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| Bach Ma (White Horse) Village Ecotourism Site has been developed through the forest environmental service lease |
Forest environment becomes a livelihood
While guiding visitors around the Par Le ecotourism site in A Luoi 5 commune, Ms. A Kieng Thi Lich, director of Hong Ha Tourism Service Cooperative, said that thanks to the support and facilitation of local authorities and the forestry sector, the Par Le community tourism site was established and put into operation in 2016. Once just a community tourism collective of 17 local households operating spontaneously, the economic success of this forest environment-based ecotourism site has since laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Hong Ha Tourism Service Cooperative.
Alongside the Par Le ecotourism site, ethnic minorities in this highland area have effectively tapped into other ecotourism spots such as A Nor Waterfall, A Lin Stream, and Tom Trung Hot Spring. As forest-based services evolved into a livelihood for residents here, they grew aware of their responsibilities and identified both the immediate and lasting benefits the forest can offer. Consequently, they have acted consciously toward the forest that supports their own lives, and thus every resident in the buffer zone has turned into a “forest ranger,” contributing to forest protection and preservation.
In May 2019, Bach Ma Village ecotourism site, covering more than 3.3 hectares within Bach Ma National Park, was developed under the forest environmental service lease scheme and officially began operation. This ecotourism site effectively utilizes natural resources to provide visitors with a friendly retreat.
This tourist site was established under the “Bach Ma National Park Eco-Tourism Development Project to 2020, with a Vision to 2030,” aiming to mobilize all social resources to harness the park’s potential and advantages in geographical location, natural endowments, and cultural and historical values. In doing so, it generates a sustainable financial resource for forest protection, conservation, and biodiversity, contributes to the budget, and helps raise the income of residents.
Mr. Nguyen Tuan Khanh, Director of Bach Ma Villa Company, said that thanks to the support and facilitation from Bach Ma National Park, relevant agencies, and local authorities, the investment procedures for this tourism area under the forest environment lease scheme proceeded smoothly. Consequently, the enterprise has saved costs, and the project has operated effectively to date, contributing to job creation for many local workers.
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| Highland ethnic minorities have effectively tapped into ecotourism spots |
Harnessing multifunctional value of forests
According to Mr. Nguyen Vu Linh, Director of Bach Ma National Park, built on the success of the Bach Ma Village tourism site, the park has developed a project for ecotourism, resort, and recreation development for the 2021–2030 period in accordance with relevant legal regulations. With 14 ecotourism routes and 12 zones, the project forms one of the must-visit destinations in travel itineraries across Hue and Central Vietnam.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) recently approved Bach Ma National Park’s Eco-Tourism, Resort, and Recreation Project under Decision No. 942/QD-BNN-LN dated February 27, 2025, with a total planned area of over 2,535 hectares for 12 ecotourism, resort, and recreation sites.
According to Bach Ma National Park’s leadership, the project will lay the groundwork for attracting investors and enterprises to develop investment proposals for the approved zones through cooperation or partnership with the park, or by leasing forest areas for ecotourism services. The move aims to open up opportunities for investors and operators to sustainably harness Bach Ma’s ecotourism potential, in harmony with biodiversity conservation and local socioeconomic development.
Riding on the success of Bach Ma Village Ecotourism Site - the first project effectively implemented under the State’s special-use forest environment lease model for ecotourism development - Bach Ma National Park has strengthened cooperation in developing ecotourism in line with the approved plan, in association with sustainable forest resource conservation and development.
The unit has also created optimal conditions to attract investors, gradually improving its technical and tourism infrastructure. In parallel, efforts are being made to diversify tourism products, design routes, and shape appealing destinations, paving the way for Bach Ma National Park to become a destination distinguished by its unique, world-class offerings.
Besides the Central regulations, the City People’s Council last September issued a resolution on forestry investment and support levels, ensuring consistency with current laws and alignment with local socioeconomic realities. This serves as a basis for allocating budget funds to agencies, units, organizations, households, individuals, and local communities involved in forest protection and development, as well as forest product processing.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, remarked that leveraging the multifunctional value of forests is an inevitable trend to enhance the income of forest-adjacent communities. This represents an effective and sustainable approach to forest protection that creates jobs, secures stable incomes, and enhances the material and spiritual well-being of ethnic minorities, upland dwellers, forest workers, and forest-edge communities, thereby contributing to local socioeconomic development. Concurrently, it mobilizes social resources to develop tourism services and boost revenue for reinvestment, thereby enhancing the effective implementation of sustainable forest management, conservation, and development plans.