Green tourism unlocks Hue’s golden opportunity

A growing number of visitors to Gia Long’s tomb in Long Ho Ward, Phu Xuan District, Hue City, have been pleasantly surprised to discover a fleet of electric-assisted bicycles available to help them navigate the peaceful, verdant historic site.

Nguyen Thu Ha from Da Nang shared: “My family and I were impressed on our first visit. These electric bikes are convenient, easy to use, and allowed us to explore the entire grounds without feeling tired. The fresh air and lush landscape made for a very relaxing experience.”

The electric bike service represents one of Hue’s innovative steps in developing green tourism. These quiet, zero-emission bikes are ideal for preserving the serenity and historical ambiance of the site.

In addition to eco-friendly transport, several royal tombs within the Complex of Hue Monuments have introduced free clean water stations for visitors since August 2023. This initiative significantly reduces single-use plastic bottle waste and leaves a positive impression on tourists.

Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, noted that UNESCO recommends minimizing negative impacts at heritage sites, including noise, vibrations, and pollution. Green tourism initiatives and plastic reduction efforts demonstrate the Center’s commitment to UNESCO and promote Hue as a clean, green, and welcoming destination.

Hotels across Hue are also embracing the green shift. Supported by the “Hue – A plastic-reducing city in central Vietnam” project (2021–2025, funded by WWF-Norway), dozens of hotels have pledged to reduce single-use plastics. Seven leading hotels have adopted the 6T principle: refuse, reduce, reuse, replace, recycle, and collect.

Nguyen Thi Hoa, Director of Villa Hue Hotel, said tourism both contributes to and suffers from plastic pollution. The hotel has implemented effective plastic waste reduction measures, saving thousands of plastic bottles, shampoo containers, and hundreds of millions of dong annually.

“The hotel aims to phase out single-use plastics by replacing them with sustainable alternatives in dining services, training staff, and encouraging guests to join our waste-reduction efforts,” Hoa explained.

At the 14th East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress held in Hue (June 5–6), Phan Linh Chi, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, emphasized that the country’s tourism development strategy through 2030 prioritizes green tourism. The strategy focuses on sustainable growth, climate resilience, natural resource optimization, and heritage protection. Nationally, tourism development is shifting from a focus on visitor numbers to service quality and environmentally responsible experiences rooted in cultural identity.

A strategic transformation

Hue is home to eight UNESCO-recognized heritage sites - six of which are exclusive to the city. This unique cultural status positions Hue as a powerful engine for socio-economic development, especially in tourism. It also provides a strong foundation for expanding heritage and cultural tourism, while motivating the city to evolve into a sustainable, creative, and future-ready destination.

City leaders view green tourism as a strategic pivot. Recent years have seen a series of pilot green tourism models. Rather than merely preserving the past, Hue aspires to be a city of innovation that bridges history with the future. Green tourism is the “key” to revitalizing cultural values while retaining the city's unique identity.

Tran Thi Hoai Tram, Director of Hue's Department of Tourism, affirmed the city’s leadership in advancing green and plastic-free tourism. This is part of a long-term strategy to establish a distinctive brand.

“Moving forward, we’ll launch more green-focused tours, especially around heritage sites. We’ll conduct training sessions for tour operators and guides to implement the Green Tourism Code - developed in partnership with the Hue Monuments Conservation Center and WWF,” Tram said.

She added that digital technologies will also be adopted to manage and promote green tourism. The department encourages tourism businesses to broaden partnerships and develop professional, eco-friendly offerings.

Hue’s tourism sector is expected to grow significantly in 2025, as the city hosts Vietnam’s National Tourism Year. In the first half of the year, Hue welcomed over 3.3 million visitors - a 70% year-on-year increase - with tourism revenue reaching nearly 267 million USD (approximately 6,700 billion VND), up 59%. Hue aims to attract 4.8–5 million tourists this year, generating between 430–446 million USD (around 10,800–11,200 billion VND).

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