Vietnam is a country that thrives on its tourism industry, which has benefited its economy considerably over time. However, with the ever-growing popularity of Vietnam as a travel destination, the influx of visitors also leaves behind an undesirable amount of negative footprints at an alarming rate. To counteract this problem, your decisions as a traveler can profoundly impact the sustainability of Vietnam’s tourism. We encourage travelers to Vietnam to consider our sustainable tips for your Vietnam travel to leave more positive footprints when visiting the country.
Practice The 3 R’s: Refuse – Reduce – Reuse
As a conscious traveler, you should always keep the 3 R’s principle (Refuse – Reduce – Reuse) in mind when traveling sustainably to limit unnecessary additional waste.
Refuse
The first R of the 3 R’s principle is the easiest to implement. Consider turning down any promotional fliers handed out to you or any restaurant disposables. Vietnam is a country that still uses a large amount of plastic bags daily, especially when you visit local markets. Declining non-degradable and plastic items will decrease the amount of paper and plastic waste that will end up in landfills. The demand for such products would also be affected when businesses realize people are not interested in such needless items.
See more Environmentally-friendly Products for Your Vietnam Trip
Reduce
The true challenge in sustainable travel in Vietnam will come from your effort to control your traveling tendencies. Consider packing light and only bring along items crucial for your traveling needs. Accessing information like itineraries, tickets, and boarding passes from your smartphone will eliminate the need for physical paper printouts. Adopting a minimalist style of packing will result in a lighter load to carry and minimize your trash contribution towards your destination.
Not sure of what you need for your visit to Vietnam? Check out our blog about Packing for Vietnam
Reuse
Most of Vietnam still relies on single-use plastic items, so reusing them or finding an alternative replacement can help prevent waste. Consider bringing your own cloth bag for shopping instead of plastic bags if possible. Use your handkerchief instead of napkins or paper towels, have your own durable, reusable water bottle instead of plastic ones, and perhaps your own set of reusable cutlery.
Check out water backpacks if you plan on taking a hiking trip in Vietnam.
As sustainable tips for your Vietnam travel, the 3 Rs principle is a strict general rule that you can follow to contribute to a positive footprint during your visit.
Thoroughly Research the Area before Visiting
Researching an area before committing to visiting it is something all travelers should do. However, when considering a sustainable travel approach, there are a few things that you should consider during your research.
Some sustainable tips for your Vietnam travel include researching the reviews of the area or attraction if they are available. Any reservation sites, animal parks, or ethnic attractions should be examined for ethical conduct. There are seldom tourist services in the highlands or the countryside, including employing animals such as circuses or riding animals. Of course, you should avoid any business that relies on animal exploitation and go for the alternative of visiting animal sanctuaries or conservation centers.
Read more on Ecotourism in Vietnam
Sustainable Tours in Vietnam
The following sustainable tips for your Vietnam travel will be finding a tour company committed to sustainability, ethical business practices, and local prosperity. Once again, research into such a tour company will be essential to determine their commitment to sustainability. Reading reviews from other travelers and asking on social media will help you make an informed decision.
At i Tour Vietnam, we have the GIVE BACK Program and the i Volunteer Expedition initiative to support environmental sustainability and support for children’s health, education, and hunger prevention. We also partner with the HELPING HANDS Foundation to widen our reach for underprivileged children.
Support Local Communities in Vietnam
To truly support a sustainable tourism industry in Vietnam, try to visit any local attractions or participate in local services to support the local population. This can include visiting local museums, participating in a local homestay program, or participating in local exchange activities. By spending your money at such attractions, you will help grow the local businesses and positively impact the local community. On top of all that, you will have an enriched experience connecting with the authentic local culture.
See more on How to Support Local Communities when Traveling Vietnam
Sustainable Accommodations in Vietnam
In Vietnam nowadays, sustainable accommodations are readily available in a metropolis like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or even in off-the-beaten-path destinations like Sa Pa. You’ll be surprised to know that not only larger hotels have contributed great effort to sustainable tourism development, but green lodging services of homestays and farm stays also allow you to be close to nature while conserving and developing the local communities.
Last Words on Sustainable Tips for Your Vietnam Travel
In general, remember that you can always make an effort to travel sustainably by adjusting your traveling habits. Your choices of activity during travel can also impact your destination. We hope you will implement the sustainable travel tips mentioned in this blog during your visit to Vietnam.