Vietnam is a dream-come-true destination for the lucky travelers who get to visit every year. Last year, in fact, the country welcomed an all-time high of 12.9 million visitors! Vietnam is certainly growing in popularity, but with greater traffic to this beautiful country comes a higher risk to the environment. So what’s a traveler to do if they can’t resist the allure of Vietnam but don’t want to contribute?
One possible solution is ecotourism. This style of tour, which focuses on sustainable practices, is a fantastic way to explore a country as diverse and culturally-rich as Vietnam without worrying as much about your footprint while on the road.
What is ecotourism?
Ecotourism is the practice of visiting undisturbed natural sites to enjoy all the beauty and power that nature has to offer without contributing to the crowding or damage that more popular man-made sites sometimes sustain. Even while visiting cities and famous sites, every effort is made for a sustainable experience: from transportation to food to the general practices of the travelers themselves.
While a trip viewing a country’s native plant species may not be for everyone, ecotourism (especially in countries quickly increasing in popularity, such as Vietnam) allows travelers the opportunity to get in touch with nature while ensuring the country they’re visiting remains just as beautiful and impressive for years to come.
Who is best suited for ecotourism?
If you’re the type who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty, who wants to see everything a country has to offer without the crowds some of the more popular sites attract, ecotourism may be just the thing for you. That’s not to say that eco-tours won’t allow you to see the important, iconic places no trip is complete without, however! In fact, many longer ecotours provide the best of both worlds: you get to visit all of those must-see temples and amazing cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and then travelers have the opportunity to learn more about preservation and the lush and relatively untouched nature that’s everywhere in Vietnam.
The bottom line is that eco-touring can be an excellent option for all types of travelers: whether you’re looking for a heart-pounding city adventure or a serene natural escape, eco-friendly touring can offer something for everyone.
Ecotourism in Vietnam
Since Vietnam’s tourism industry has grown so much in recent years, the country’s government has committed to reducing pollution and environmental damage caused by the country’s booming tourist industry. In addition to investing in better infrastructure which will allow for more visits to the less-developed parts of the country, many of Vietnam’s tourism professionals have begun offering tours of the roads less traveled, such as Vietnam’s national parks and local restaurants away from the typical tourist hotspots.
Eco-friendly places to visit in Vietnam
If you’re looking to get back to nature and explore everything Vietnam has to offer in that arena, you’re in luck: the country is home to 30 national parks spread entirely across the country. No matter where you visit, you’ll be able to find a park with inspiring beauty and refreshing, clean air. It can be hard to choose where to visit, but here are a few of our favorites.
Ba Be National Park
While Ba Be means “three lakes,” visitors to this national park will find that the lake is one large body of water. Spanning eight kilometers long and 800 kilometers at its widest, the lake is the only significant natural mountain lake in all of Vietnam. Ba Be Lake is an important source of fish for local communities and a popular ecotourism destination – see how many of the park’s 332 species of butterflies you can find!
Cat Ba National Park
Located in the Cat Hai district of Hai Phong city, this national park is located on Cat Ba island. With over fifteen thousand hectares for you to explore, Cat Ba national park is home to over eight hundred different plant species! A popular destination for all kinds of tourists, be mindful of the nature around you and your impact upon it, and it, in turn, leaves its mark on you.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Near Vietnam’s border with Laos, Phon Nha-Ke Bang National Park is home to an incredibly diverse group of plants and animals, as well as nearly endless limestone deposits. One of the most incredible parts of this park is its limestone cave system. Visitors can explore up to 1.5km within the caves: it’s one for your bucket list!
Eco-Friendly Tours in Vietnam
If you’re ready to set out on an eco-tour of Vietnam, it’s important to consider a few things:
- What do you want to see?
- How long do you want to stay?
- Are you interested in nature alone, or do you also want to visit the cities?
Once you have an idea of what you want, you can start looking at specific tours and making plans. Of course, you don’t have to do all the work yourself! Here are a few of our favorites.
Cycle Vietnam’s Heritage 10 Days
- Operated by Bravo Indochina Tours
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Biking
With this tour, you’ll travel from Hue to Nha Trang, enjoying rides along the scenic coast and stopping at temples, cities, and villages in between. You’ll take a bike ride to discover My Son, the grand ruins of the ancient Cham culture, visit the war museum of My Lai and towards the end, enjoy Nha Trang Island with its possibilities to relax, scuba dive and enjoy the nightlife for your final evening.
10days Vietnam Classic Tour
- Operated by Your Vietnam Travel
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Immersive local experiences
This tour takes you from the metropolis of Hanoi all the way to Ho Chi Minh in the Mekong River Delta, as well as to more local, natural sites along the way. You’ll see the famous floating market, cruise Halong Bay on a traditional boat, and explore the quiet countryside, including a full day on the Mekong River, visiting islands and a coconut candy factory. Really unique is a visit to Tra Que vegetable village with a farmer’s market quite out of the ordinary.
Pu Luong Nature Reserve Discovery
- Operated by Realistic Asia
- 5 days, 4 nights
- Luxury Hiking & Trekking
A shorter option with a luxury approach for travelers looking for a quick dive into Vietnam or for those wanting to add an eco-tour to the end of an existing trip, this scenic tour allows you to fully immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture. Local guides share their expertise as you get to visit the Tai ethnic minority villages with a cooking class, bike ride through the rice paddies, tea picking and making, and, of course, trek the magnificent Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
If you’re the type of traveler who frets about their carbon footprint, or if you want to try something a little different with your next adventure, ecotourism may be the best option for you! Of course, no matter where you travel, you should always take care to follow that old travel adage: “leave nothing but footsteps, take nothing but photos.”
Have you experienced an eco-tour? Are you dying to try it? Let us know!
