Vietnam's tourism on the path to "greening"

While green tourism was previously primarily discussed as a trendy option, many localities, destinations, and tourism businesses have now recognized it as an inherent requirement for survival and enhanced competitiveness. This has led to a stronger and more substantive "greening" of Vietnamese tourism.

Tham Ma Pass always attracts tourists on their journey to Tuyen Quang . (Photo: Bao Long)

Green transition is no longer just a slogan.

In reality, the green transition contributes to both protecting tourism resources and the environment, while also meeting market demands. According to a 2026 survey by the digital travel platform Agoda, 77% of Asian travelers are interested in sustainability when planning their trips.

Notably, Vietnam is one of the leading markets in the trend of responsible tourism, with 81% of respondents affirming sustainability as an important selection criterion, and 43% interested in accommodations with sustainability certifications. These figures confirm that green factors are increasingly becoming important criteria determining the attractiveness and ability of a destination to attract tourists.

That's also why more and more tourism establishments are proactively shifting their operations towards a greener direction. Many businesses have made efforts to integrate sustainability elements into their products and services with ecotourism, "net zero" tours, organic farming , and local cultural experiences.

At the recent Vietnam International Tourism Fair - VITM Hanoi 2026, a series of eco-tourism tours were introduced to visitors. Notably, Vietravel presented its "New Generation" product line, integrating the dual criteria of ESG (responsible tourism) and LEI (Living Experience Index) into the entire product development and operation process, with tours such as: Ben Tre - Net Zero Passport, Living Green with the Mekong, and various domestic community tourism routes…

Meanwhile, Vietluxtour launched its ecosystem of "Green Tourism and ESG Commitment," focusing on humane experiences and fostering social responsibility among tourists through tours such as: Con Dao - Protecting Sea Turtles, Ha Giang - Responsible Tourism, Saigon Metro Past and Present, Cycling Through Ninh Binh Heritage Sites…

According to Mr. Tran The Dung, General Director of Vietluxtour, green tourism is not a passing trend but a new standard for the tourism industry. As the global market increasingly emphasizes responsibility, businesses that are at the forefront of green transformation will have a long-term competitive advantage.

Furthermore, instead of concrete development or indiscriminate exploitation, some tourist destinations have pioneered the preservation of natural spaces, invested in waste treatment systems, and provided green experiences for tourists to reduce environmental impact and enhance destination quality. Many establishments have persistently pursued a green development orientation, taking conservation and sustainable development as their foundation, contributing to promoting the green transformation of Vietnamese tourism.

A green benchmark for tourism.

Vietnam's tourism development strategy until 2030 emphasizes the perspective of developing sustainable and inclusive tourism on the foundation of green growth, maximizing the contribution of tourism to sustainable development goals.

The tourism system planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045, sets the goal that by 2030, tourism will truly become a key economic sector, developing in the direction of green growth. Meanwhile, the National Strategy on Green Growth for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, sets out many specific tasks for the tourism industry such as: Building and applying a tourism development model based on green growth in tourist areas and destinations; developing criteria and implementing green tourism labeling for tourism businesses…

These guidelines affirm that green transformation is a strategic requirement in Vietnam's national tourism development. However, despite significant and rapid progress, the green transformation of Vietnamese tourism still faces numerous challenges. Many businesses recognize the importance of green tourism but are hesitant about how to implement it, unsure where to start or what roadmap to follow.

That is why the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) decided to collaborate with research units to develop the VITA Green tourism criteria. With a system of mandatory and recommended criteria applicable to tourist destinations, accommodation establishments, travel agencies, and food and beverage businesses serving tourists, this is considered a framework to help businesses and destinations standardize their operational processes in line with the United Nations Tourism Organization's guidelines.

According to Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, VITA Green is closely referenced against prestigious global eco-certifications such as GSTC, Travelife, and Green Key. This helps Vietnamese businesses easily integrate into the international tourism supply chain and access customer segments with high environmental awareness. Furthermore, the clear classification into levels: Standard - Advanced - Excellent, creates motivation and a roadmap for continuous improvement, allowing businesses to gradually transform in accordance with their capabilities and actual conditions.

As of May 2026, more than 70 units nationwide have achieved VITA Green certification, becoming the first green tourism businesses in Vietnam. For the green transformation in tourism to be widespread and effective, in addition to providing easily understandable and applicable criteria, appropriate training programs, consulting services, and support mechanisms are also needed for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Many businesses believe that greening requires significant investment, and given their limited resources, they have excluded themselves from the "game" from the outset.

However, based on the practical application of green transformation at his establishment, Mr. Tong Anh De, General Director of Ninh Binh Legend Hotel, which was recently awarded the VITA Green tourism certification, stated that the important thing is for businesses to choose a suitable implementation roadmap.

Ninh Binh Legend starts with the smallest, immediately implementable actions such as: reducing single-use plastics, limiting paper printing, using glass bottles, gradually replacing lighting systems with energy-saving ones, increasing the use of local products, increasing green spaces in the hotel, encouraging guests to participate in environmental protection activities, and organizing internal training sessions on energy saving…

"We have found that many small changes, if consistently maintained, can create a huge impact," Mr. Tong Anh De affirmed. Greening tourism can absolutely begin with simple but persistent actions; the important thing lies in the determination of businesses to consider investing in green transformation as also investing in competitiveness and long-term development.

TRANG ANH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/du-lich-viet-nam-บน-hanh-trinh-xanh-hoa-post964911.html