Developing a Sustainable Beach Tourism Strategy

is endowed with a 3,200km long coast. Beautiful beaches are distributed evenly from north to south. However, in order for these beaches to create higher economic returns, there is a need to establish a sea-based tourism route along the country's length.
Tra Co Beach in Mong Cai City, Quang Ninh Province is considered the most peaceful beach in Vietnam with a wide and smooth coast, white sand and blue water. Going further to the south is the 2km Bai Chay Beach. Along the beach is an old pine tree wood and unique hotels and villas. Not far from Tra Co is the Van Don Beach with five silky sand-banks and green crystal water and other beautiful beaches in the Halong Bay. In Hai Phong City, there are Do Son and Cat Ba beaches. The beach has smooth sand and green casuarinas, tropical almonds and coconut-palms. In Nam Dinh Province, there are Hai Thinh and Quat Lam beaches. The Sam Son Beach (in Thanh Hoa Province) which was particularly popular with the French from 1906 is very attractive. The beach is a famous tourist site in the Indochina Peninsula. In the central are Cua Lo Beach in Nghe An Province, Thien Cam Beach in Ha Tinh Province, Lang Co Beach in Thua Thien Hue and beautiful beaches in the city of Da Nang. Sun-drenched beaches in the south such as Vung Tau, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc have attracted numerous tourists within and outside the country.
In a seminar on sea-based tourism development organized by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Nguyen Manh Cuong, the deputy general director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, emphasized: "Vietnam has some of the most beautiful beaches, bays and islands in the world. In the recent years, sea-based tourism products have attracted many tourists to Vietnam and created high revenue. However, this natural resource has not been exploited effectively yet. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a long-term strategy on sea-based tourism development in the coming time."
The tourism development strategy until 2020, oriented to 2030 states that in the coming time, there is a need to give priority to sea based-tourism, cultural tourism and eco-tourism development. Sea based tourism will hold the key position in the strategy. This is hoped to create a motive force in exploiting sea based-tourism potential and turning Vietnam into an attractive and friendly regional destination.
Nguyen Manh Cuong said that, in the coming time, the tourism sector will develop a system of sea based-tourism products which have strong competitiveness in the region and the world.
Nguyen Huyen, the deputy general director of the Saigontourist, said that tourism sites of Phu Quoc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang and Halong have the bonus of unspoiled natural surroundings and stronger attraction compared to those in other countries in the region, however they haven't given the biggest returns they could. Therefore, to promote sea-based tourism development in the coming time, the tourism sector should develop both relaxing tours and adventure tours. Nonetheless, when developing tourism, the country continues to lack comprehensive strategies. We are just exploiting natural resources and neglecting to invest in developing them. It could be said that the country lacks policies on the sustainable use of natural resources.
Therefore in the coming time, the tourism sector should enhance professional advertisement programs on the country's sea based-tourism, and draw up programs to connect sea-based tourism sites. In addition, it is necessary to have methods to appeal the community to take part in tourism development programs for their own benefit and the country's tourism sustainable development./.