Forest ecology - Tourism landmark of Dong Nai Province in 2022

​The delegation went on a field trip to Cat Tien forest

Huge potential and advantages

Dong Nai has more than 171,000 hectares of forested land. Since the 2000s, the province has closed the natural forest, so the forest land area and biodiversity system are almost preserved and constantly increasing. In order to effectively exploit natural resources, create jobs for local people and increase revenue to serve forest development, the province has a policy of leasing forest land in areas with advantages for tourism.

The forest with the greatest advantage for tourism exploitation in Dong Nai is the Dong Nai Nature - Culture Reserve located in Vinh Cuu District. This area has more than 100,000 ha, of which forest land is 68,000 ha. Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hao, Director of Dong Nai Nature-Culture Reserve said that forests belonging to the Nature Reserve have many advantages for service development. Regarding the natural landscape, there are the Stone Park and Rang Waterfall; large lakes, islands on lakes, especially Tri An Reservoir; Wild animals and forest plants are extremely diversified. In addition, the forest also has national historical sites: the base of the Party Committee of the Southeast region, the base of the Central Committee for South Vietnam and the Suoi Linh Tunnel. Currently, many infrastructure works and tourist routes have been formed to welcome tourists. The Cultural, Ecological and Historical Center of War Zone D is a tourism exploitation unit.

The area of ​​Apricot Waterfall and Boiling Water Lake (Dinh Quan district) also has many advantages in tourism exploitation. Director of the Management Board of Tan Phu Protection Forest Nguyen Le Anh Tuan said, currently, the road to the attractions has been invested with asphalt by the province. The People's Committee of Dinh Quan and the Management Board of Tan Phu Protection Forests have also implemented many infrastructure works for tourism exploitation such as overnight camping sites, restrooms, food stops, sand cover, and mud bathing. On the basis of the newly approved Sustainable Forest Management Plan for the 2021-2030 period, the Tan Phu Protection Forest Management Board will develop a plan and call for the organizations and individuals to cooperate, associate, and hire joint ventures to develop ecotourism in advantageous areas. The target of revenue from tourism services is about 10 billion VND per year by 2030.

The highlight for the development of forest ecotourism in Dong Nai is the Long Thanh - Nhon Trach mangrove forest with a total area of ​​nearly 8,000 hectares, of which 4.9 thousand hectares have forests. This place is known as the "green lung" of the Southeast region. Not only has a beautiful landscape, this place is also a border to protect the southern region of the province, preventing salt and alum.

Mr. Le Thuan Thanh, director of the Long Thanh Protection Forest Management Board, said that the mangroves of Long Thanh - Nhon Trach have a lot of potential for developing eco-tourism. The landmark of this area is that visitors can take a boat ride along the river and see the straight green trees like a river tour in the West of South Vietnam. At the end of the tour, stop to enjoy fresh seafood on the river. The unit is calling for investors. In which, there will be an amusement park, entertainment area for fishing, adventure games, boating, walking bridge in the forest so that visitors can visit and take souvenir photos.

The landmark for tourism development

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Van Phi said that Dong Nai has many forests with beautiful scenery, favorable for ecotourism development. Recently, the province has approved the sustainable forest management plan for the 2021-2030 period of the units, which focuses on exploiting economic values ​​to generate revenue and create jobs for people. “Preserving, protecting and developing biodiversity and forest areas is a top priority, but exploiting the advantages to increase values ​​needs to be focused. Currently, some investors have asked the question of renting forest land to develop eco-tourism, the province is reviewing the investor's capacity profile, conditions and plans" - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Van Phi shared.

According to Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Van Phi, in the future, developing forest eco-tourism products will be a highlight of tourism. Therefore, the province will invest in some infrastructure works; organizing conferences and seminars to connect domestic and foreign tourism investors. Along with that, directing departments and branches such as: Culture, Sports and Tourism, Industry and Trade, Education and Training and People's Committees of localities with forests to organize activities to stimulate tourism demand, raise awareness about resource protection, tourism is associated with the output of agricultural and handicraft products. To facilitate tourism projects on forest land, the province will work with units to find ways to remove the current obstacles.

Hoa Binh