HCM City (VNA) – The southeasternprovince of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has promoted eco-tourism to bring new experiencesto its visitors, towards green and environmentally friendly tourism.

Utilisingstrengths

Based on local strengths, Ba Ria-Vung Tau has takena range of solutions to develop eco-tourism and community-based tourism incombination with landscape conservation.

Director of the provincial Department of TourismTrinh Hang said tourism is an economic pillar and eco-tourism is among theeight tourist types targeted by the province in 2020-2025.

The province is blessed with primeval forests,mangroves, the Con Dao National Park - a Ramsar site of wetlands of internationalimportance, rivers and sea, which has supported eco-tourism.

Ba Ria and Vung Tau cities have brought into playtheir potential and strengths, along with existing maritime tourism products tofocus on community-based tourism and eco-tourism.

Phu My town has built eco and community-basedtourist sites, where high-tech agriculture cooperatives such as Song Xoai andHac Dich play a role. Tourists also have chances to learn about traditionalculture of the Chau Ro ethnic minority group.

Following the trend, Con Dao Island also offerslocal specialties like wild grapes and ginseng, and community-based tourismservices along Con Dao Mountain. Local residents have been encouraged to providelodging services and products featuring local culture.

In Xuyen Moc and Chau Duc districts, community-basedtourism is associated with high-tech agriculture and organic production.

The Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve in Xuyen Mocdistrict, home to rare many species, has been also an eco-tourism attraction,where vacationers are surrounded by greenery and enjoy trekking, mountain climbing,tree planting and hot-spring bathing, which enable them to understand moreabout the value of nature and the necessity of environmental protection.

The Binon Cacao Park eco-tourism site, invested byBinon Cacao JSC, in Xa Bang commune, Chau Duc district, is also a retreat for manyholidaymakers to Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Ly Thi Tu Anh, head of the admin and HR department ofBinon Cacao JSC, said Ba Ria-Vung Tau is home to the largest area of cacao inthe country, and its cacao products have gained a firm foothold in the market.

Binon Cacao JSC has paid heed to environmentalprotection and expanding the cacao area while operating the eco-tourism site,giving visitors interesting experiences in the nature and promoting the value oflocal specialties among them, she added.

Tourists can visit cacao gardens and join cacaoharvesting, processing and packaging activities, she added.

Strategyset for Con Dao

Con Dao island district is one of the localities inBa Ria-Vung Tau that boast substantial potential and strengths in eco-tourism,apart from spiritual and maritime tourism. The Con Dao National Park is a highlightof local tourism.

The park is home to 1,077 flora species, a rich anddiverse marine ecosystem with coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves, and over1720 marine species, including turtles that come ashore to lay eggs each year.Notably, it has been carrying out the most green sea turtle conservation and rescueoperations in Vietnam.

Con Dao’s eco-tourism products that meet nationaland international standards have drawn crowds of nature lovers.  

Le Phong, Secretary of the district Party Committeeand People’s Committee, said the provincial People’s Committee has approved aproject on eco and leisure tourism at the Con Dao National Park in the2021-2030 period.

Under the project, the conservation of forest andsea resources will go in tandem with tourism development. Tourism services arealso expected to contribute to raising public awareness of natural, culturaland historical values in Con Dao, and of environmental protection.

There are various activities for tourists likewatching sea turtles laying eggs and baby turtles being released to the sea,swimming, diving and visiting swallows’ nests, along with leisure and healthcare services.

As many as 17 eco-tourism routes have been launchedin Con Dao, including those from Con Son Island to small islets, beaches andbays.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau has also taken a host of solutionsto preserve forest and sea resources and biodiversity at the Con Dao NationalPark, such as building a database on forest resources and a map of forest andsea resources.

Competent forces have conducted regular patrols toprevent poaching and stepped up such activities as tree planting, coral reefrestoration and expansion and sea turtle conservation, while enhancing thecommunication work./.