Quang Nam among Asia’s top four leading sustainable destinations

Wanderlust noted that by putting local businesses at the heart of tourism, the region of Quang Nam is proving sustainability starts at home. 

"Hoi An Kayak Tours takes visitors on a paddle through the Nipa mangroves, navigating fishing boats and stilt villages. In town, Refillables sells eco-friendly travel necessities, from shampoo to toothbrushes, while nearby zero-waste restaurant The Field uses wild and organic local produce to create rustic dishes, such as its aubergine and tofu broth", the magazine highlighted. 

Quang Nam is a rare locality in Viet Nam as it contains two world heritages (Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary) and a world biosphere reserve site (Cu Lao Cham World Biosphere Reserve).

Hoi An is the only remaining urban residential architectural relic of the Middle Ages in Viet Nam. The town is home to 1,360 relics and scenic spots, including 1,068 ancient houses, 19 pagodas, 43 shrines, 11 ancient wells, one ancient bride and 44 tombs.

Currently, Hoi An is the only place in the world that still preserves a harmonious multi-ethnic cultural heritage with townhouses, temples and pagodas.

My Son relic site was built from the late fourth century to the 13th century. The complex used to house more than 70 temples and towers with various styles of architecture and sculptures typically representing each historical stage of the Champa Kingdom.

The central locality welcomed 1.63 million tourist arrivals in the first quarter of this year, a four-fold year-on-year increase, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The above figure includes 765,000 international travelers and 865,000 domestic guests, up 85 and two times, respectively, against one year ago.