Travel Gently: A Guide to Sustainable Tourism in Vietnam

As travel returns stronger than ever, one question echoes louder:
👉 How can we explore the world without harming the very places we love?

In Vietnam—a country blessed with lush mountains, emerald bays, rice terraces, and resilient communities—sustainable tourism isn’t a trend. It’s a necessity.

At Vietnam Beyond Travel, we believe in showing you the best of this country while helping preserve it for future generations.

Let’s discover how you can travel better, greener, and more mindfully in Vietnam.

A Guide to Sustainable Tourism in Vietnam

🌏 What Is Sustainable Travel?

Sustainable travel means respecting the environment, local culture, and communities while minimizing your impact.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being intentional:

• Choosing locally owned tours and accommodations

• Supporting traditional crafts

• Reducing plastic and waste

• Traveling slowly, consciously, and meaningfully

🌿 Why Vietnam Needs Sustainable Tourism

From the crowded streets of Hanoi to the quiet mountains of Ha Giang, tourism is changing the landscape—for better and for worse.

• Ha Long Bay suffers from over-tourism and plastic waste

• Ethnic communities in Sapa face cultural dilution

• Wildlife in places like Son Tra Peninsula is threatened by development

But with the right approach, travel can empower local people and protect natural beauty.

✅ 7 Ways to Travel Sustainably in Vietnam

1. ✨ Stay in Eco-Friendly Accommodations

Choose hotels, lodges, or homestays that:

• Use solar power or water-saving systems

• Recycle and reduce waste

• Hire local staff and source food locally

🏡 Try: Topas Ecolodge (Sapa), Mai Chau Ecolodge, or a family-run homestay in Ninh Binh.

2. 🍃 Join Responsible Local Tours

Instead of big buses and mass-market tours, go with guides who are part of the community.

At Vietnam Beyond Travel, we work directly with local guides from ethnic groups in the north, fisherfolk in the Mekong, and artisans in Hoi An.

✅ These tours:

• Keep money in local hands

• Avoid exploitation of culture

• Offer deeper, more authentic experiences

👉 Explore sustainable tours

A Guide to Sustainable Tourism in Vietnam

A Guide to Sustainable Tourism in Vietnam

3. 🚫 Skip the Plastic

Vietnam is battling plastic pollution, especially in tourist areas. You can help by:

• Carrying a reusable bottle (many cafes offer refills!)

• Refusing plastic straws and bags

• Supporting vendors who use biodegradable packaging

🌊 Every small act helps clean our rivers, beaches, and forests.

4. 🛶 Travel Slow, Travel Deep

The more places you cram into your itinerary, the more transport emissions you produce. Slow travel means:

• Fewer destinations, more time in each

• Walking, cycling, or taking trains

• Connecting deeply with one place instead of rushing through many

🎒 Stay longer. Learn names. Join in.

5. 🧵 Support Local Crafts and Cuisine

Skip the mass-produced souvenirs. Instead:

• Buy handwoven scarves in Ha Giang

• Learn lantern-making in Hoi An

• Taste rice wine made by a Red Dao grandmother

💰 When you buy directly from makers, your dollars make a real difference.

6. 🐘 Say No to Animal Exploitation

Don’t support elephant rides, snake shows, or photo ops with drugged animals. Instead:

• Visit ethical wildlife centers or sanctuaries (like Phong Nha's rescue programs)

• Explore natural habitats with trained, conservation-minded guides

Wildlife deserves to be wild.

7. 📸 Travel With Respect

Ask before taking photos—especially of people. Dress modestly in temples and villages. Learn a few Vietnamese phrases (like xin chào, cảm ơn). Respect is part of sustainability too.

A Guide to Sustainable Tourism in Vietnam

💬 A Word From Our Team

“At Vietnam Beyond Travel, we believe travel should give more than it takes. That’s why we handpick local guides, support homestay networks, and offset part of our carbon footprint through reforestation programs in Northern Vietnam.”

You’re not just a tourist—you’re a part of the story.

🌟 The Benefits of Traveling Green

Sustainable travel isn’t just better for the planet. It’s better for you:

• More meaningful memories

• Real human connections

• Stories that change the way you see the world

You’ll return home not just with photos—but with purpose.

🌐 Ready to Travel Better in Vietnam?

Whether you want to hike with a H’mong guide, sleep in a bamboo lodge, or explore a floating village that’s going plastic-free—we’ll help you do it the right way.

📍 See our sustainable travel itineraries
📧 Email: vietnambeyondtravel@gmail.com
📞 WhatsApp: +84 342 988 013

Vietnam doesn’t need more tourists. It needs more thoughtful ones.
And if you’ve read this far, you’re already on the right path.