Promoting innovation in the development of sustainable tourism   Local residents in Duong Lam village use straw to design souvenirs. NDO - Rain, winds, storms, floods, and even garbage are things that seem like troubles for human. However, in a number of projects initiated by architect Nguyen Thu Hanh, PhD., Chairwoman of the Scientific Union for Sustainable Tourism Development (STDe) and her partners, disadvantages are turned into advantages in order to develop tourism in a sustainable manner in Vietnam. Changing thinking in exploiting natural resources Vietnam has significant potential to develop tourism, especially maritime tourism thanks to its long coastline. With more than 3,000km of coastline – including hundreds of islands and beautiful beaches – Vietnam should be one of Asia’s top tourism destinations. However, compared to other countries in the region, sea and island tourism in Vietnam is underdeveloped as only a small part of sea and island resources are being utilised. In addition, tourism services in Vietnam remain limited. According to architect Thu Hanh, PhD., for a long time, sand has been used as a food and raw material in chemical and food industries. Yet, the sand industry has not been used for tourism, which could bring strong economic and social benefits. It’s quite easy to create a number of unique services to attract visitors, such as sand Zen gardens and sand mazes where tourists can practice yoga or discover mysterious mazes. In addition, various eye-catching handicrafts could be made of sand, such as jewellery, pictures and other souvenirs. Sand is also known for its effects in the treatment of several diseases - a good combination between marine tours and physical therapy. Litter remains a problem on Vietnamese beaches, seriously polluting the environment and negatively impacting Vietnam’s maritime tourism. Litter should be carefully treated before being turned into useful things such as handicrafts, toys or event fine art products. Architect Thu Hanh, PhD., and her partners also have the idea to build recycled parks and coffee shops from the collected rubbish on beaches. By simply collecting solid materials such as timber, plastic, glass and metal, the idea can be brought into reality. STDe with outstanding creative projects One of SUSTD’s creative projects is the ‘dark hotel’ model for hotels and resorts. In this model, the use of electricity is very limited while priority is given to natural lights like photogenic stones, photogenic trees or interior reflective light. The project aims to help tourists in particular, and the entire community in general, to take a different look at the significance and value of darkness, as well as feel the beauty of it, encouraging them to save energy in a voluntary and effective manner. In dark hotels, visitors have the chance to experience activities in the dark like eating and relaxing. Visitors can have unusual, exciting and unforgettable experiences beholding the moon and the stars, sleeping on the mountain or on the beach, and attending night festivals among others.   Some interesting activities at 'darkness hotels' After being acknowledged as a National Architecture relic in late 2005, Duong Lam ancient village in Hanoi has drawn many tourists from both at home and abroad. While most of visitors are attracted by the laterite architecture, ancient houses and typical North Vietnamese cuisine, there are no typical tourism services in Duong Lam. Architect Hanh and her partners came up with the idea to create unique products made of the straw and to turn them into a specialty of the village. The project has received support from the local authorities and residents as for years, local people used to burn the straw, causing environmental pollution in the area. The village’s products have been of poor quality, Hanh said, adding that her group would like to instruct local residents on how to develop and design high quality souvenirs woven from straw, both popularising the destination and helping locals to increase their incomes. Turning disadvantageous natural events into tourism service Another prominent project which is being currently carried out by STDe is ‘Turning rain, storms, and floods in the Central Coast into tourism products’. While many people see rains, storms and floods as disadvantageous natural conditions, Architect Hanh and her colleagues see them as natural events that can be utilised to develop tourism. Rains in Hue City, storms in Da Nang and floods in Hoi An are all considered ‘tourism resources’.   Rains in Hue City, storms in Da Nang and floods in Hoi An are all considered ‘tourism resources’. These tourism services will show the flexible lifestyle as a result of the natural conditions of Vietnam’s central region and broaden tourists’ knowledge of the values of the tangible and intangible cultural heritages of tourist cities, said Doctor Nguyen Thu Hanh. Various art forms can be designed to become special tourism offerings when they are performed while it is raining in Hue City. Enjoying Hue royal tea, playing or listening to music, admiring the rain, meditating, enjoying Hue meals and making souvenirs on rainy days all could be special tourism services. Besides these indoor events, outdoor events such as water puppetry, racing and wading in the floods, sailing and fishing, can also attract many young tourists who love discovering new things. Meanwhile, the group has also suggested building a ‘storm park’ in Da Nang. Adventure travel will be the two special types of tourism for Da Nang when the storm city is built and put into operation. This plan is not as peculiar as many people may think, and this is not a new idea at all, Hanh said, noting that the concept of traveling to extreme areas has become popular in many countries around the world. Once these tourism services are well developed, Vietnam will be able to receive high numbers of tourists engaging in adventure traveling and responsible traveling – the current trends in the world, Hanh affirmed. In Hoi An Ancient Town, tourists will have the chance to admire the view of the ancient town’s roofs when flood waters rise, travel on boats to every corner of the town to take pictures, discover the life of local residents during floods, and go to cafes which are located the second floors of houses in order to enjoy different types of arts from the rain. Truong Van Bay, Deputy Chairman of Hoi An City People’s Committee said this project will help turn the rains into good fortune. According to Doctor Hanh, in order to bring these creative projects into reality, it is necessary to attract the involvement of enterprises. However, there are still many limitations that need to be addressed. Tourism businesses in Vietnam are mostly small and medium scale and they are not used to offering creative solutions. She emphasised that STDe is trying to create a playing field through the activities of the Green Club – a place for exchange and ties between all participants in the tourism sector to share knowledge and research results between the scientific community and enterprises, joining hands to bring creative projects into play. Founded in February, 2010, the Scientific Union for Sustainable Tourism Development gathers dedicated scientists and cadres whose are well-qualified in management and professional knowledge in order to conduct research on science and technology relating to tourism. They also offer consulting services and technology transfers with the purpose of developing Vietnam’s tourism in an effective and sustainable way. The union has the task of carrying out scientific research and technology development in the field of tourism, applying research results to developing tourism in Vietnam. It has implemented science and technology: strategy consulting; detailed planning in tourism; review and assessment of the planning projects in investing and developing tourism; training staff and organising seminars and fairs; advertising and promoting tourism; and promoting and investing in the development of tourism zones and different forms of travel services. The union has co-operated with other organisations and foreign individuals in carrying out the tasks of the Union in the framework of laws and regulations of the Union of Vietnam.  KHANH BINH, NHANDAN