Vinh Long: Greening trend in the 'smokeless industry'

"Green tourism" based on the rational and effective exploitation of resources to protect the environment, preserve and promote the values ​​of natural and human resources has become the direction chosen by many tourist establishments in Vinh Long province.

This is not only a solution to preserve nature and the unique culture of the river region, but also a lever to help the smokeless industry of Vinh Long transform, position the green brand, and move towards sustainable development.

Ms. Trinh Thi Ngoc Hien, owner of the "Forest Keeper" farm, guides tourists in preparing oysters harvested on site.

In Thanh Phuoc commune, after many years of thinking and learning, the couple Nguyen Tan Vang and Trinh Thi Ngoc Hien have successfully implemented an eco-tourism model. In 2020, the couple started to build and spread the eco-tourism model "Forest Keepers", exploiting aquatic resources associated with environmental protection, enhancing economic value under the forest canopy, and regenerating resources towards sustainable development of the locality.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Vang shared that when deciding to start a business on the mangrove land, his and his wife's biggest wish was to both preserve the forest and exploit the tourism potential. He and his wife, together with the locals, preserve the forest, plant forests and exploit the benefits that the forest brings to people. Visitors to the farm will experience forest planting, with the main tree species being mangrove. The mangrove trees not only grow green on a piece of land, but also provide a "roof" for crabs, snails, clams, fish, shrimp, etc. to grow.

Ms. Trinh Thi Ngoc Hien added that planting forests creates a diverse vegetation. Every day, leaves, bark, and branches fall naturally into the water and decompose, creating beneficial microorganisms that provide nutrients back to the forest trees, while also providing food for aquatic species, creating a complete ecosystem... The farm also guides tourists to experience many activities related to the mangrove ecosystem such as taking a boat into the forest to trap crabs, catch mussels, oysters, and set nets to catch fish in permitted areas. Seafood is only caught when it is mature, not when it is young or when it is preparing to reproduce.

According to Ms. Hien, doing tourism must be responsible, if we want to develop sustainably, we must not exhaust resources completely, but on the contrary, we need to nurture and restore them. Thanks to this enthusiasm of the young couple, after nearly 5 years of operation, the "Forest Keeper" model has brought practical values ​​to people living under the mangrove forest canopy on the Cua Dai River, especially ensuring their livelihoods, so that people can rest assured to stay on the land and protect the forest. Currently, this farm creates jobs for more than 20 regular workers with a stable monthly income.

Mr. Vo Van Phong, Director of C2T Media and Tourism One Member Limited Liability Company (Phu Khuong Ward) is one of the pioneers of the Net Zero Tours sustainable tourism model in Cu Lao Bao. Mr. Phong said that this project won the first prize of the 2024 Kotler Awards International in the field of marketing because the project has a breakthrough vision of sustainable tourism, combining interesting tourism experiences with environmental protection, sustainable development; connecting people with nature, building a pioneering green tourism model and contributing to the community and the environment.

Coming from a farming background, Mr. Vo Van Phong has taken advantage of his deep understanding of local culture and livelihoods to develop tourism products that closely connect the farming community and protect the environment. He is constantly innovating, combining research cooperation with the 3AI Institute (Institute for Applied Research and Business Innovation) to design a "Green Passport" (Net Zero Passport) to help tourists track and offset their personal carbon footprint during their journey from March 2024. According to Mr. Phong, the model not only reduces emissions but also minimizes negative impacts on the community, culture and environment, making tourism truly "low impact".

Tourists experience the "Net Zero Tours" program at Cu Lao Bao, implemented by Mr. Vo Van Phong - Director of C2T Media and Tourism Company Limited.

Mr. Phong said that to reduce negative impacts on the environment, Net Zero Tour Ben Tre prioritizes using rowboats over motorboats, cycling or walking over cars, using natural eating utensils instead of plastic... Choosing to buy shrimp caught by fishermen in the river is also large shrimp, shrimp that are not in the egg-bearing stage. Tourists are suggested to release shrimp that are holding eggs, small shrimp back into the river. Instead of washing their hands with soap after meals, tourists will be instructed to use mangrove flowers (a plant that grows along the river) to help clean and remove the fishy smell of shrimp, fish... In particular, organizing tree planting to compensate for carbon emitted into the environment is an essential activity for tourists on the trip. This is a purely natural action for C2T Media and Tourism One Member Limited Liability Company to help tourists understand and be aware of nature conservation, ecological balance, environmental protection and contribute to reducing carbon emissions.

When he first started tourism, Mr. Phong expected to welcome a lot of guests, but now he limits the number. According to him, if you want to do tourism to preserve culture and not harm the environment, you cannot welcome too many people at once or too many guests in a year. Instead, you have to select suitable guests to ensure the tour route.

According to Lam Huu Phuc, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long province, the trend of "greening" and "sustainability" of tourism activities is not only a trend but also an inevitable requirement to ensure harmonious development between economy, society and environment. This is the path for Vinh Long in particular and Vietnam in general to build a truly responsible tourism industry, bringing long-term value to both tourists and local communities.

Mr. Lam Huu Phuc shared that “greening” and “sustainability” help reduce waste, water pollution, air pollution, noise and landscape destruction caused by tourism activities. When tourism is developed sustainably, natural areas, wildlife and rare ecosystems are better protected. This includes controlling the number of visitors, limiting construction in sensitive areas and raising awareness of conservation. On the other hand, sustainable tourism encourages respect and preservation of traditional cultural values, historical relics and local customs. In particular, green tourism activities are often accompanied by educating tourists and local communities about the importance of protecting the environment and resources, thereby creating a common sense of responsibility for the environment.

Tourists experience the mangrove forest at the "Forest Keeper" farm.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long province said that tourists today are increasingly interested in destinations and tourism services that are responsible for the environment and society. “Going green” helps localities and businesses stand out, attracting conscious tourists who are willing to pay more for sustainable experiences. In addition, sustainable tourism often prioritizes the use of local labor, purchasing products and services from local suppliers, which creates more job opportunities, increases income for the community and reduces labor migration.

The “greening” and “sustainability” trends promote the development of unique tourism products, closely linked to local cultural and natural identities, bringing high experience value to tourists. In addition, over-reliance on polluting or resource-depleting tourism forms can lead to long-term economic risks. Therefore, sustainable tourism helps diversify revenue sources, reduce dependence on a few factors, thereby creating a more stable tourism economy. In particular, sustainable tourism often encourages the participation of local communities in the tourism planning and development process, ensuring that benefits are shared fairly and their voices are heard, Mr. Lam Huu Phuc added.

It is estimated that in the first 6 months of 2025, Vinh Long province will welcome over 5 million tourists, with total revenue of over 4,000 billion VND.

According to VNA

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/vinh-long-xu-huong-xanh-hoa-trong-nganh-cong-nghiep-khong-khoi-2025071009014786.htm