Da Nang strengthens sustainable tourism with new green stay standards

Criteria for choosing destinations

According to Booking.com’s 2025 sustainable travel report, based on a survey of around 32,000 travelers across 34 countries and territories, 93% of travelers worldwide want to make more sustainable travel choices.

Notably, awareness of sustainability is also extending beyond environmental protection.

In particular, 53% of travelers are aware of tourism’s impact on local communities; 73% want the money they spend during their trips to benefit the local economy; 77% seek authentic experiences that represent local cultures; and 69% wish to leave destinations better than they found them.

This poses a clear challenge for destinations. Accordingly, “Green” is no longer merely an environmental responsibility. It is becoming a quality standard, a market value and a competitive advantage.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that following the administrative merger, Da Nang’s tourism space has expanded, while the number of accommodation establishments has risen significantly.

This offers a major advantage for Da Nang in developing resort tourism and attracting the high-end visitors.

As a result, the city’s tourism sector has developed the Da Nang Green Stay Criteria, aiming to build an accommodation system oriented toward quality, environmental friendliness and sustainable development.

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Mr. Andri Meier, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Vietnam, spoke highly of the Da Nang Green Stay Criteria. He noted that the criteria reflect a strategic vision for sustainable tourism development.

Amid increasingly intense competition among destinations, accommodation establishments that meet the Da Nang Green Stay criteria can use the certification as an effective promotional tool. This will not only strengthen their own position but also enhance the competitiveness of Da Nang as a destination.

Accommodation establishments embrace "green" practices

In recent years, many accommodation facilities citywide have adopted green tourism practices, leaving a strong impression on both domestic and international visitors.

For instance, the An Villa Hoi An in Hoi An Dong Ward has been paying attention to creating a living space that is closely connected with nature.

This includes planting abundant greenery, using easily recyclable wooden furniture, limiting the provision of single-use items to guests, and replacing plastic bottles with glass ones.

Furthermore, waste separation is also prioritized to reduce the amount of waste released into the environment.

Fallen leaves in the garden are composted and used around the base of trees, while fruit peels, particularly those from oranges and lemons which contain essential oils, are turned into multipurpose cleaning agents for washing dishes, scrubbing tables and chairs, and cleaning various surfaces.

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Living in harmony with nature and embracing a greener lifestyle is a trend that many people aspire to. Therefore, the introduction of the Da Nang Green Stay Criteria will help accommodation providers assess the effectiveness of their green tourism practices.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Tam, the owner of An Villa Hoi An in Da Nang

By introducing the Da Nang Green Stay Criteria, the city is providing accommodation establishments with a practical framework to protect the environment and enhance guest experiences, thereby strengthening the city’s appeal and competitiveness on global tourism map.