Dong Nai: Poised for Tourism Breakthrough

When Long Thanh International Airport comes into operation, Dong Nai tourism is expected to have breakthrough development. Our reporter has an interview with Ms. Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Director of the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on this aspect.

Could you please introduce Dong Nai's tourism strengths and opportunities for tourism investors?

Dong Nai is strategically located at the gateway to Ho Chi Minh City and plays an important role in connecting the Southeast region with the Central Highlands. This is one of the outstanding advantages for Dong Nai to develop tourism comprehensively and sustainably.

Regarding tourism resources, Dong Nai is blessed with many charming attractive ecological destinations such as Cat Tien National Park - a world biosphere reserve, Dong Nai Nature - Culture Reserve with Tri An Lake and Thac Mai - Bau Nuoc Soi. In addition, famous tourist attractions like Buu Long, Suoi Mo and Bo Cap Vang also draw a large number of domestic and foreign tourists thanks to their diverse natural landscape and rich entertainment services.

Besides beautiful nature, Dong Nai is renowned for its cultural identity. Bien Hoa Ceramic Heritage and historical relics like Tran Bien Temple of Literature, War Zone D, Hang Gon Megalithic Tomb illustrate the depth of history and culture in this land. Ecological rural areas with fruitful gardens are also ideal destinations for community tourism and experiential tourism.

The transport infrastructure system has been increasingly upgraded. When Long Thanh International Airport comes into operation, it will bring about a remarkable change and create a strong push in connecting and attracting domestic and international tourists to Dong Nai. Expressway networks such as Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay and Bien Hoa - Vung Tau will further enhance tourism connectivity between Dong Nai and neighboring provinces and cities, thus facilitating travel and regional economic connectivity.

Dong Nai has a lot of room for development. The province has encouraged local tourism businesses to upgrade and expand entertainment services, provide upmarket tourism products and services like leisure, sport and adventure tourism and medical tourism to attract more tourists to Dong Nai.

So, what programs and projects has Dong Nai province adopted to improve the quality of tourism services and elevate the position of Dong Nai tourism on the national tourism map?

Dong Nai has carried out many programs and projects to improve the quality of tourism services, aiming at developing green and sustainable tourism. The province focuses on promoting eco-tourism combined with nature conservation as a key approach to tap existing potential. Remarkably, Cat Tien National Park was recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the 72nd protected and conserved area in the world to meet the Green List standards. This not only marks important progress in nature conservation but also affirms Dong Nai's role in biodiversity conservation.

Besides, Bo Cap Vang Eco-Resort has been honored by the Intellectual Property and Innovation Magazine in collaboration with the Vietnam Entrepreneurs Scientific Union as one of the 10 most favored ecotourism destinations. This helps boost the image of Dong Nai as an ideal destination for green tourism.

Eco-friendly tourist activities such as cycling, SUP rowing and mountain climbing are also being invested in and effectively launched by many local businesses, aiming to bring natural experiences to visitors. Specially, Son Tien Amazing World, known as Dong Nai's most modern entertainment paradise, is becoming a charismatic destination thanks to its top-class scale and class.

Regarding regional connectivity, Dong Nai is actively carrying out tourism connection programs with Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau and the Central Highlands region. Many new tours are being built in connection with Long Thanh International Airport and other localities in the province.

Moreover, the province also strongly organizes annual cultural and tourism events such as Long Khanh Fruit Week, Culture - Tourism and Cuisine Week, sports competitions, Hot Air Balloon Festival and Bien Hoa Pottery Festival to attract media, promote its image and create more highlighted products for the local tourism industry.

What tourism development plans and strategies will Dong Nai province focus on in the future?

Dong Nai province defines tourism as an important economic sector that helps economic restructuring and addresses social problems. To make tourism a key economic sector, Dong Nai is concentrating on three main approaches.

First, Dong Nai gives priority to developing distinctive tourism products while creating new products linked with existing advantages such as agricultural tourism, community tourism, ecological tourism, experiential tourism and entertainment. Localities with great potential like Long Khanh, Dinh Quan, Tan Phu, Xuan Loc and Bien Hoa are directed to effectively create new products. The province also develops ancillary services like walking streets and culinary streets to enhance the tourism experience.

Second, Dong Nai focuses on building the local tourism brand through the “Dong Nai Tourism - Different experiences, complete experiences” communication campaign. Advertising will be promoted on digital platforms and social networks, aiming to spread the image of Dong Nai tourism to domestic and international tourists.

Third, the province continues to invest in completing the tourism infrastructure system, attracting investment capital for key projects like Chua Chan Mountain Tourist Area, Thac Mai - Bau Nuoc Soi and Tri An Lake. At the same time, Dong Nai provides training courses on skills and expertise for tourism workers in tourist attractions and tourism communities.

Thank you so much!