Khanh Hoa aims for a comprehensive green destination: Great natural advantages, even greater determination

From Nha Trang beach, Van Phong bay to Nui Chua - Vinh Hy, Khanh Hoa after merging with Ninh Thuan has a "green map" that is unmatched by any other place: renewable energy potential leading the country, endemic marine - forest ecosystem that is hard to find anywhere else.

Marine tourism activities will be adjusted to be compatible with Khanh Hoa's green standards - Photo: TTO

In an interview with Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Nguyen Long Bien - Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee - emphasized the goal of building a "comprehensive green destination": developing sustainable tourism, a blue ocean economy and a national and regional clean energy center, based on a set of solutions with clear commitments and verifiable capabilities.

Vision and standards of "comprehensive green"

Mr. Nguyen Long Bien - Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee - Photo: NGUYEN HOANG

* What are the great advantages of green tourism of Khanh Hoa in the context of merging with Ninh Thuan province, sir?

- After the merger of Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces, Khanh Hoa province has many advantages to promote the potential for green tourism development. Not only in the North of Khanh Hoa is there the beautiful Nha Trang Bay, but in the South of Khanh Hoa, Vinh Hy Bay also brings a wonderful experience for visitors when immersing themselves in the wild nature with turquoise sea, majestic mountains and extremely diverse ecosystems.

Resolution No. 1 of Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee on double-digit economic growth in the period of 2025 - 2030, also determined that Khanh Hoa focuses on 4 pillars of economic growth, including: Industry; energy; tourism - services; urban - construction. In particular, developing the service and tourism industry in a diverse, high-quality direction, with high intellectual and technological content.

International cruise ship sightseeing on Nha Trang Bay (Khanh Hoa province) - Photo: NGUYEN HOANG

* How is the concept of "comprehensive green destination" that the province is pursuing specifically understood, sir?

- For us, "comprehensive green" is not just about planting more trees or reducing plastic waste. It is a system of operating standards for the entire destination ecosystem, including: (i) accommodation - tourism services complying with green standards; (ii) transportation - logistics reducing emissions; (iii) conservation - restoration of marine ecosystems; (iv) renewable energy participating practically in the supply of tourist areas, urban areas and infrastructure; (v) data management - transparency of environmental indicators.

Green destinations must offer visitors a “green” experience from landing in Cam Ranh, traveling by low-emission vehicles, staying at sustainably-labeled accommodations, to coral reef-friendly marine activities.

Khanh Hoa is building a value chain to bring green experiences to tourists - Photo: TTO

* What advantages help Khanh Hoa move quickly on this route?

- First of all, Nha Trang Bay - a member of the World's Most Beautiful Bays Club since 2003, widely recognized by international media, creating a distinct "natural brand" for us.

The second is the unique marine ecosystem with Hon Mun Protected Area - the first marine protected area in Vietnam - where we have applied measures to temporarily suspend diving and glass-bottom boats since June 2022 to restore the reef. Currently, the restoration program is being implemented on a cautious roadmap.

Third is the renewable energy of Ninh Thuan, the "capital" of clean energy, with 57 wind and solar power projects, total capacity of nearly 3,750 MW operating until the end of 2024, which is the foundation for forming "tourist - urban - industrial areas" operating on green electricity.

Ninh Thuan (old) is an important piece with Khanh Hoa province (after the merger) with its strength in renewable energy - Photo: NGUYEN QUANG NGOC

* How does Khanh Hoa define and measure "green" at the destination level?

- We chose a specific, easy-to-verify approach. The province set green indicators in three groups:

(1) Climate - energy (percentage of clean electricity consumed at 3 - 5 star accommodation, CO₂ emissions/guest/night, percentage of public transport - airport connections using clean fuel);

(2) Nature - sea (increasing the coverage of living coral reefs at diving sites, the rate of licensed coastal activities and monitoring of protected areas, the area of ​​urban green space along the coast);

(3) Governance - society (rate of facilities achieving the Green Lotus Label, rate of recycled waste at resorts, rate of local workers trained in green jobs).

This set of criteria will be made public quarterly for businesses and tourists to monitor.

Policy, commitment and 24-month roadmap

Tourists experience Net zero tourism at Lang Nho - Ho Lang Nhot tourist area (Khanh Hoa province) - Photo: TRAN HOAI

* Green tourism starts from accommodation facilities. What standards will the province use to measure and encourage?

- We take the national standard - Green Lotus Sustainable Tourism Label - as the "minimum floor", aiming to harmonize with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. The Green Lotus Label has 5 levels, evaluating more than 80 criteria on sustainable governance, community - cultural benefits and environmental impact.

The province aims to have 100% of 4-5 star establishments achieve or commit to achieving the Label by 2027; the 3-star group strives for 70%. In parallel, it is necessary to gradually reduce single-use plastics, classify and recycle at source, and report emissions annually.

Solar power helps Khanh Hoa add green "indicators" to its economic structure - Photo: NGUYEN QUANG NGOC

* Can you share what "key points" the province will prioritize in the next 24 months?

- There are three groups of tasks. One is conservation - restoration: Expanding the network of ecological mooring buoys at key diving sites; completing the tourism capacity map for each bay - island; installing a reef monitoring system with open data connection for scientists, diving clubs and tourists to monitor together.

Second, standardize green services: Review and publish the list of establishments that have achieved the Green Lotus Label, combined with digital applications for easy selection by tourists; deploy classification - collection - recycling standards for resorts with over 200 rooms; pilot rooftop power connection for tourism - commercial complexes.

Third, green connection gateway: Together with Cam Ranh International Airport, expand direct flights from fast-growing markets (Korea, Northeast Asia, Middle East), combine electric bus/hybrid bus services into Nha Trang center and Cam Ranh - Ninh Hai - Phan Rang - Thap Cham axis.

Data from 2024 to 2025 shows that the number of international visitors to Cam Ranh will recover strongly. This is the "golden" time to position Khanh Hoa as a green destination in the eyes of international tourists.

* Thank you!

Workshop "To make Khanh Hoa a comprehensive green destination of the world"

On the afternoon of September 11, in Nha Trang City, Tuoi Tre Newspaper coordinated with Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee and Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize a workshop "To make Khanh Hoa a comprehensive green destination of the world". This is an event within the framework of the Green Vietnam 2025 project, initiated by Tuoi Tre Newspaper and the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance.

The workshop was attended by leaders of Khanh Hoa province, experts and scientists from the central government, universities and localities. This workshop discussed many contents towards a comprehensive development strategy: Green tourism - Green urban areas - Green transportation - Green energy - Green community.

* Previously, at 8:30 a.m. the same day, at the park area in front of Muong Thanh Luxury Khanh Hoa Hotel (Con residential area, Nha Trang ward), the Green Experience Festival event opened for all residents and tourists. The festival has booths introducing and experiencing green products, local specialty gifts; an area displaying and experiencing green technology such as: electric vehicles, lighting, solar energy...; a workshop on making toys from recycled waste...

At the event, there is a program "Exchange recycled waste to receive green gifts". Bring to the program 5 units of "recycled waste" such as: plastic bottles/metal cans/old batteries/milk cartons/cardboard... you will receive 1 pot of succulents.

Participants (free of charge) can also participate in the lucky draw with the special prize of a Vinfast Evo Grand electric motorbike worth 21 million VND and many valuable gifts such as: Cocoon vegan cosmetics, Dutch Lady milk, SM Green voucher, free La Viet coffee...

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khanh-hoa-huong-toi-diem-den-xanh-toan-dien-loi-the-tu-nhien-lon-quyet-tam-con-lon-hon-20250909143848213.htm