Dak Lak’s tourism sector is facing a major opportunity: the development of green tourism. This is not only a global trend but also an essential direction for the province to harness its natural potentials, protect the environment and preserve indigenous culture.

Dray Nur waterfall - a highlight on the province’s green tourism routes.

Dak Lak is considered a “gold mine” for green tourism. Located at the center of the South Central Coast - Central Highlands region, the province is home to Yok Don national park (over 115,000ha) - the only place in Vietnam where wild elephants still exist, along with many rare animal species. It also hosts the Ea So nature reserve (over 26,848ha); Ho Lak forest; Dray Nur and Dray Sap waterfalls; and vast coffee forests. After the merger, combined with the  pristine, beautiful 189km coastline in the eastern coastal area, the new Dak Lak province presents a magnificent harmony of sea and forest, enriched by vibrant, distinctive indigenous culture.

According to Mr. Tran Hong Tien, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, before the merger, both provinces of Phu Yen and Dak Lak had identified tourism as a spearhead economic sector, with green tourism and eco-tourism set as the key pillars. In the period of 2021 - 2025, they received an average of 4.08 million visitors annually, earning around 6,463 trillion VND in tourism revenue each year.

Visitors at Yen islet, a national scenic site in eastern Dak Lak

The draft Political Report to be presented at the 18th Provincial Party Congress for the 2025 - 2030 tenure states that the province will focus on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector with modern, synchronized infrastructure and services. Outlining strong development of advantageous tourism products such as sea - forest ecological tourism; sea - forest resort tourism; community, agricultural and rural tourism; and tours to cultural sites, revolutionary historical relics, scenic landscapes, spiritual sites, and festivals... Prioritizing investment attraction to form tourism zones that serve as national and international highlights, along with large-scale entertainment and resort complexes.

The report also emphasizes that culture and people are decisive factors for tourism development. It therefore stresses the need of developing Dak Lak human comprehensively, in connection with building digital citizenship and equipping locals with the skills needed to join the digital economy and society effectively. Calling for investment in a regional sports complex; effectively implementing the Geopark Project toward recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark. Focusing on completing the planning, restoration, and preservation of historical relics…

Translated by KHUONG THAO