Tourists visit the alluvial land of Mui Ca Mau. Photo: Kim Ha/VNA
Many effects of climate change
Regarding the impact of climate change on tourism development in the Mekong Delta, Dr. Doan Manh Cuong (Nguyen Tat Thanh University) stated that climate change and natural disasters are among the challenges facing green tourism in Vietnam, including the Mekong Delta. Rising sea levels, saltwater intrusion, and extreme weather events directly affect many tourist destinations. According to a report by the former Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ), in the Mekong Delta, saltwater intrusion and land subsidence have reduced the area of cultivated land and mangrove forests by approximately 30% in the last 10 years, impacting ecotourism tours...
Sharing the same view, Dr. Phan Cong Khanh (former Director of the Regional Political Academy IV, Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy) also stated that the Western Mekong Delta has many unique tourism products that few other places possess, such as riverine resources, rice paddies, orchards, floating markets, mangrove forests, seas, and islands... However, the advantages of the delta are threatened at times by climate change and rising sea levels. Some orchards and rice fields in the localities were severely damaged by the 2019 drought. The impact of climate change and other factors also causes water resources to decrease and reduces sediment from the upper Mekong River.
Hon Khoai Island Cluster (Ca Mau). Photo: Huynh Anh/VNA
Ca Mau province, located in the Mekong Delta, is bordered by the sea on three sides. Its low-lying terrain and dense network of rivers and canals make it frequently affected by high tides, large waves, rising sea levels, and especially by climate change and prolonged droughts. Statistics from the provincial authorities show that over 460 km of riverbanks are experiencing erosion, and nearly 84 km of coastline is continuing to erode to varying degrees, impacting essential infrastructure and socio-economic development.
According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ca Mau province, the province has great potential for tourism development, especially ecotourism, with many outstanding destinations such as Ca Mau Cape National Park, U Minh Ha National Park, the Hon Khoai and Hon Da Bac island cluster landscape protection areas, Khai Long beach, etc. Approximately 70% of the province's operating tourist destinations combine ecotourism and community-based tourism, allowing visitors to explore the scenery and experience the lives of local people. However, activities associated with mangrove and freshwater ecosystems are easily affected by weather conditions or the negative impacts of climate change such as saltwater intrusion, storms, tidal surges, droughts, and landslides. Many infrastructure facilities serving tourism development and historical sites are also affected and degrade more rapidly due to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather.
Specific solutions
Ba Ngan floating market (Nga Bay town, old Hau Giang province). Photo: Duy Khuong/VNA
According to Dr. Doan Manh Cuong, green tourism is not only an inevitable trend but also a crucial strategy for sustainable development, leveraging the rich natural and cultural potential in the context of climate change and increasing urbanization pressure. To promote green tourism, localities need to implement comprehensive solutions, from upgrading infrastructure and raising awareness to support mechanisms and responses to climate change. Each locality should prioritize investment in environmentally friendly transportation, minimizing carbon emissions and pollution at tourist destinations.
In the Mekong Delta, where saltwater intrusion is common, Dr. Doan Manh Cuong suggests that the government could invest in planting mangrove forests to act as wave barriers or research and develop floating tourist areas, learning from the Netherlands and the floating house system in Amsterdam. Along with that, authorities should encourage hotels and homestays to adopt energy-saving standards and minimize waste. Another important solution is for localities and businesses to develop climate change-adaptive tourism tours, combining sightseeing with activities such as planting mangrove forests and releasing aquatic species into the waters, contributing to the restoration, regeneration, and development of ecosystems and environmental preservation.
From the perspective of Can Tho city, focusing on the protection of tourism resources, including historical and cultural relics, in the context of climate change, Ms. Dinh Thi Chinh (Can Tho University) proposed that climate change is posing serious challenges, threatening the sustainability of local historical and cultural structures. Preserving tangible cultural heritage against the impacts of climate change in Can Tho is an urgent task, requiring close coordination among management agencies, the community, and experts. This is not only to protect heritage for future generations but also to contribute to sustainable tourism development and maintain local cultural identity in the context of increasingly complex climate change.
According to Ms. Dinh Thi Chinh, one suitable solution is to consider investing in the installation of automatic monitoring stations at important historical sites, focusing on areas heavily impacted by climate change such as Ninh Kieu Wharf, Ong Pagoda, and Binh Thuy Ancient House. These stations would continuously monitor environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, water level, and air quality. The collected data would be transmitted to a central information processing center in real time, allowing for a rapid response when abnormal signs are detected. In addition, the application of advanced technologies such as remote sensing, 3D modeling, and other new technologies would contribute to improving the ability to assess and predict the impacts of climate change, thereby enabling timely and effective conservation decisions.
Green space at the Con Chim community tourism site (Chau Thanh, Tra Vinh). Photo: VNA
Making a practical contribution to the development of green tourism linked to environmental protection and climate change adaptation, a representative from Vietravel Tourism Joint Stock Company stated that in tours and routes bringing tourists to the Mekong Delta in particular, and to domestic and international tourist regions in general, the company prioritizes selecting and introducing activities and experiences related to environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and exploring local culture. In 2025, the company launched the "Keep the Cranes - Keep a Million Green Colors" campaign, aiming to support the protection of the red-crowned crane - a rare bird species of the wetland ecosystem in Vietnam, especially in Tram Chim National Park (Dong Thap province).
Accordingly, tourists can visit typical locations in Dong Thap (a locality in the Mekong Delta) such as: Tram Chim National Park - known as the "green lung of the Dong Thap Muoi region"; My Phuoc Thanh eco-tourism area; Xeo Quyt historical site - preserving stories of a period of resistance history; and experience making paintings from melaleuca tree bark - an activity combining culture, art, and the protection of local resources. At the same time, Vietravel also provides funding for the installation of a specialized water filtration system, creating a clean water source for cranes to drink, supporting the restoration of the native ecosystem with plant species such as sedges and reeds, and reconstructing the natural habitat of the red-crowned crane in the Dong Thap Muoi wetlands.
According to VNA
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/du-lich-xanh-o-dong-bang-song-cuu-long-nam-bat-co-hoi-hoa-giai-thach-thuc-20250814083119865.htm
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