Vietnam Ecotourism

During the Vietnam War, large areas of forest, and food growing areas were devastated by the use of chemicals such as napalm and Agent Orange. Since the end of the war, a rising population has been putting additional pressure on these areas. Agricultural and increased logging is severely damaging remaining natural tropical forest and mangroves which cover 19% of the country.

In recent years, Vietnam's government has been working with international partners to protect and expand the highly important forest areas while providing sustainable forests for the population. National parks and nature and forest reserves have been set up and, at the same time, Vietnam's off shore marine environment is in peril and steps are being taken to protect that.

The visitors are welcome to visit these protected areas in order to raise awareness and tourism income can be used to continue the protection programs.

Examples include the Can Gio Mangrove Forest, 50 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City in the Mekong Delta. Can Gio is home to 72 species of mangrove trees, and innumerable fish, amphibians, birds and mammals, including over 20 rare and endemic species.

Tam Dao National Park, north west of Hanoi, was originally set up in 1977 to protect the varied forests. Today 220 km2 of natural forest is preserved, surrounded by a buffer of a further 30 km2 of human planted forest. The area was used as a resort by the French colonialists and some French villas and palaces still remain around Tam Dao town in the park.

The mountainous Bach Ma National Park is a protected area in central Vietnam, near the ancient Imperial capital city of Hue. It covers 220 km² and is comprised of three zones: a strictly protected core area, an administrative area and a buffer zone. It was set up in 1937 as a series of forest reserves and in 1986 was designated as a National Park. This area of Vietnam, on the border between what were the North and South, was heavily damaged by defoliants during the war. The area is home to Asian elephants and is also protects important bird species. It is the only habitat of the previously considered extinct Edward's Pheasant.

Cat Tien National approximately 150 km north of Ho Chi Minh City, protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests left in Vietnam. It, too, suffered badly in the war and there are areas where the natural vegetation has still not grown back.

Vietnam has an estimated 1,122 square kilometres of coral reefs and about 300 species can be found in its waters. Most of these reefs are in great danger, mainly from overfishing and destructive fishing practices, but also from irresponsible tourism. In some resorts, coral reef samples are exploited for souvenirs.

Protection areas are being implemented by the Vietnam authorities, but the scale of the problem makes it difficult to control everywhere. Bach Long Vi Island, or Nightingale Island, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, about halfway between Hai Phong and Hainan Island (China) has been overfished by today a protection zone has been established. Alternatively, in places such as Phu Quoc Island in the far south it is possible to observe the colourful coral reefs, with their wide range of flora and fauna, without causing any damage.