From the 1,600 islands of Ha Long Bay to the world’s largest cave, Viet Nam is now taking steps to make its future more sustainable, noted Euronews, an European television news network, in its article.
Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Quang Ninh province - Photo: Internet
According to Euronews, alongside its mountains, forests, intricate cave systems and glorious white sand beaches, Viet Nam is also home to around 800 species of bird and 270 types of mammal, including the snub-nosed monkey and the Indochinese tiger.
While the emphasis is on sustainable development, the nation is keen to attract the same number of tourists as it did in pre-pandemic times.
Favorite places to explore Viet Nam's epic ecosystems
Euronews named four favorites places to explore Viet Nam's epic ecosystems including Ha Long Bay, Hang Son Doong, Ba Be National Park and Phu Quoc Island.
Ha Long Bay, UNESCO World Heritage Site in the northern province of Quang Ninh is home to thousands of craggy and verdant limestone islets and islands, shaped over 500 million years, making it a must-see on any trip to the country.
"A boat trip is the best way to see the bay in all its glory, with overnight cruises recommended if you want to truly appreciate the size and scale of its coves, grottos and lagoons. If you're feeling a bit more adventurous though, why not go kayaking, or even cruise 300 meters above the bay in a seaplane", Euronews recommended.
It also suggested that "If you're looking for the adventure of a lifetime, then Son Doong cave, in the central province of Quang Binh, should go straight to the top of your list. Discovered in 1990 by local man Ho Khanh, the cave wasn't explored until 19 years later, when Khanh led a team of Vietnamese and British explorers to the entrance".
So big that it has its own ecosystem, the cave contains clouds, mist and primeval forest. The world's largest stalagmites can be found here, and on sunny days visitors can witness the enormous sunbeams that shoot down to the cave floor.
Currently, the cave is only accessible by guided tour, with just 1,000 visitors a year allowed to explore its depths. The six-day adventure comes in at a pricey US$3,000 (€2,799) per person, but hikes don't get much more epic than this.
Slightly off the beaten track of Viet Nam's usual tourist trail, Ba Be National Park in the north of the country is another must-see if you're up for adventure.
Here you can trek, kayak, cycle, or take a gentle boat cruise past lakes, waterfalls and caves. This UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site is full of rare flora and fauna, as well as one of the 20 largest natural freshwater lakes in the world.
Another popular destination on the Viet Nam tourist trail is Phu Quoc Island, which locates in the southern province of Kien Giang. The island has developed rapidly in recent years, with the curved, white sand bay Sao Beach attracting travelers from far and wide.
"If you want to lounge somewhere a little more secluded, visit the rocky bay of Ganh Dau Cape in the northern part of the island, around 26 kilometers from Duong Dong", Euronews shared.
Phu Quoc Island in southern Kien Giang province
Expectations of breakthrough developments for Viet Nam's tourism
With its tourism reopening since March 15 last year, among the earliest in the region, Viet Nam is rated by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as one of the countries boasting the most open-door policy in the world.
According to the World Economic Forum's 2022 report, the development capacity index of Viet Nam's tourism in 2021 ranked 52nd, up eight places compared to 2019, making the nation one of the three with the best growth in the world.
At the World Travel Awards 2022, Viet Nam won 16 award categories in the world and 48 in Asia.
In the last five years, the country was honored as the world's leading heritage destination three times, Asia's leading destination four times, and Asia's best golf tourism destination sixth time.
Immediately after its resumption of tourism activities, the Southeast Asian nation focused on promoting a communication program, themed "Live fully in Viet Nam", to attract international visitors.
The number of foreign visitors to Viet Nam reached more than 1.8 million in the first two months of the year, 36.6 times higher compared to the same period from last year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) announced.
Europe represented the country's second largest tourist source market with an estimated 242,500 arrivals in the first two months of this year and 508,398 in 2022.
The nation's tourism sector targets to serve about 8 million foreign visitors this year./.
Thuy Dung
