A journey connecting nature - Local culture - Sustainable livelihoods
Striving towards recognition as one of UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages 2030.
OVERVIEW
A village that preserves the heritage of the Chau Ma and S’tieng people: Ta Lai has long been home to the Chau Ma and S’tieng people. For generations, local familíe have depended on farming and the natural resources of the surrounding forests. Here, the forest has always been more than a source of livelihood. It is the foundation of daily life, cultural identity, and traditions that have been passed down through generations.
Local farmers working in the lush fields of Ta Lai.
A new chapter after forest conservation: With the establishment of Cat Tien National Park to protect one of Vietnam’s most valuable tropical rainforest ecosystems, the use of forest resources became strictly regulated under national conservation laws. As traditional forest-based livelihoods gradually disappeared, Ta Lai faced the challenge of creating new and sustainable economic opportunities while adapting to a changing relationship with the forest.
Life in Ta Lai Village remains challenging for many local families.
A natural treasure with outstanding tourism potential: Despite these challenges, Ta Lai is blessed with an invaluable gift from nature: peaceful, gentle landscapes and streams nestled right beside the majestic Cat Tien National Park. Along with a rich cultural treasure trove deeply imbued with identity (such as traditional brocade weaving, gong performances, and local cuisine), Ta Lai opens up great potential for the development of sustainable local tourism.
The setting sun paints the Ta Lai fields in golden hues, creating a scene of quiet rural beauty.
Now, tourism is the key that opens opportunities for local residents to directly engage in service activities, transitioning livelihoods from 'dependence on forests' to 'protection of forests,' establishing a stable source of income, and gradually elevating their quality of life.
With the orientation to develop a benchmark local-driven tourism model:
- Creating sustainable livelihoods: Increasing income and improving life quality for the people.
- Preserving heritage: Conserving the Cat Tien forest ecosystem, restoring traditional brocade weaving, and preserving native cultural spaces.
- Offering distinct experiences: Connecting tourists with authentic cultural identity and pure, untouched nature.
GOALS FOR 2030
By 2030, the Ta Lai tourism village project commits to achieving the following key targets:
- Economy - Livelihoods: 100% of household participating in the project increase their income by at least 50% compared to 2026.
- Employment: Create at least 100 stable jobs for local people.
- Environment: 100% of tourism waste is sorted and properly managed. No forest damage or environmental impacts to Cat Tien National Park caused by tourism activities.
- Recognition: Achieve the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages 2030 award.
Ma families host visitors with traditional home-cooked meals in their own homes.
PARTNERSHIP ECOSYSTEM AND STAKEHOLDER ROLES
Ta Lai's success is built upon a strong partnership among 5 main pillars, with key stakeholders fulfilling the following primary roles and responsibilities:
Oxalis
- Lead the overall planning and tourism product development.
- Sponsor and organize training programs to improve local skills and capacity.
- Promote Ta Lai Village, carry out marketing activities and coordinate visitor arrivals.
Local communities (Chau Ma and S’tieng people)
- Provide tourism services, including homestays, home-cooked meals, traditional brocade weaving and sustainable farming experiences.
- Establish and manage a local tourism committee to maintain safety, community order and environmental cleanliness.
Warm smiles from Ma women welcome visitors to Cat Tien National Park.
Cat Tien National Park and local authorities (Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ta Lai Commune)
- Provide policy support, legal guidance and necessary procedures, including homestay registration and digital infrastructure.
- Work together to manage visitor capacity and ensure the long-term protection of the forest ecosystem.
Visitors
- Engage directly in the tourism value chain by purchasing local agricultural produce and handicrafts.
- Partner with the community in environmental protection and show respect for local cultures.
Visitors learn the traditional brocade weaving techniques of the Ma people.
DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP
STAGE 1: Building foundations & launching key highlights (2026 – 2027)
Objective: Define target visitor segments, launch anchor products, and activate community participation.
- Anchor products at Cat Tien National Park: Co-design unique nature-based tour experiences operated by Oxalis; train and recruit approximately 30 Ta Lai residents as local tour guides, porters, and tour assistants with stable incomes.
- "Home-meal" model: Select suitable households, provide training on food safety and service skills, and integrate this activity into official tour itineraries.
- Reviving traditional brocade weaving: Provide funding for local artisans to restore the craft village, establish interactive spaces for tourists, and assist in distributing handicraft souvenirs.
Visitors take part in trekking and wildlife exploration tours with Katien Safari.
STAGE 2: Strengthen the value chain & Encourage longer stays (2027 – 2028)
Objective: Create more income opportunities, add value to local products and encourage visitors to stay overnight.
- The "10 Model Homestays" project: Support local families in upgrading their homes into comfortable, clean homestays while preserving traditional architecture. Provide hospitality training to welcome both domestic and international visitors.
- The "Ta Lai Tourism Rice Fields" project: Develop the rice fields into an attractive eco-landscape with walking paths and scenic viewpoints. Support local farmers in growing organic rice and develop the Ta Lai Organic Rice brand.
The Ta Lai fields will be developed into an eco-tourism destination.
STAGE 3: Expand partnerships & build a complete tourism ecosystem (2029 – 2030)
Objective: Complete the tourism model, strengthen international recognition and achieve the UN Tourism award.
- Expand visitor experiences: Introduce new activities such as kayaking, mountain biking, traditional herbal leaf baths and live gong performances.
- Expand partnerships & attract responsible investment: Invite businesses that share the values of responsible tourism to work together under a shared management framework, ensuring tourism development goes hand in hand with landscape and environmental protection.
- Achieve UN Tourism recognition: Develop digital tourism information, improve digital infrastructure, prepare the application and promote Ta Lai internationally to become one of UN Tourism's Best Tourism Villages 2030.
EXPLORE CAT TIEN WITH OXALIS - TOGETHER, LET'S BRING TA LAI VILLAGE TO THE WORLD
Every journey with Oxalis in Cat Tien National Park is more than a nature adventure. It is an opportunity to support sustainable livelihoods for the Chau Ma and S'tieng communities.
Join an Oxalis Cat Tien experience today and help Ta Lai grow into a model tourism village, working toward recognition as one of UN Tourism's Best Tourism Villages 2030.
