Photos: Cuong Nguyen, Thien Nguyen, Hoang Long
Dong Nai’s future is taking shape without losing sight of its natural roots.
After nearly 330 years of development, Dong Nai has entered a new phase as a centrally governed city. Once known primarily as a major industrial hub in southeastern Vietnam, it is now charting a course toward modern urban growth and sustainable development. Through an ambitious 500-day campaign, new bridges, roadways, and infrastructure projects are not only driving economic growth but also creating a more livable city for its residents.
Amid the momentum of a city on the rise, Dong Nai still holds green spaces of remarkable ecological and cultural value. Foremost among them is Cat Tien National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of southern Vietnam’s richest tropical forest ecosystems. Crossing the threshold of Cat Tien, visitors leave the rhythm of the city behind and enter another world, where birdsong, forest shade, grasslands, and natural waterways create an appeal all their own.
In Cat Tien, every experience reveals a different facet of the forest. Visitors can admire centuries-old tung trees with vast roots gripping the earth, join a night safari to spot wildlife, wake to the dawn chorus of birds, cycle through the forest, or explore Bau Sau, a wetland of exceptional ecological significance.
Cat Tien plays an important role in Dong Nai’s vision for green development. Alongside modern infrastructure, expanding industrial parks, and growing economic centers, the city preserves a vast natural landscape that underscores the importance of ecological balance. It embodies Dong Nai’s evolving identity: a dynamic city of immense potential that continues to draw strength from the natural environment and cultural heritage that have shaped this land for centuries.
