Dong Nai forest resources are the precious gifts from the nature and play an important role in the provincial socioeconomic development. With the area of over 150,000ha including natural forest, Ramsar area and national level history sites and famous attractions; many forests contain important cultural and historical values as well as variety of eco systems and attract tourists from all over the world.
Almost all the forests in Dong Nai had their historical values and held the important roles in national security during the war against France and the United States in the past such as: Eastern Party Committee Base, Southern Central Department (Vinh Cuu district); Sac Forest Military Zone (Long Thanh and Nhon Trach districts); Tri An Riverside Forest, Thac Mai Forest – Hot Spring in Tan Phu afforestation yards… Once you set foot in those historical places, you cannot help yourself from being proud of all the heroic historical memories and spirits of our predecessors. Therefore, forest eco-tourism shall play an important role in educating young people to love their country.
Tourists sailing on Bau Sau Lake – Cat Tien National Park.
The nature gave Dong Nai all the enormous and attractive sceneries. All the mystique and captivation of the forest are attractive enough to be a unique type of tourism for many tourists, especially young people who love explorations and challenges. Coming to Cat Tien National Park and Dong Nai cultural and natural conservation area, tourists can see a diversity of eco-systems. Statically, there are about 1,401 species of plant from 623 genus, 156 families, 92 orders, 10 classes and 6 divisions; 1,621 species of animal including 85 types of mammal, 259 types of bird, 64 types of reptile, 33 types of amphibian, 1,198 types of insect, 99 types of fish; including many rare species such as Javan rhinoceros, Asian elephant, bull, sun bear, Tibetan black bear, forest buffalo, tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, deer, black eagle, white wings mallard and great hornbill… Especially, Cat Tien National park is the shelter for 40 animal special which are in the Red List, including the Unicorn Rhinoceros.
In the past, forest eco-tourism did not get much concern from the tourist but now, it has become the most concerned type tourism since the air and noise pollutions are getting more and more serious, many people may want to find some fresh and quiet places. Especially many young people now love freestyle traveling and really concern about this type of tourism. According to Department of Culture – Sport and Tourism (CS&T), in the first 6 months of 2016, there were 1.828 million visitors to visit and stay-in in the province, increased 15.2% more that the same period last year and reached 58.9% of the annual plan. Revenue from tourism reached 571 billion VND, increased 33% more than the same period last year and reached 57.1% of the annual plan. Forest eco-tourism stand-alone attracted over 26,000 visitors including 6000 foreigners.
The potential has not been properly exploited.
Recently, Dong Nai province has investing more in tourism to promote its value and contribute in the tourist attraction. However, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Hau, Officer of Tourism Management Office (Department of CS&T); ecotourism especially forest ecotourism in Vinh Cuu and Tan Phu districts had not been effectively exploited. Despite having the advantages in natural forests and tourists, there hasn’t been any proper cooperation between the localities and the local authorities to exploit the cultural values to contribute in the tourism development. At the moment, the amount of visitors is not adequate with the potential of the provincial tourism; since most of them went on one day trip only, not many stayed-in
Mr. Ngo Thanh Long - Deputy Director of Provincial Tourism Promotion Center shared that with all the advantages given by the nature, in the past years, Dong Nai had planned for the tourism development by attracting investments there had not been much change comparing to tourism in the other South Eastern provinces. In fact, Dong Nai forest ecotourism had a lot of potential; however, those potential should be made into specific production to be actually effective.
There are many ethnic minorities living in Cat Tien National Park area and Dong Nai cultural and natural conservation area; however, the ethnic festivals here have only been held in small scale within the commune, not an actual tourism production. If the Department of CS&T can have good conservation and restoration protection for the traditional festivals, cultural and historical places and forests as well as traditional handicraft villages; not only people’s life in the areas shall be improved but the provincial cultural and tourism values shall also be promoted.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hau also said that in order to develop Dong Nai forest ecotourism, beside of having the effective exploitation; propagation work to broadcast more about the tourism production to more people using different media types shall be more concerned as well as cooperating with the other kinds of tourism for better tourist attraction shall also be promoted. Making detailed plans for effective tourism production exploitation management together with investing in modern infrastructure and equipment to provide the best services for the tourists. Last but not least, good tourism personnel training shall be made for higher personnel quality and better provincial tourism.
My Pham
