reality tourism product at the Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair 2025. Photo: Ngoc Lien

For travel agencies, Dong Nai offers substantial potential for product development to meet the needs of tourists. Vo Hoang Diep, Director of Bao Duyen Travel Trading and Service Co., Ltd. (Vinh Long province), shared: Dong Nai holds strong appeal for visitors from the Mekong Delta, particularly with its historical, cultural, and revolutionary sites that are well-suited for student groups. This feature presents an opportunity for travel businesses in Can Tho and other Mekong Delta provinces to collaborate and tap into the market, both diversifying their offerings and contributing to expanding Dong Nai’s reach within the region’s tourism market.

Moving towards green, sustainable tourism

Commenting on the tourism potential of Dong Nai province, Duong Duc Minh, Deputy Director of the Institute for Tourism and Economic Development Research (Ho Chi Minh City), said: Dong Nai possesses significant tourism resources and a favorable location that facilitates the connection of regional assets. It has the capacity to link and develop tourism across multiple regions, including the Southeast, South Central Coast, Central Highlands, and Mekong Delta.

This feature enables Dong Nai to serve as an intermediary destination, leveraging the advantage of regional clustering to build a value-added supply chain. The goal is to co-create meaningful travel experiences for tourists, centered around the "old forest" ecosystem and the distinctive agricultural landscape of the Southern region.

Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang visits the booth showcasing the typical products of Vinh Long province. Photo: Ngoc Lien

According to Dr. Duong Duc Minh, for good linkage, Dong Nai needs to calculate the exploitation and upgrading of its service system, closely linking it with Long Thanh International Airport and the border area (Hoa Lu International Border Gate). Dong Nai's tourism industry must establish an intra-provincial linkage chain that enhances value and showcases unique highlights that other localities may struggle to achieve.

To ensure sustainable tourism development linkages, Dong Nai needs a comprehensive strategy to reposition and restructure the entire sector, establishing a systematic, well-planned, and appealing roadmap for "uncompressing" resources. This endeavor includes enhancing services that cater to both the everyday needs of tourists and more upscale demands.

In developing tourism products, Dong Nai must also create regenerative spaces guided by the philosophy of responsible tourism, encouraging strong participation from visitors in protecting the environment, so that destinations are not degraded, but continuously improved.

According to the Dong Nai Provincial Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision extending to 2050, tourism is identified as one of the five pillars of the province's socio-economic development, with a focus on high-quality tourism development.

Dong Nai currently has 224 accommodation establishments with a total of over 5,800 rooms. The entire province has 45 domestic travel agencies and 10 international travel agencies. Dong Nai is currently a major tourist destination for visitors from many provinces and cities across the country.

To develop Dong Nai's tourism sector in line with its orientation and planning in the coming years, Provincial Party Committee member and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Thi Ngoc Loan said: Dong Nai will continue to implement several major tourism projects in the near future, including the Chua Chan Mountain ecological and resort tourism area (Xuan Loc commune), covering approximately 107 hectares with an estimated investment of 16 trillion VND; a project at the Thac Mai - Bau Nuoc Soi tourism area (Dinh Quan commune) with an investment of about 3 trillion VND; and 10 ecological tourism projects under the forest canopy within the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve (Tri An commune).

These initiatives are supported by the province’s rich and diverse natural, cultural, and historical resources, along with a system of historical relics recognized at various levels, from provincial to special national status.

Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Le Thi Ngoc Loan, believes that these represent potentials, advantages, and opportunities for Dong Nai to accelerate its growth and become one of the leading tourism destinations in the Southeast region and across the country, contributing to shaping a new image for Dong Nai tourism in the near future.

In recent years, Dong Nai has established itself as a prominent destination in the Southeastern region. The province has focused on developing distinctive tourism products, helping to promote the growth of community-based tourism, agricultural tourism, and green tourism. Notably, with Long Thanh International Airport set to begin operations, Dong Nai is poised to become a key international transit hub for tourists in the Southern region. This attribute presents a golden opportunity for the province to strengthen both regional and global tourism connectivity.

Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang

By Ngoc Lien – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho