In recent years, Khanh Hoa's tourism sector has focused on developing green tourism, from issuing plans and establishing a Green Tourism Criteria Set to certifying the first qualifying establishments. However, green tourism has only achieved initial results. To move toward a comprehensive green transition and sustainable development, the province needs to implement synchronized solutions.
Pioneering units
For many years, resorts such as Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, The Anam Cam Ranh, Ana Mandara Cam Ranh, Champa Island Nha Trang, and Radisson Blu Cam Ranh have pioneered investments in green technology, using renewable energy and eco-friendly materials, minimizing single-use plastics, building modern wastewater treatment systems, and promoting local culture in tourism activities. Since 2015, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay resort has established a Sustainable Development Fund, while installing a solar panel system capable of self-supplying 26 - 28% of total energy demand. In 2024, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay resort was honored to receive the “HICAP Sustainable Hotel” award.
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| A corner of Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang. |
Meanwhile, at the Vietnam Tourism Awards 2025 organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Khanh Hoa province made an impression with two resorts, Ana Mandara Cam Ranh and Champa Island Nha Trang, honored in the top 10 Best Green Hotels in Vietnam. Previously, Ana Mandara Cam Ranh was also awarded the Green Globe 2025 certification - a prestigious international certification in the tourism and hospitality sector.
Recently, within the framework of the opening ceremony of the Khanh Hoa Province Digital Technology Festival 2026, the Provincial People's Committee awarded Green Tourism standard certificates to three resorts: The Anam Cam Ranh, Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang, and Champa Island Nha Trang. These are the first establishments recognized under the province's Criteria Set at the basic level. In addition, Ana Mandara Cam Ranh resort and Potique Hotel are finalizing their dossiers to submit to the Provincial People's Committee for certification consideration in the near future. According to Mr. Laurent Myter - General Manager of The Anam Group, from the very beginning, The Anam Cam Ranh oriented its development toward a green tourism model. To realize this goal, the resort chose classic-style architecture and eco-friendly materials, while implementing various solutions such as limiting energy consumption, saying no to single-use plastics, developing an organic vegetable garden, utilizing recycled water, and creating green spaces...
Comprehensive green development
Many experts believe that with a solid foundation from policies and the pioneering role of businesses, Khanh Hoa Province is fully capable of becoming a bright spot for green tourism in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. However, to date, the number of responding businesses has not met expectations. The entire province has more than 1,400 accommodation establishments, but only 3 have been granted the province's green tourism certification. According to Mr. Cung Quynh Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, many businesses in the province are heading toward a green tourism model, but meeting the standards requires investing effort from implementing the criteria to compiling supporting documentation... In the coming time, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will coordinate with departments, agencies, and localities to step up communications and encourage businesses to practice green tourism and register for appraisal. The Department will also continue to organize training for businesses; during the appraisal of hotels, resorts, and tourist attractions, other businesses will be invited to learn and gain experience.
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| South Korean tourists drink coconut water grown on the grounds of The Anam Cam Ranh. |
Developing green tourism is not an easy task, but it cannot be avoided because it is an inevitable trend. Tourists, especially high-spending travelers, are increasingly interested in green destinations. The 2025 Sustainable Travel Report on Booking.com shows that in a survey of 32,000 tourists across 34 countries and territories, up to 93% of respondents made sustainable travel choices. According to Mr. Pham Minh Nhut - Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, local authorities need to be more decisive in developing green tourism, strengthening communications, and raising awareness among the community, tourists, and businesses. The province needs more specific policies to promote green tourism, such as: prioritizing certified businesses in promotional publications, trade fairs, and fam trips; developing a "Green Khanh Hoa" label with real market value; organizing awards for green development, including green tourism; creating a green tourism map... In the long term, the province needs to incorporate green criteria into the selection of investors for tourism projects.
According to Dr. Pham Ha - Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Green Tourism Association, in the context of increasingly fierce destination competition, Khanh Hoa Province's issuance of the plan and Green Tourism Criteria is the right direction. This helps strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, and between modernization and the preservation of traditional culture. However, to achieve comprehensive green tourism development, additional sets of criteria are needed for restaurants, shopping destinations, and travel agencies to form a green ecosystem in tourism activities.
Resolution No. 09 of the Politburo on the building and development of Khanh Hoa Province to 2030, with a vision to 2045, emphasizes that the development of Khanh Hoa must be based on the rational exploitation of resources, environmental protection, and climate change response. The Project "Green Transformation of Khanh Hoa Province in the 2024 - 2030 Period" also sets the goal of turning Khanh Hoa into a smart, sustainable city with a distinctive identity, pioneering the achievement of the "net-zero" emissions target by 2050. For a province where tourism is a spearhead economic sector, developing green tourism is the inevitable path to realizing these goals. To achieve this, green tourism cannot rely merely on the voluntary actions of a small number of businesses; instead, it requires commitments from the tourism business community with a specific implementation roadmap for each unit.
At the end of 2024, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa Province issued the Plan for Green and Sustainable Tourism Development in the province through 2030. The plan sets the goal that by 2030, 80% of tourist destinations and tourism businesses will be certified with green labels, thereby attracting groups of tourists with high spending levels, long stays, and an awareness of civilized behavior when traveling. To standardize green tourism activities, with sponsorship from VinUni University, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism advised the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa Province to issue the Green Tourism Criteria in May 2025. The criteria set includes two separate sets for tourist accommodation establishments and tourist attractions, developed according to international standards, accompanied by a Guidance Handbook and assessment software. The Department also trained more than 200 enterprises to provide instructions on implementation, self-reviewing compliance with criteria, and preparing documents and evidence.
XUAN THANH
