Dong Nai tourism strives to drive double-digit growth

Dong Nai’s tourism sector is focusing on measures to achieve 10% tourism growth in 2026 and in the years ahead.

To achieve the double-digit growth target, the sector is working to diversify and improve the quality of tourism products and services, advance digital transformation, actively organize events and festivals, train and develop tourism personnel, and raise public awareness of tourism development. It is also strengthening links and cooperation with other localities in tourism development, mobilizing resources for investment in tourism infrastructure and facilities, helping businesses address difficulties and obstacles, and ensuring public security, order, and visitor safety.

Strong first-half performance

During the first six months of 2026, Dong Nai welcomed more than 3 million visitors, exceeding 52% of its annual target. Tourism revenue was estimated at more than VND2.2 trillion, reflecting steady growth and the sector’s gradual success in enhancing its products and developing distinctive tourism offerings.

Tourists experience the natural space at Cat Tien National Park. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Speaking at the third session of the First Dong Nai City People’s Council, Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the City Party Committee, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DoCST), said the sector had implemented synchronized measures in state management, investment promotion, product development, and service quality improvement under the leadership of the City Party Committee, the People's Council, and the City People's Committee. Despite ongoing challenges, tourism has maintained positive growth momentum and is gradually affirming its role as one of Dong Nai’s key service industries.

Tourism promotion activities have increasingly embraced digital technologies, demand-stimulation campaigns have been carried out effectively, and progress has been made in workforce development and digital transformation to meet the sector’s evolving needs.

However, alongside the results achieved, the Director of the DoCST acknowledged that several challenges continue to constrain the quality of growth. Although visitor numbers have increased, most travelers are day-trippers, resulting in short stays and relatively low spending. This indicates that Dong Nai’s tourism products have yet to become sufficiently attractive or generate higher added value.

Speaking at the third session of the First Dong Nai City People’s Council, Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, said Dong Nai still lacks tourism products and recreational and entertainment services capable of attracting visitors. Therefore, as part of its overall planning, the city has identified Long Thanh International Airport as a driving force for the development of the economy, culture and society, including tourism. If each visitor to Dong Nai stayed for two to three days, this would generate significant revenue for the tourism sector, he said. The tourism sector, therefore, needs a strategy to develop recreational and entertainment areas and appealing services to attract visitors.

Dong Nai’s tourism offerings also lack distinctive features and competitive advantages. Ecotourism, resort tourism, agricultural tourism, community-based tourism, and cultural tourism have yet to be effectively integrated into comprehensive tourism value chains. Meanwhile, key destinations such as Tri An Lake, Cat Tien National Park, Chua Chan Mountain, and the Dong Nai River system remain underutilized despite their considerable potential. In addition, shortages of high-quality tourism infrastructure and services, together with delays in implementing several flagship tourism projects, have limited the province’s ability to attract major strategic investors.

Targeting sustained double-digit growth

As the first year of the 2026–2030 socio-economic development plan, 2026 marks an important stage in positioning tourism as one of Dong Nai’s priority economic sectors. The city expects continued improvements in transport infrastructure, particularly the construction of Long Thanh International Airport, to create stronger momentum for tourism investment.

A Dong Nai tourism delegation conducts a field survey in Lam Dong Province as part of a regional tourism cooperation and destination development program. Photo: Ngoc Lien

To achieve the aforementioned growth targets, the Director of the DoCST stated that several solutions have been prepared, including: upgrading the quality of tourism products and services; encouraging enterprises to invest in upgrading facilities and improving service quality to meet tourists' demands and tastes; and building new tours and routes linked with the city's outstanding destinations, such as Cat Tien National Park, Bu Gia Map National Park, Buu Long Tourist Area, Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve, Son Tien Tourist Area, and local traditional craft villages.

Authorities will also support businesses in developing signature tourism products, including forest ecotourism, agricultural tourism, community-based tourism, cultural and historical tourism, and experiential travel. At the same time, inspections and quality control will be strengthened to ensure a safe, friendly, and civilized tourism environment.

Dong Nai also plans to deepen tourism cooperation with regions, provinces and cities across the country to leverage potential, strengths, and development opportunities, aligning Dong Nai's tourism development with that of other provinces and cities.

In line with the Dong Nai Party Committee's resolution, the tourism sector aims to welcome around 11.5 million visitors by 2030, generate approximately VND11.95 trillion in tourism revenue, and increase average visitor spending to about VND1 million per person per day. The city also plans to complete and put into operation two to four flagship tourism projects, laying the foundation for tourism to become one of Dong Nai’s five key economic pillars.

Tran Thi Thu Trang, Deputy Director in charge of the City Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Center, said the center has implemented a range of initiatives since the beginning of 2026 to support the city’s double-digit tourism growth target. Most recently, the center organized a tourism survey and business networking program with other provinces, enabling nearly 30 Dong Nai tourism enterprises to sign cooperation agreements for future tourism development. During the second half of 2026, the center will continue to implement tourism stimulus initiatives, including organizing the Dong Nai Culture - Tourism - Culinary Week 2026, conducting professional training courses, and promoting the use of artificial intelligence to improve tourism products and services, helping sustain double-digit growth in the years ahead.

By Ngoc Lien – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho