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Vietnam Ecotourism Planning

Vietnam is an attractive tourism destination, its offer is wide and based on a strong heritage made of stunning various sceneries and vivid ethnic cultures. But it is also a fast developing country eager to emerge among the other Asian Tigers and for which the fast tourism growth was too good to say no to. After more than a decade we can say that it has gone too fast for a such exposed country. Destination management is not something anyone can improvise and Vietnam suffered from a lack of experience in tourism industry and expertise in sustainable development.

Some places have been and still are over visited with an amazing flow of tourists uncontrolled that caused irreversible damages on economic, environmental and socio-cultural contexts. The best examples to illustrate this degradation are Sapa and Halong bay. If media still highlight those places (only), if some tours operators unscrupulously chose to raise money to the detriment of sustainable development, if the competent authorities seem to be overtaken by the problem, if tourist keep feeding this complex destruction machine, the point today is not anymore to hold someone responsible but to raise awareness and act for a brighter future.

And here comes the light when we have a look at the general evolution and the new trends of tourism in Vietnam. After some years of practice, some tours operators are now able and have the will to propose an alternative tourism. It does not always fill all the responsible tourism criteria yet but at least proves that problems have been heard and understood. Tourism sustainable development must consider the local challenges and minimize its negative impact while optimizing benefits for local populations.

To develop some destinations with the concern of sustainability and run what we could call ecotours, one of the first steps is the setting up of responsible bases to host tourists. Those bases can be of various kinds, from the basic homestay on stilts to the more comfortable eco-lodge. The main point is that they directly involve local people (increasing their revenues and providing them with new skills) and enable the operators to have a strong close control and to be fully immerged into the local environments to understand better the challenges and create suitable solutions.

Several projects of this kind are emerging in Vietnam. To take few examples, Vu Linh (Yen Bai province), Pan Hou (Ha Giang province), Tuyen Quang (Tuyen Quang province), Pu Luong (Thanh Hoa province), Cham Archipelago (Quang Nam province), Chay Lap (Quang Binh province)... all those tourism/hospitality projects feature accommodation in harmony with the local environment, involve local people and organize some short tours in their surroundings. A way to preserve and enhance local natural and cultural environments.

We are at the very beginning of ecotourism in Vietnam and some destinations seem to be irreversibly compromised but the first step toward a responsible tourism is in process, the will of local operators to preserve their country is real and the mind of tourists is progressively changing. Vietnam is a wide wild garden with a huge ecotouristic potential, everyone has a piece of the puzzle to contribute and we would like to encourage travelers to organize their holidays through local responsible operators. Along their experience and expertise goes the insurance of an enjoyable trip for both guests and hosts and of a local development thought on a long term.

Travel with Respect

While traveling in Vietnam, you will certainly encounter people from different various cultures and go through a rich and luxuriant nature. This heritage has to be preserved, and if the local tours operators have their part of responsibility, you also have, as a traveler, a role to play.

We won’t give you an exhaustive list of things to do or not, it would be tedious for you to read it and a big mistake for all to think that there is an only way to travel.

To give you the trends of a general attitude to adopt, we would rather focus on the 3 keys of the responsible tourism concept and illustrate them with some easy-to-follow recommendations.

Natural environment preservation:
- Refuse plastic bags when you buy something. They are not recycled in Vietnam and local people overuse them.

- Reduce your energy consumption by trading usual comfort for local experience: slow down the use of light, air conditioner, hot water... Vietnam has a very poor energy production.

Economic balance maintenance:
- Before buying products from local people, ask your guide for average prices to avoid giving an incommensurate amount of money or bargaining an unreasonable low price.

- Responsible tourism is not charity, do not feel like you always have to compensate your presence with material things. Give a smile, an interest, a proof of respect.

Socio-cultural heritage respect and enhancement:
- People are not still lifes, please ask before shooting if you focus on only one or few people. Anyway, remain discreet when taking pictures.

- Learn some words in Vietnamese before coming. A simple “xin chao” (hello) or “cam on’ (thank you). Local people will appreciate the effort.

While Vietnamese ecotourism planning is not as fully developed as in some other nations, there are a number of providers and programs with stronger reputations.

Here are some of the companies engaged in Vietnam ecotourism planning.

Vietnam Ecotourism Planning with www.responsibletravel.com
Offering a flexible, two-week tour of both North Vietnam and South Vietnam, including the Mekong Delta, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Ha Long Bay (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Responsible Travel allows ecotourists to personalize their experience and add or omit elements of the trip based on their preferences. They hire freelance local guides by region (rather than using an around-the country single guide). Responsible travel also arranges meetings with local artisans so that ecotourists can support crafts directly and even learn skills in occasional workshops. For those interested in the ecological aspects of Vietnam ecotourism planning, this tour visits an endangered primate resource center and uses a small part of the tour cost to support education for this wildlife initiative. In terms of food and accommodations, responsible travel works with local suppliers of services to ensure that the economic benefits stay anchored in local economies rather than becoming centralized in

Hoi An, Volunteer Program with www.globeaware.com

GlobeAware can help with Vietnam ecotourism planning. They provide a volunteer experience in Hoi An, a small town outside of Danang in central coastal Vietnam. With a focus on helping youth in poverty, volunteers are asked to help teach English, set up libraries, and assist with local school programs for poorer children who live outside the jurisdiction and do not always receive the same educational benefits. In terms of environmental impact, volunteers stay in a modest, dorm-like hotel: no lavish décor or luxury services, as that would violate notions of Vietnam ecotourism planning. By interacting with the people indigenous to the area and ensuring minimal waste in food and accommodations, Globe Aware provides a dedicated and reflective, though not country-wide, ecotourism experience.

Cycle Vietnam with
One way to limit your impact on the local environment is to avoid pollution from gas-powered vehicles. While it’s true that you’ll need to fly to Vietnam, you can at least bike your way around the country without adding more fumes or chemicals to the ecosystems in more sensitive rural areas. Cycle Vietnam is part of a Canada-based Vietnam ecotourism planning initiative. The trip moves from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, including Hoi An, the Central Highlands, Nha Trang, and other destinations along the way. By taking back roads and providing substantial interactions with local craftmakers, restaurant owners, and other merchants, the tour keeps its eye on fair economic engagement of the Vietnamese public.

Vietnam Ecotourism Planning with
With a wide variety of tours that they claim are responsibly operated, Footprints is clearly tapping into the demand for Vietnam ecotourism planning. However, the real commitment to socially responsible travel is more questionable with this company. Interactions with locals (other than tour leaders) is minimal, and many of the tours they offer use more wasteful transportation and housing providers.

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