Preserve the sea for the future.

Tourists participate in scuba diving, combining it with efforts to preserve and protect coral reefs in the waters at the foot of Son Tra Peninsula. Photo: TRUNG DAO

Sustainable and responsible tourism , including coastal tourism, has been the message that many tourism businesses and tourists have been striving for in recent times.

Preserving underwater forests

“The Son Tra Peninsula is a rare ecosystem, stretching from the seabed to the mountaintop. Beneath the surface lies a vibrant world of fish, shrimp, coral… – silent but incredibly valuable inhabitants. Not every place in the world is fortunate enough to have such a place. In particular, coral reefs are the primeval forest under the sea, playing a vital role in maintaining life and balancing the ecosystem,” he said.

Having spent a long time working with the ocean, Trung understands the fragility of coral reefs – a species sensitive to climate change, water pollution, plastic waste, and especially the impact of fishing gear such as nets, trawls, and mooring ropes. These objects can tear apart entire coral reefs, leaving irreparable damage to the marine ecosystem. Therefore, for many years, he and other ocean enthusiasts have chosen an unpaid side job – diving to collect trash. Driven by the spirit of "if you want to go far, go together," the "DaNang Free Diving" community was born, gathering over 4,000 members, including locals and tourists from both within and outside the country, after two years of operation. They not only learn diving skills and enjoy the magical beauty of the Son Tra coral reef, but also contribute to regular seabed cleanups. Each dive is an opportunity to raise awareness and inspire action to protect the blue sea.

The "DaNang Free Diving" initiative to "preserve underwater forests" has yielded clear results. Coral reefs in Bai Nam, Hon Sup, Bai Obama, etc., have recovered strongly, and waste has been significantly reduced. However, according to Trung, a systematic and long-term marine conservation strategy is still needed.

Last summer, we followed the Trash Hero Da Nang group as they cleaned up trash at Son Thuy beach (Ngu Hanh Son district). Founded in September 2022, this community has grown stronger with members including domestic and international tourists, foreigners residing in Da Nang, and many local residents. The group's founder is Benjamin Lawson, an American tourist who "fell in love" with Da Nang. As of mid-May 2025, Trash Hero Da Nang had conducted 109 cleanup sessions on the beach and in public areas. While cleaning up trash and enjoying the sea view, these people, regardless of nationality, skin color, or profession, always want to contribute their small part to preserving the green, clean, and beautiful landscape of this coastal city, in the spirit of "every small action has a big meaning."

Sustainable tourism

Emphasizing the particular interest of its members in building a sustainable tourism brand, Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh, Vice President of the Da Nang Tourism Association and President of the Da Nang Hotel Association, said: “We actively participate in the program to plant 3,500 coconut trees to green the beach, contributing to preserving the beach landscape – one of the important activities organized by Da Nang city. In addition, we collaborated with the Ariyana Da Nang International Convention Center to organize the 2024 Barefoot Run on the Beach, attracting nearly 1,000 participants, creating a healthy sporting event while raising community awareness about protecting the marine environment.”

Towards the northwest of the city are beautiful beaches along Da Nang Bay such as Nam O and Xuan Thieu. There, as with other beaches, tourism businesses and units not only utilize the beach space to serve tourists but also emphasize responsibility. According to a representative of Mikazuki Spa & Hotel Resort, the resort regularly organizes beach cleaning and garbage collection, and cooperates with Hanoi Urban Environment Company Limited - Central Vietnam branch to collect garbage in designated areas. In addition, they participate with relevant units in cleaning, sorting, and removing washed-up waste after storms and floods, and conduct a general cleanup along Nguyen Tat Thanh road on World Environment Day to ensure the beauty of the beach area.

The concept of tourism combined with marine environmental protection is a priority for tourism businesses in the city. Hotels and resorts proactively clean the beaches, ensuring a safe and friendly tourism environment, because a clean and healthy beach makes their destinations more attractive to tourists. For tourists, keeping the sea clean also means preserving a sustainable space on the map of tourist destinations.

According to Mr. Dao Dang Cong Trung, in the near future, with the merger of Quang Nam province and Da Nang city, Da Nang will have over 145km of coastline, a significant advantage for developing sustainable tourism models such as coral reef diving, selective fisheries, and nature exploration combined with conservation. "We must not only preserve the sea for today, but also protect the ocean for future generations," Mr. Trung emphasized.

"Let's look at the Cham Island model in Hoi An – where fishing is banned seasonally to allow for resource regeneration. Da Nang should encourage fishermen to abandon trawling, electric fishing, and small nets. At the same time, it needs to limit single-use plastic waste and invest in an efficient waste treatment system. Developing marine tourism must go hand in hand with conservation."
Dao Dang Cong Trung , co-founder of the "DaNang Free Diving" group.

XUAN SON

Source: https://baodanang.vn/channel/5433/202505/giu-bien-cho-mai-sau-4006944/