Transition just starting

On a day at Tam Giang Lagoon, a group of nearly 30 tourists joined the “Plastic-Free Culinary Tour – Green Chuon Lagoon,” organized by Hue Tourism College in collaboration with local travel agencies. Instead of using single-use plastic bottles, tourists were encouraged to bring reusable bottles, which could be refilled at designated water stops.

One highlight that many tourists appreciated was the chance to visit the local market, purchase fresh seafood from the lagoon, and prepare meals without using plastic bags. From this tour, organizers, local businesses, and tourists alike helped spread a green message: joining hands to reduce plastic waste.

As of now, Hue City has developed four low-plastic tourism destinations: Thuy Xuan site, the community-based tourism site at Thanh Toan Tile-Roofed Bridge in Thanh Thuy Ward, the Ngu My Thanh – Con Toc site in Dan Dien Commune, and Chuon Lagoon in My Thuong Ward. Local tourism operators have committed to changing their habits by adopting environmentally friendly products and materials.

Beyond the efforts to reduce plastic waste, the tourism sector and its partners are carrying out various activities to raise awareness, encourage sustainable habits, and call for the engagement of tourism businesses, local communities, and tourists in environmental protection.

One of the notable features, highly appreciated by tourists, is the electric-assist bicycle service. This is seen as a step forward in the development of green tourism in Hue. The bicycles run smoothly, make no noise, reduce emissions, and are environmentally friendly, aligning well with the city’s serene and time-honored surroundings.

Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Tram, Director of the Department of Tourism, said that compared to previous periods, Hue is gradually affirming its pioneering role in the trend of green and plastic-free tourism. More and more businesses, service providers, and tourism workers are committing to reducing plastic use and developing green tourism products with a view to environmental protection.

According to tourism experts, these achievements mark a promising shift in Hue’s tourism sector. However, they represent only the initial steps. Positioning a destination brand means understanding how potential markets perceive "Hue as a destination" and ensuring that Hue holds a positive place in the eyes of tourists compared to other destinations.  

This also involves defining what “Hue as a destination” truly means — its strengths and how it stands out from other places. For Hue to emerge as a vibrant model of green, responsible, and high-quality tourism, a long and persistent journey will be needed, with the active participation of all stakeholders.

Community responsibility

A major strength of Hue’s tourism lies in its natural environment, which remains largely untouched, with greenery blanketing everywhere. This reflects the responsibility upheld by local authorities and generations of Hue residents in nurturing and protecting the green landscape. By contrast, many other areas have seen their natural environments degraded by unchecked growth and aggressive modernization.

While the brand of “Hue – a green tourism destination” has taken shape, its sustainability depends not on slogans or movements, but on shared responsibility and coordinated action. This requires the involvement of government, sectors, businesses, and local communities in both planning and executing tourism development strategies.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Tram, the tourism sector, in coordination with various departments and units, is organizing a range of activities to raise awareness and spread messages about environmental protection and cultural heritage preservation, towards a “Green – Clean – Bright” Hue. One such activity was a cycling event for the environment, held under the 2025 theme “Ao Dai on the Streets,” jointly organized by the Department of Tourism and its partners.

The tourism sector will develop additional green-oriented tours and routes, especially in heritage sites. Training sessions will also be launched to promote the Plastic Reduction Code of Conduct among travel agencies and tour guides as part of the Hue Urban Plastic Reduction Project, in collaboration with the Hue Monuments Conservation Center and the Department of Tourism.

In parallel, digital innovations will be applied to the management and development of green tourism. The Department also recommends that local tourism businesses broaden their networks, foster collaboration, and develop professional, environmentally friendly tourism products.