Press Release
Zen Forest Da Lat Designated as Global Pilot for ECO-Transformation and Sustainable Destination Leadership
Toronto, Canada | Da Lat, Vietnam – Feb 20, 2026
Press Release
Zen Forest Da Lat Designated as Global Pilot for ECO-Transformation and Sustainable Destination Leadership
Toronto, Canada | Da Lat, Vietnam – Feb 20, 2026
Toronto, Canada / Da Lat, Vietnam — February 20, 2026 — The Urban Economy Forum, in formal coordination with the World Urban Pavilion, has officially designated Zen Forest Da Lat as a Global Pilot Project under the Global Initiative for Transforming Cities –marking an important step forward in advancing new models of ecological transformation, regenerative tourism, and sustainable settlement development.
Following a strategic review by the Steering Committee, the Zen Forest Da Lat project was recognized as meeting the institutional, operational, and strategic criteria required for global pilot designation. More than a single development, the project is positioned as a living platform for innovation, demonstrating how tourism, environmental stewardship, and economic transformation can converge to shape the next generation of sustainable destinations.
The initiative integrates regenerative tourism, renewable energy systems, circular economy agriculture, zero-waste infrastructure design, and net-zero destination planning into a unified model designated to inspire replication globally. Through this designation, Zen Forest Da Lat is acknowledged as a Global Pilot in Eco-Transformation, with a clear pathway toward Global Benchmark status as the project advances through structured institutional and operational development.
The Steering Committee emphasized that transformative projects of this nature require strong multi-level institutional collaboration. Engagement with national and regional authorities will be essential to align the initiative with sustainability and energy transition strategies, facilitate regulatory and institutional integration, strengthen policy-level recognition, and enable public–private partnership mechanisms. This collaborative approach is expected to reinforce the project’s long-term resilience while positioning it as a globally relevant demonstration model.
Located in Ta Nung Commune, Da Lat City, Vietnam, Zen Forest Da Lat spans 74.5 hectares of forest and agri-tourism landscape. Being developed by NewOak Fintech Phuc Thien Joint Stock Company based in Ho Chi Minh City in collobaration with Silkline Capital OÜ as the developer, the project aims to establish Vietnam’s first net-zero luxury wellness, longevity, meditation and leadership education destination, while serving as an international demonstration site for sustainable tourism technology, circular economy hospitality systems, meditation and nature-based development models focused on igniting professional and personal transformation
As part of the Global Initiative Structured Advancement Framework, the project will advance through a comprehensive institutional pathway including governance consolidation, ESG impact measurement, investment structuring, strategic cooperation agreements, and integration into the Global Initiative international portfolio. The project is expected to contribute to sustainable economic growth, local employment, community development, and global research and innovation in wellness, longevity tourism, and leadership training and development.
Zen Forest Da Lat reflects a broader global movement toward reimagining tourism and settlement development, demonstrating that ecological integrity, economic opportunity, and human wellbeing can be advanced together through visionary partnerships and practical implementation.
Media and institutional inquiries may be directed to Urban Economy Forum at info@ueforum.org, NewOak Fintech Phuc Thien JSC at rdvari@newoak.com, or Silkline Capital OÜ at robert@silkline.capital