From May 19 to 22, 2025, the working delegation of the “Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development in Vietnam” (ST4SD) Project, in collaboration with the Swiss Embassy, UNDP, and local partners, conducted a working visit to Hà Giang Province to support activities aimed at promoting sustainable tourism, focusing on destination management, product development, and advancing the implementation of provincial policies.
As part of Component 3 of the Project – Destination Management and Sustainable Tourism Product Development – the delegation conducted field surveys in Khun Village (Quang Bình District) and Lùng Hẩu Village (Quản Bạ District). These are two areas with clear potential for developing community-based tourism linked to local culture and livelihoods.
In Khun Village, the delegation noted positive outcomes from the newly launched community-based tourism model, including active participation from local residents, efforts to preserve landscapes, conserve cultural heritage, and apply traditional medicine in tourism services. Mr. Olivier Messmer, Director of the ST4SD Project, emphasized the importance of structured operational management, genuine community involvement, and the preservation of local cultural values as core elements for the success of sustainable community-based tourism models. These align with national standards for community-based tourism and provide a foundation for the project to continue supporting the implementation of sustainable certification initiatives, contributing to promoting the destination in the international market.
In Lùng Hẩu Village, the delegation worked with local authorities and communities to review tourism resources, identify challenges in market access, and determine creative product ideas. These proposals are expected to receive technical support during development, design, and communication processes, aligning with the direction of sustainable cultural tourism tied to the H’Mông ethnic identity.
In addition to field surveys, the delegation held a working session with the Hà Giang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism – an activity under Component 1 of the Project – to promote the implementation of master plans and policies for sustainable tourism development at the local level.
During the session, the Hà Giang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism expressed gratitude to the ST4SD Project for supporting the province in preparing the nomination dossier for Lô Lô Chải Village to participate in UN Tourism’s “Best Tourism Villages” award. The parties also agreed on cooperation directions for 2025, including continued support for community-based tourism development in Khun and Lùng Hẩu villages, assistance in training accommodation facility management staff, and implementation of the province’s action plan in a sustainable and responsible manner.
The ST4SD Project – funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by Helvetas Vietnam and CRED from 2024 to 2027 – is committed to partnering with Hà Giang Province to develop and replicate sustainable tourism models based on cultural, ecological, and genuine community participation foundations. This is not only a solution for local economic development but also a pathway to preserving cultural identity and enhancing Hà Giang’s position on the global sustainable tourism map.