Homestay accommodation and community-based tourism, which aredeveloping rapidly in a number of localities throughout Vietnam, havesubstantially contributed to the promotion of the value of localcultures and poverty-reduction efforts.
Homestays first emerged in Sa Pa tourist town in Lao Cai and spread toother parts of the northern mountainous province. They have provenhighly effective in the province, with 145,752 tourists choosinghomestays in 2013, spending a total of 29 billion VND (1.36 millionUSD).
In staying with local residents, touristscan enjoy local specialties and traditional music performances andexperience locals’ way of life. They can also take part in tours of thesurrounding villages.
Hoi An, in central QuangNam province, has also successfully developed community-based tourism inTra Que vegetable village, which has become an attractive destinationfor tourists, especially international visitors.
Recognising the benefits of community-based tourism, local authoritieshave expanded the model to other areas and developed new services.Tourists can now explore nipa palm forests, cycle through peacefulvillages, learn to cook and enjoy seafood specialties.
This kind of tourism first emerged in the Mekong Delta when the Shipfor Southeast Asian Youth Programme anchored in Ho Chi Minh City in1995. Fishing, harvesting fruits and visiting floating markets havesince attracted a large number of domestic and foreign visitors.
According to a report published by the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism, the contribution of tourism to the economyincreased significantly in recent years. In 2013, the total revenue fromtourism reached 200 trillion VND (9.4 billion USD), accounting forapproximately 6 percent of the country’s GDP.
Approximately 1.8 million people benefit from tourism, including morethan 570,000 people directly employed in the sector.
Community-based tourism has accelerated the modernization process inrural areas, helping to reduce poverty and transform the economicstructure. It has also changed local residents’ perception of tourism,narrowing the development gap between urban and rural areas and reducingthe emigration rate from the countryside to major cities.-VNA
Homestays first emerged in Sa Pa tourist town in Lao Cai and spread toother parts of the northern mountainous province. They have provenhighly effective in the province, with 145,752 tourists choosinghomestays in 2013, spending a total of 29 billion VND (1.36 millionUSD).
In staying with local residents, touristscan enjoy local specialties and traditional music performances andexperience locals’ way of life. They can also take part in tours of thesurrounding villages.
Hoi An, in central QuangNam province, has also successfully developed community-based tourism inTra Que vegetable village, which has become an attractive destinationfor tourists, especially international visitors.
Recognising the benefits of community-based tourism, local authoritieshave expanded the model to other areas and developed new services.Tourists can now explore nipa palm forests, cycle through peacefulvillages, learn to cook and enjoy seafood specialties.
This kind of tourism first emerged in the Mekong Delta when the Shipfor Southeast Asian Youth Programme anchored in Ho Chi Minh City in1995. Fishing, harvesting fruits and visiting floating markets havesince attracted a large number of domestic and foreign visitors.
According to a report published by the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism, the contribution of tourism to the economyincreased significantly in recent years. In 2013, the total revenue fromtourism reached 200 trillion VND (9.4 billion USD), accounting forapproximately 6 percent of the country’s GDP.
Approximately 1.8 million people benefit from tourism, including morethan 570,000 people directly employed in the sector.
Community-based tourism has accelerated the modernization process inrural areas, helping to reduce poverty and transform the economicstructure. It has also changed local residents’ perception of tourism,narrowing the development gap between urban and rural areas and reducingthe emigration rate from the countryside to major cities.-VNA
