Dong Nai to build a semi-wild zoo

​This project is being directed by the Provincial People's Committee (PPC) to focus on implementing steps to complete procedures to support construction investment enterprises. The Safari project will become a tourist destination that attracts tourists and adds value to Dong Nai's tourism products.

 Tourists explore the natural forests at Dong Nai Cultural and Nature Reserve.

A highlight for Dong Nai tourism

According to the report of Mango Garden Resort (Mango Garden) which is applying for investment policy in the project, the current Mango Garden Ecotourism (Phuoc Tan Ward, Bien Hoa City) currently owns a large number of wild animals imported from South Africa. This number of animals grows quite a lot, while only a few tens of hectares of the Vuon Xoai tourist site will not meet the living space for those animals, so the Mango Garden has applied for the policy of investing in semi-wild zoo in the Reserve to ensure the development of the herd of animals and exploit the tourism potentials in the Reserve.

Ms. Duong Thi Nha, Chairman of the Board of Mango Garden Resort (Mango Garden) said she hoped to be supported by the Provincial People's Committee, departments and branches so that her project would soon be implemented. Dong Nai has the advantage of forests, but up to now, there is no zoo to develop tourism, so the semi-wild zoo – Safari will be an ideal destination, attracting tourists for Dong Nai tourism.

Dong Nai's tourism development plan also determines strength of Dong Nai tourism will be development of forest and river eco-tourism. Therefore, Dong Nai has identified a number of potential projects in several localities to call for investment, including a tourism development project in the Reserve. For the Safari Project, Mr. Bang said that the Investor has a rich idea, along with entertainment, accommodation, food services, etc., this is expected to be a tourist complex between forests, which will have great advantages compared to Phu Quoc or other places because the potential markets that Dong Nai can target are big cities and centers such as: Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong,... “ With the current trend, most visitors like to go to the forest to watch animals, creating a sense of immersing in the forest atmosphere, so, in my opinion, investing in a Safari in the Reserve will create a highlight for Dong Nai tourism.” - Mr. Bang emphasized.

To complete dossiers as soon as possible

The Project of Mango Garden Eco-Tourism Zone II (Safari) invested by Mango Garden Resort (Mango Garden) with a capital of VND 1 trillion, is located in Dong Nai Cultural and Nature Reserve with an area of 412 ha. The main products and services of said project include outdoor tourism, entertainment, relaxation, zoos, fruit tree planting and afforestation.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hao, Deputy Director of the Reserve, said that since 2017, when the investor proposed to build the semi-wild zoo - Safari, the Reserve has prepared steps to submit to PPC and sectors, but due to many regulations related to forest land. Moreover, the project planning process involves a number of conservation commitments in the world, so the time is lengthened. “In the coming time, the Reserve will coordinate with investor, local authorities and departments to speed up the completion of the project as soon as possible. Currently, in the area of an investor's request for project implementation, there are a number of households that are contracting production forest land, the Reserve will organize the relocation of resident out of this area after the project is officially approved by the PPC.”

At the meeting with stakeholders related to Safari Project, Chairman of the PPC Cao Tien Dung has instructed relevant departments and agencies to focus on completing the documents and procedures for the Safari project as soon as possible. Accordingly, the Reserve will coordinate with the investor to develop plans, complete all project-related documents, creating basis for investment policy grant, in which building a sustainable forest protection plan; The District People's Committee must review administrative boundary landmarks, appropriate land use planning, especially satisfactory solutions for households living in the project area, households receiving forest land contract, etc., to ensure the rights of residents.

 Phan Anh