Economic Exploitation from Forest Tourism in Dong Nai

​(News Portal – Dong Nai) - Dong Nai has the potential to exploit and develop forest tourism within the Southeast region. Recently, many eco-tourism projects have been approved by the Provincial People's Committee, laying the foundation for the exploitation and development of the province's forest tourism products in the coming years. 

Tourists take photos at the Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve

​Some notable projects include: the Ecotourism and Resort Complex Project in the Chua Chan Mountain and Le Mountain Lake area of Xuan Loc District; the tourism project at Mai Waterfall - Bau Hot Spring in Đinh Quan District, following the Eco-tourism, Resort, and Entertainment Project of the Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve for the 2021-2030 period in Vinh Cuu District; and forest-based tourism products in Tan Phu, Vinh Cuu Districts, among other projects which are being expedited.

Since 2023, a series of large-scale tourism development proposals have been approved by the province after years of research and discussion to resolve legal issues related to land use and the exploitation of tourism resources beneath the forest canopy. These regional tourism projects contribute to increasing economic value for the tourism sector and other economic and social sectors.

At the beginning of 2023, Dong Nai approved its first forest eco-tourism project, the tourism project at Mai Waterfall - Bau Hot Spring in Dinh Quan District. However, more than a year after approval, the project has been slow to implement due to regulatory obstacles. By the end of 2023, Dong Nai continued to issue the Eco-tourism, Resort, and Entertainment Project of the Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve (Dong Nai NCRC) for the 2021-2030 period in Vinh Cuu District. After the proposal was approved, Dong Nai NCRC widely publicized the proposal's information and is looking for investment to implement the project.

Most recently, at the 16th Session of the Provincial People's Council, Term X, the Provincial People's Council approved a resolution to supplement the list of projects requiring land acquisition to carry out the investor selection process in 2024 across the province. Accordingly, the Le Mountain Lake Urban Area Project in Xuan Loc District has been updated and added to the list of projects requiring land acquisition to carry out the investor selection process.

Mr. Le Kim Bang, Secretary of Xuan Loc District Party Committee, said the Le Mountain Lake Urban Area Project is part of the Chua Chan Mountain - Le Mountain Lake Ecotourism, Urban Complex Project, covering a total area of about 1.2 thousand hectares. This is arguably the largest tourism project in southern Vietnam and among the largest in the country. With its strategic location convenient to the North-South Expressway, Da Lat-Dau Giay Expressway, Long Thanh Airport Project, Dong Nai will become an ideal stop for tourists due to its advantageous position, contributing to local tourism development. Therefore, Mr. Le Kim Bang believes that once this project is realized, Dong Nai tourism will experience a significant breakthrough, potentially attracting tens of millions of visitors.

In recent years, despite the absence of large-scale, well-planned tourism projects, Dong Nai remains famous for its existing tourism products. Notably, Cat Tien National Park is known to domestic and international tourists for its green forest exploration tours and biodiversity. The Ma Da Forest area, Tri An Lake in the Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve in Vinh Cuu District, and the Mai Waterfall - Bau Hot Spring eco-tourism area in Dinh Quan District are also popular destinations attracting a large number of tourists.

However, the lack of clear definition for tourism product lines and the lack of close coordination in tourism management among functional agencies have resulted in fragmented and spontaneous tourism exploitation and development in localities. Safety and security regulations at destinations, as well as the coordination in the management and supervision of tourism activities, have not been fully effective.

Recently, although Dong Nai's tourism products have seen some development, their overall attractiveness remains low, failing to create a distinctive chain of products. Tourist destinations and spots face financial difficulties in investing in new products and services. Several key projects are delayed due to issues related to administrative processes, land clearance, and land for national defend, especially projects involving forest land and forest environment leasing, causing investors and relevant units to spend significant time completing investment procedures.

To swiftly and sustainably develop forest eco-tourism, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will continue to enhance the quality of coordination with related departments, sectors, and localities in implementing management tasks and supporting tourism development. It is imperative to drastically resolve difficulties for tourism development projects to expedite their implementation.

During working sessions with departments, sectors, and localities on tourism, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Hong Linh emphasized that Dong Nai boasts many advantages in developing forest eco-tourism that other localities in the Southeast region do not possess. Therefore, the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee demanded that the departments, sectors, and localities seriously address delays and coordinate to propose solutions to the provincial leadership to resolve legal and regulatory obstacles. Dong Nai must be a leading province in implementing strategies to conserve and promote the value of forests in the coming time. ​