Traveling is not about having fun only, but also about conserving and enhancing bio-cultural diversity. The ongoing trend of ecotourism in Vietnam helps protect the natural and cultural heritage, as well as enrich your environmental awareness.
Pros of Ecotourism of Vietnam
Local Economic Improvement
Since tourism can generate more jobs, it provides sustainable revenue for the locals. Whether you choose a tour to the Mekong Delta forests or trekking through paddy fields in Ninh Binh, your journey gives the local workers – especially those in the rural areas – a chance to earn a higher income through providing hospitality services and infrastructure.
Preserve Community Cultures
Traditional practices and cultural values are preserved in order to attract tourists. Locally grown and processed food, crafted souvenirs, ancient art performances, historical artifacts, and more are conserved and turned into “travel specialties.”
Traveling off-the-beaten-path offers unique sneak-peaks into the local cultures
Enhance Environmental Awareness
When the local authorities realize the potential of ecotourism in Vietnam, they’re more likely to educate the locals about the environment and invest in ecotourism activities. Simultaneously, more environmental projects are initiated to educate the tourists to help them foster a better mindset regarding environmental protection. Moreover, tourists are also inspired to do more for the environment.
Financial Resources towards Conservation
The money you spend on ecotourism in Vietnam will go back on conservation efforts such as saving endangered species or reforestation. With genuine ecotourism projects, up to 90% of the profit will finance conservation. Nevertheless, you need to check carefully whether the ecotourism project cooperates with local authorities or not to make sure your money is re-invested in the ecotourism and biodiversity system.
More Affordable Experiences
Instead of going for luxurious hotels, opting for local homestays in Vietnam will save you a good amount of budget for more activities and exploration. Most ecotourism destinations in Vietnam offer incredibly affordable services as they make smart use of natural resources.
Cons of Ecotourism in Vietnam
Travel Impacts on The Environment
While making your way to these exotic places, you’ll have to travel a longer distance. Traveling by plane or car generates more carbon emissions on the environment. Although ecotourism is considered the most sustainable form of tourism, zero waste traveling is still a big challenge for almost every visitor.
Less System of Support
When you travel to more remote places, there will be less medical support nearby. You’ll need to pack along first-aid items, medicines, and other necessary items to survive in sparsely populated areas.
Ecosystem Degradation
If too many people explore an ecotourism destination, they might disturb the biodiversity system there. Highly visited ecotourism sites may lead to the fragmentation of natural habitats. Many facilities, such as hotels or restaurants, will be constructed to fulfill ecotourism demands.
Read more on Responsible Travel in Vietnam.
How to Experience Ecotourism in Vietnam
Volunteer
You can volunteer to clean up the beaches or help protect wildlife at national parks and animal shelters. There are so many positive impacts you could have on ecotourism in particular and on the environment in general.
Opting for Green Lodging Services
You can choose hotels that have environmentally-friendly policies such as providing eco-friendly toiletries or local homestays so that you can enjoy authentic traveling experiences as well as minimize the negative impacts on the environment.
Bring Eco-friendly Items along
You can bring along reusable water containers, eco-friendly packages. Additionally, avoid plastic bags and unnecessary packages while shopping in Vietnam to cut down on wastes. See more on Zero-Waste Travel in Vietnam.
Choose Credible Ecotourism Projects
Do your research carefully on the ecotourism projects to make sure they meet your expectations. The ecotourism in Vietnam projects needs to follow these criteria: safeguard the biodiversity, support the well-being of local communities, nurture cultural experiences, boost the local economy,…
Where to Experience Ecotourism in Vietnam
Trang An Landscape Complex (Ninh Binh)
Picturesque scenery of Trang An Landscape Complex
Experience awe-inspiring landscape made up of mountains, limestone caves, ancient pagodas, and grottoes. Lay back on the row cruise through breathtaking sceneries and behold the biggest complex of Buddhism in Vietnam. Additionally, trek or bike through the lush paddy fields to get immersed in the peaceful countryside. See our guide for your First Time in Ninh Binh.
Get discounted tickets to travel to Ninh Binh:
Tam Dao National Park
Tranquil corner amidst of vast Tam Dao wild forests
Discover eight different kinds of forests with diverse topography, climate, and 840 species of animals. Tam Dao National Park is said to represent the mystical beauty of the wild forests in Northern Vietnam. You can have an excursion to the Silver Falls and Rung Rinh peak, which is phenomenal to experience ecotourism in Vietnam.
Cat Tien National Park
Cat Tien National Park has a lot of ecotourism activities to offer
Just about 155 kilometers away from Ho Chi Minh City, Cat Tien National Park is one of the six prominent biosphere reserves recognized by UNESCO in Vietnam. There are a lot of ecotourism experiences such as trekking or biking through the park headquarters, visiting animal rescued stations, watching gibbons, having kayaking excursions, enjoying night safaris, embarking on a bird-watching tour.
Ba Be National Park
Breathtaking view at Be Be Lake
Ba Be National Park encompasses clear waterfalls, rivers, valleys, lakes, and stalactite and stalagmite caves all set amidst picturesque landscapes. You can take part in the trekking activities with a tour guide or spend a night at Bo Lu Village to gain a good grasp of ethnic minorities’ daily life. There are other charming neighboring attractions such as Dau Dang Fall, Puong Cave, and Tien Pond.
Mai Chau Town
Plum gardens – Mai Chau Specialties
A rural village with towering cliffs and mountainous backdrop perfectly represent ecotourism in Vietnam. At this northern village, you will have the chance to experience traditions and cultures up close while staying at the Vietnam ethnic minority local homestays. There are multiple ethnic minority communities, immense karst caves, vibrant local markets, unique culinary experiences that will fulfill your ecotourism in Vietnam. See our guide for your First Time in Mai Chau.
Ha Giang
Stupendous landscape with lush rice terraces at Ha Giang
Fond of getting off the beaten path and experiencing ecotourism in Vietnam in the most appealing way? With up to 90% of the ethnic minorities population, Ha Giang remains a pristine area and less affected by mass tourism. Ha Giang can broaden your horizons with fascinating mountainous scenery, golden rice terraces, colorful ethnic markets, hearty towns, lush valleys. Experience ecotourism in Vietnam with Ha Giang’s lovely ecohouses and homestays. If you want to traverse to the more remote places in Ha Giang, you’ll need to buy a permit costs $10. However, all of the tourists claim that it’s worthy.
The Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta owns an amazing biodiversity system with diverse flora and fauna and a complex river system. You can explore the Mekong Delta wild forests or bike along with enchanting paddy fields. The green paddy fields and fishing villages, traversing laid-back streams, and rivers, discovering wild forests bring a unique culinary experience with natural and locally grown ingredients.
Discover Mekong Delta on a sampan with the local
Conclusion of Ecotourism in Vietnam
Ecotourism in Vietnam has a lot to offer from picturesque landscapes, unique topography to diverse cultures. If you’re keen on ecotourism in Vietnam, why not opt for our customized Mekong Delta tour with a professional local guide and carefully planned traveling schedule? We guarantee an authentic traveling experience in harmony with ecotourism in Vietnam.
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