Katien Ranger Patrol tourism product at Cat Tien National Park named finalist for Best Wider World Tourism Project

According to the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the “Katien Ranger Patrol” tourism product at Cat Tien National Park has been named a finalist in the Best Wider World Tourism Project category of the BGTW International Tourism Awards 2026, organized by the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW).

Katien Safari guides help visitors learn about biodiversity and the value of forests at Cat Tien National Park. Photo: Oxalis

As part of the experience, visitors explore the primeval forest alongside rangers and local experts. Rather than simply being passive observers, visitors also take part in patrol activities and learn about efforts to protect the forest ecosystem.

Rangers show visitors how to identify signs of wildlife and explain the challenges involved in forest protection, including illegal trapping. Photo: Oxalis

A representative of Oxalis Adventure said that, in addition to its nature-based tourism products, the company is implementing a plan to develop the Ta Lai Community Tourism Village in the buffer zone of Cat Tien National Park. The area has long been home to the Chau Ma and S’tieng communities, has a strong cultural identity, and occupies a strategically important position in conservation efforts.

Ma ethnic artisans weave brocade. Photo: Oxalis

Under the plan, Oxalis will work with local residents to provide professional tourism training, covering hospitality, guiding and the communication of local cultural values. Residents will be able to provide homestay accommodation, traditional cuisine and cultural experiences for visitors. This approach is intended to generate additional tourism income for local communities and improve their livelihoods through ecotourism. In turn, local residents can become voluntary and effective “shields” protecting the forest, while also gaining long-term benefits from forest conservation.

Bau Sau lies in a lowland area within the core zone of one of Vietnam’s most important tropical rainforests. Photo: Oxalis

Established in 1960, the BGTW brings together more than 220 accredited professional travel journalists, writers, photographers, editors, television producers and travel bloggers. The guild not only influences how the public discovers destinations but also helps set standards for travel journalism, environmental responsibility and community-based tourism. The guild’s annual awards schemes recognize both outstanding travel-media work and tourism projects from around the world. The BGTW applies a strict Code of Conduct. Membership applications are reviewed against BGTW accreditation criteria, while accredited members undergo regular audits and follow rules on press trips, disclosure and independent, honest reporting. This rigorous accreditation process has helped establish BGTW membership as a mark of professional credibility and quality in the travel-media industry.

By N.Lien – Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho