Volunteer tourism contributes to community support.

From simple exploratory trips, many young people are choosing a different way to travel: to experience, share, and contribute to the community. In Thai Nguyen, the volunteer tourism model is gradually opening up a new direction for community tourism development, especially in remote areas, as the VEO (Volunteer for Education Organization) has implemented many meaningful activities in Ban Ten, Van Lang commune, contributing to supporting local people and spreading the trend of tourism linked to social responsibility.

Volunteers participate in trekking to explore nature and experience the pristine beauty of Bản Tèn village, Văn Lăng commune.

Established in June 2013, VEO is a non-governmental organization that connects volunteers worldwide to support disadvantaged individuals through educational programs and community activities. One of VEO's prominent projects is the "volunteer tourism" model – a type of tourism that is attracting many young people who want to explore nature and local culture while contributing to community support.

To date, VEO has implemented volunteer tourism projects in 12 provinces and cities, including many mountainous areas in the North, such as Mai Chau, Ban Coi, Na Hang, and Mu Cang Chai. The selection of Ban Ten as the location for this activity is considered the starting point for the volunteer tourism model in Thai Nguyen.

In reality, apart from VEO's activities, volunteer tourism in Thai Nguyen is still underdeveloped and lacks well-organized units. Some community experience programs and support for people in mountainous areas have been mainly carried out by youth groups, volunteer clubs, or local organizations on a short-term basis, and have not yet formed specialized tourism products linked to volunteer activities.

A group of tourists volunteer at Bản Tèn village, Văn Lăng commune.

Ms. Nguyen Huyen Phuong, coordinator of VEO, said: "We want to help local people gain more skills in community tourism, and learn how to preserve and promote local cultural values. For localities with rich potential like Thai Nguyen, this will be an opportunity to develop tourism in a green, sustainable direction that is closely linked to the community. In Ban Ten, we designed a program for volunteers to participate in trekking, assist in installing solar-powered lighting systems, plant trees, and donate 51 national flags to households."

Thai Nguyen is considered to have many favorable conditions for developing this model. Besides being famous for tea, the locality also possesses many attractive and potentially rich destinations, such as: Nui Coc Lake, Dinh Hoa Revolutionary Base Area, ethnic minority villages, and natural ecological areas that still retain their pristine beauty.

According to Ms. Phan Linh Chi, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism): For localities with rich potential for community tourism like Thai Nguyen, volunteer tourism, if organized systematically, will contribute to creating long-term livelihoods for the people, while preserving local cultural values.

If implemented effectively, the volunteer tourism model can contribute to both economic development and the preservation of cultural identity in local areas.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Nguyen Tung Lam, Head of the Tourism Management Department (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thai Nguyen province), said: The core of volunteer tourism is empowering the community. If done well, this model will help localities both develop their economy and preserve their cultural identity. However, clear direction is needed to avoid spontaneous development.

According to experts and management agencies, to effectively develop volunteer tourism in Thai Nguyen, close coordination is needed between local authorities, tourism businesses, and the local community. Specifically, the locality needs to develop well-structured programs, select suitable destinations, and link volunteer activities with environmental protection and the preservation of cultural identity.

Volunteer tourism not only benefits the community but also helps the younger generation enhance social responsibility, life skills, and environmental awareness. With its inherent potential, if properly guided and organized, this could become a new direction contributing to building the image of Thai Nguyen as a friendly and culturally rich destination.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/du-lich-thai-nguyen/202605/du-lich-tinh-nguyengop-suc-ho-tro-cong-dong-4575a95/