Vietnam Ecotourism Planning: Responsible Travel

The tourism industry in Vietnam has been booming from North to South, with coastal cities and inland villages both attracting curious visitors. Alongside the development of an infrastructure for travel, specific demand for ecotourism has grown. Not only do visitors want Vietnam ecotourism planning to involve exotic sightseeing and cultural experiences, but they want the interactions with local people and the environment to be socially responsible, limiting waste and ensuring economic benefit to the Vietnamese people. 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 urban areas.

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 http://ecotourism.gordonsguide.com/
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 www.footprintsvietnam.com
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.