Vietnam: when tourism helps preserve wildlife
Vietnam fascinates wildlife lovers young and old. In recent years, nature discovery and wildlife preservation tours have multiplied and diversified in Vietnam's national parks and nature reserves.
This type of tourism not only brings socio-economic benefits to local communities, but also helps to raise awareness of nature conservation.
Unique experiences
In early April, the primary forest of Cuc Phuong, in the northern province of Ninh Binh, welcomed some new residents. In front of around twenty visitors, a spotted civet was released and quickly scampered off under the canopy. This highlight was part of the "Return Home" tour, a tourism product to be launched in March 2021.
This tour allows visitors to witness the process of reintroducing wild animals after their rescue. After being cared for, the animals are released back into their natural habitat.
This is not only a tourist activity, but also a commitment to nature conservation.
Hundreds of releases involving thousands of animals have been organized.
According to Nguyên Van Chinh, Director of Cuc Phuong National Park, the main objective is to reintegrate the animals into their environment. The "Return Home" tour directly conveys this message, raising public awareness of responsible tourism.
"Seeing an animal return to nature is a special emotion. It raises awareness and a sense of responsibility in all of us," shares tourist Phan Van Tung.
The park also offers a night-time tour in an electric car to observe fireflies and wild animals: deer, pangolins, genets, wildcats, otters and lorises.
Responsible tourism is developing in several national parks, such as Cuc Phuong, Phu Quôc, Cat Tiên, Nui Chua, Cat Bà, Ba Bê, Yok Dôn, Pu Mat... as well as in Reserves like Pu Luong (Thanh Hoa) or Son Trà (Dà Nang).
On April 10, Côn Dao National Park launched its first multi-day ecotourism tour of the islands where sea turtles come to lay their eggs: Hon Bay Canh, Bai Duong, Hon Tai and Hon Cau.
According to Nguyên Khac Pho, the park's director, these 5- to 10-day tours, scheduled for summer 2025, meet a growing demand for immersive tourism. Visitors will be trained in the local ecosystem, conservation rules and survival techniques. They will then take part in night patrols, beach clean-ups, nest marking, egg incubation and the release of baby turtles.
Intersectoral cooperation needed
Sustainable management of natural resources is a central objective of Vietnam's Tourism Development Strategy 2030. This type of tourism aims to share benefits with local communities, minimize environmental impacts and preserve species and habitats.
However, organizing such tours is no easy task. Pham Kiên Cuong, director of the Cuc Phuong Environmental Education Center, points out that animal reintroduction must follow strict protocols to guarantee visitor safety. The high costs of rescue and reintroduction, combined with tour design requirements, make price competition impossible. Without rigorous organization, these activities can harm the environment. It is therefore essential to coordinate the efforts of tourism companies, foresters, scientists and local authorities.
In future, these tours will be diversified and adapted to families with children. One successful example is the "Douc, where are we going?" program in Son Trà, which combines education and experience by following in the footsteps of the brown-legged douc.
Bùi Van Tuân, primatologist and director of the HiVooc company, stresses the need to enhance the biodiversity of Son Trà and other reserves through appropriate educational tourism.
According to the Forestry Department, national parks generate more than 2,000 billion dôngs a year from forest tourism, an essential resource for forest protection and local income.
Vietnam has nearly 180 protected areas, rich in biodiversity and full of potential for educational and experiential tourism. Promoting nature-based tourism linked to wildlife conservation is an inevitable trend for sustainable development.
Source: lecourrier.vn
