VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

FACULTY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION

ENGLISH FOR TOURISM

CASE STUDY

Name: NGUYỄN THỊ HOÀI AN Student number: 21040665 Class: QH2021E1

A MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Excutive summary
The report was initiated to show the introduction and background information of sustainable
tourism model Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Thanh Hoa Province, evaluate its challenges and
opportunities regarding three key elements: environmental preservation, socio-cultural conservation,
economic equity; and finally provide better solutions from personal perspective of a university
student.
Introduction
Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Thanh Hoa Province is often hailed as a great model of sustainable
tourism in Vietnam. It is located within the border of Ba
Thuoc and Quan Hoa districts, in the northwestern Thanh
Hoa.

This destination has been facilitated for tourism

development such as unspoiled picturesque landscape,
unique and rustic lifestyle of ethnic minorities, together
with sustainable tourism development plans of the local
Figure 1 - Picturesque nature landscape of Pu Luong. Source:
https://nhasanpuluong.org/2022/05/20/khu-bao-ton-thien-nhien-pu-
luong/
leaders. Accordingly, Pu Luong Nature Reserve has
attracted thousands of travelers from all over Vietnam and the world since the early 2000s.

Opportunities
Situated along two mountain ridges, Pu Luong Nature Reserve is a closed, seasonal, evergreen
tropical forest. It is home to 1,109 species of vascular plants, resulting in a varied flora. There are

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three main forest categories that are important for preservation. 84 mammal, 162 bird, 55 fish, 28
reptile, 13 amphibian, 158 butterfly, and 96 land snail species are found in the reserve.
A sustainable development and conservation plan
for the Pu Luong Natural Reserve has been
authorized by the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa
Province for the period of 2021–2030. The strategy
supports water security, biodiversity, resource
conservation, mitigation of climate change, and
environmental preservation.
Figure 2- ‘’Trachypithecus delacouri’’- one of the rarest species in Pu Luong. Source:

https://puluongbocbandiretreat.com/blog/khu-bao-ton-thien-nhien-pu-luong

The reserve is home to Thai communities, such as

White and Black Thai, skilled in wet rice cultivation and
raised stilt style homes. They maintain their ancestors'
habits, including weaving, embroidery, basket making,
and bamboo furniture. Pu Luong offers an array of
vegetables, including baby pumpkin leaf, green beans,
and bamboo shoots, and recommends locally raised pork
Figure 3 - Thai females in traditional dance, Pu Luong. Source:
https://naturabungalow.com/vi/show-mua-hat-dan-toc-thai.htm
and grilled mountain snails.

Challenges
Thanh Hoa Province’s leaders warn of threats to biodiversity in Pu Luong, including illegal
forest clearance, wildlife hunting, forest fires, and illegal mineral exploitation. Accommodations
discharge sewage into fields and streams, discoloring the water and producing unpleasant smells. Air
pollution results from burning trash as waste grows.

Investors are establishing tourism businesses in Pu

Luong, operating in three models: citizen-owned,
jointly-owned, and noncitizen-owned. Tensions
arise due to cultural gaps and social issues. Local
customs have been superseded by domestic tourists'
expectations of prompt and courteous treatment,

Figure 3 - Water pollution in Pu Luong. Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khu-du-lich-

which has resulted in alterations to attire and way of
gay-o-nhiem-tai-pu-luong-bi-tam-dung-xay-dung-va-kinh-doanh-185667789.htm

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life. Some foreign visitors swim close to streams and waterfalls, which the locals find inappropriate.
In addition, they break neighborhood ordinances by destroying boundaries between houses,
depositing trash in inappropriate locations, and creating noise after 10 p.m.
Residents are experiencing conflicts with tourism businesses, particularly accommodation
businesses, who commercialize or misrepresent local traditional culture, such as selling ethnic
costumes from other ethnic groups, not the original ones of Thai Pu Luong. This has changed the
lifestyle of some households, leading to jealousy and envy between those doing tourism business and
the Thai people, who are known for honesty and friendliness. Residents also argue that tourism
profits are mainly shared among a few households or investors, while the others get none. Lack of
control and transparency in the local leadership further exacerbates this issue, resulting in inequality
and loss of community funds.

Solutions
Community-based tourism is crucial for long-term growth, requiring a specific strategy at all
levels to preserve the environment and promote politeness, friendliness, and openness with tourists.
This involves educating residents about their responsibilities and creating an attractive tourism
environment. Additionally, it is necessary for
local leaders to attach more attention to
better facilitate infrastructure, such as waste
treatment, clean water, electrical systems,
and transportation networks. Maintaining the
sustainability of Pu Luong's tourism industry
also requires careful attention to sanitation
and waste management to prevent negative
Figure 4 - An propagandizing law and policies lesson in Pu Luong. Source: effects on the surrounding natural
https://tainguyenvamoitruong.vn/day-manh-tuyen-truyen-bao-ve-khu-bao-ton-thien-nhien-
pu-luong-cid110685.html
ecosystem. Other feasible strategies that
might be taken into consideration include creating traditional handicraft villages, planning events
like "A Day of the Thai" to provide visitors an insight into local life, and allowing visitors to
participate in cooking, baking, and fabric weaving.

Conclusion
Vietnam's Pu Luong Nature Reserve is a promising tourist destination; the report indicated that the
region's tourism business is growing swiftly but not entirely sustainably. Three goals must be
implemented concurrently for sustainable development: economic fairness, socio-cultural

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preservation, and environmental conservation. In the meantime, Pu Luong needs assistance in
developing sustainable tourism in the future due to a number of ongoing issues that require prompt
attention and a number of policy ramifications.

References
1. Duong Thi Hien, Tran Duc Thanh. (2022). Conflicts between residents and Other
Skateholders at Community-based Tourism Destinations: A Case Study of Pu Luong Nature
Reserve, Vietnam,
https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/mekongjournal/article/view/259140/176354
2. Footprint Team. (2018). Pu Luong Retreat Eco Concept – toward a sustainable development,
https://footprint.vn/responsible-travel/pu-luong-eco-concept-toward-a-sustainable-
evelopment
3. Hong Le. (2021). Pu Luong – a paradise amidst jungle for travellers on budget,
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/pu-luong-a-paradise-amidst-jungle-for-travellers-on-
budget/205092.vnp
4. Nguyen Thi Dong, Chu Thi Hong Huyen, Chu Thi Hong Vien, Nguyen Thi Hong. (2021)
ASSESSMENT OF THE HUMANITY TOURISM POTENTIAL IN PU LUONG NATURE
RESERVE, THANH HOA,
https://scholar.dlu.edu.vn/thuvienso/bitstream/DLU123456789/147273/1/CTv178V226S8202
1460.pdf
5. Natura Bungalows. (2019). Things to do in Pu Luong, Thanh Hoa from A to Z,
https://naturabungalow.com/a-must-have-travel-guide-to-pu-luong-thanh-hoa-from-a-to-z-
25438.htm
6. VNA. (2021). Thanh Hoa approves plan to preserve, develop Pu Luong Natural Reserve,
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/thanh-hoa-approves-plan-to-preserve-develop-pu-luong-natural-
reserve/208116.vnp

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