Top destinations in Vietnam for a more sustainable stay in 2023

Whether in bustling cities or tucked away in nature, along the coastline, or high in the mountains, many accommodations and destinations in Vietnam are doubling down on sustainable practices.

Hanoi is a destination for sustainable tourism in Vietnam. Photo: Dung Dang

The annual Sustainable Travel Report 2023, recently announced by Booking.com, showed that there are 5,000 properties from Vietnam recognized for "sustainable practices", located in HCMC, Hanoi, Danang, Vung Tau, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Quy Nhon, Phu Quoc and Ha Long.

With a mission to make it easier for everyone to travel the world, including in a more sustainable way, the company has also unveiled a list of inspiring destinations in Vietnam with a higher percentage of sustainable stays to fuel this year's wanderlust.

“Whether in busy cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, to more tranquil destinations such as Phu Quoc and Quy Nhon, there are many properties to cater to travelers who are intent on making more sustainable travel choices,” according to the accommodation booking platform.

Through Booking's Sustainable Tourism Badge program, travelers looking to explore Vietnam can easily search for accommodations and destinations with sustainable practices.

To earn the badge, properties have adopted various sustainable attributes that contribute to their recognition as sustainable properties.

These attributes range from small yet effective changes to harder working efforts to truly become more sustainable, including reusable towels, use of eco-friendly LED lighting, having a building with green spaces, and suggesting tours and activities organized by local guides and businesses, among others.

Accommodation properties in Hanoi have adopted various sustainable attributes. Photo: The Chi Boutique Hotel

Other top sustainable attributes observed globally include the removal of plastic straws, cups, cutlery, and stirrers, and the installation of double-glazed windows, among others.

The annual Sustainable Travel Report 2023 also shows that sustainable travel remains high on the agenda and important to 96% of Vietnamese travelers, with over 97% wanting to turn intention into action and make a conscious effort to travel more sustainably in the next 12 months.

Varun Grover, Country Head, Vietnam at Booking.com, said: “We have seen continued interest among Vietnamese travelers on their intent to travel more sustainably.

Through the Travel Sustainable Badge, we are able to help these travelers find sustainable accommodations and become better informed about the sustainable practices of these properties."

“Similarly, we are also seeing a rise in the properties listed on our platform with the travel sustainable badge as they recognize the importance of transitioning to more sustainable properties,” he added.