Identifying Key Strengths to Drive Tourism Development

A Wealth of Outstanding Advantages

Cu Jut, a commune adjacent to Dak Lak Province, is crossed by National Highway 14 and lies less than 20 kilometers from the center of Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak). Its natural resources and historical significance, along with the traditional villages and hamlets of local ethnic groups, provide a solid foundation for developing a tourism value chain.

The commune is bordered in part by the Srepok River, which is home to local fish specialties such as Hemibagrus catfish, bagrid catfish, and goby. Truc Lake, located within a residential area, offers a picturesque landscape with its clear blue waters and rich ecosystem.

Another place to visit is Trinh Nu Waterfall, where the water gently flows through some sections before cascading in powerful torrents over the rocks. According to local residents, the name "Trinh Nu" (Virgin) Waterfall comes from a folktale about a local girl's love. Devastated by a troubled relationship, she leaped into the river to remain faithful to her beloved. Touched by her sacrifice, the community decided to name the waterfall Trinh Nu.

As part of the Dak Nong Global Geopark, a UNESCO site, Cu Jut enjoys significant advantages in developing its tourism value chain. Currently, Cu Jut features several tourist attractions, such as Cau 14 and Trinh Nu Waterfall.

The commune also boasts a rich cultural heritage shaped by diverse ethnic groups from different regions. Various Ede ethnic festivals in Nui and Buor villages, including the New Rice Celebration, have been revitalized. Additionally, Cu Jut is associated with the Cultural Space of Gong Culture in the Central Highlands, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

According to Ngo Quoc Phong, Chairman of the Cu Jut Commune People's Committee, the locality is calling for investment in the Truc Lake Ecotourism Project. The project covers 22.52 hectares, with an estimated investment of VND 350-500 billion. The locality is also seeking investment to expand the Trinh Nu Waterfall Tourism Project to promote sustainable economic growth through tourism.

Driving Tourism Development

To draw in investors, the leaders of Cu Jut commune have stated that the area is concentrating on enhancing the investment and business climate and boosting its competitiveness. The commune's goal is to establish favorable conditions for attracting investment and stabilizing the market.

Consequently, local officials are actively overseeing the production and business operations of enterprises, pinpointing their challenges, and offering timely assistance to help them navigate difficulties and sustainably restore and advance their activities.

In a similar vein, Ta Dung Commune has distinctive advantages that few places can match. These advantages include a collection of large and small artificial islands created by a hydropower reservoir, as well as Ta Dung Mountain and waterfalls located within Ta Dung National Park, all of which boast a rich and pristine ecosystem.

In addition to its scenic views, the commune also showcases the unique cultural traditions of the M’nong, Ma, and K’ho ethnic groups, as well as the H'Mong community, making it an attractive destination for community-based tourism.

Currently, the provincial government is leveraging both local resources and broader social resources for development by implementing various investment models to enhance infrastructure that is increasingly modern and integrated.

In terms of infrastructure needed to enhance tourism in Ta Dung, Phan Van Sinh from the Ta Dung National Park Management Board voiced his hopes that upgrades and expansions to transportation infrastructure would reduce travel times for visitors journeying from the blue seas of Phan Thiet to the flower-laden city of Da Lat, while passing through Ta Dung Lake and the UNESCO-recognized Dak Nong Global Geopark to experience the untouched natural beauty.

The decision to revise the Lam Dong Provincial Planning for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050, reaffirms the goal of developing tourism into a major economic sector focused on high quality, sustainability, and global integration, while making the most of the integrated strengths of the “sea - highlands - ecology - geopark.”

The aim is to establish Lam Dong as a distinctive tourism centre of national and regional significance in the near future.

The tourism landscape will be structured according to an integrated highland-geological-coastal framework, leading to the formation of interconnected tourism clusters and corridors. Three primary development zones will be established, with the western region of the province highlighting the Gia Nghia-Ta Dung area, which will concentrate on community-based tourism, ecotourism, geotourism, and adventure tourism.

Local entities' ability to recognize their strengths and align them with the province's tourism development strategy will create considerable opportunities to stimulate tourism growth throughout the region.