Promoting forest value from rental services for tourism

Multi-value conservation area

Located in the middle of a vast plain with gardens, and rice fields, Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve (NR) is a rare green area that still preserves precious values from nature. Established by the Prime Minister in 2002, Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve has an area of over 2,800 ha, not only known as the "green lung" of the Mekong Delta, it also has the most unique biodiversity conservation area in the country today.

Mr. Doan Ngoc Than, Director of Hau Giang Provincial Forest Protection Department, said that Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve is home to many rare species. Here, there is a full range of flora belonging to the wetland ecosystem, including dominant species such as cypress, reed, and cottonwood. Plants in the terrestrial ecosystem include cassava, laran, banyan, fishtail palm, and Melastoma. There are also plants belonging to the underwater ecosystem such as water hyacinth, water lily, and lotus,...

The fauna at Lung Ngoc Hoang is quite rich. According to survey results assessing the current state of biodiversity, there are more than 978 species recorded here. Of which, there are 352 species of higher plants, 57 species of fungi, and 59 species of soil animals, the spider group recorded 61 species, 100 species of insects, 13 species of molluscs and 20 species of benthic animals. In addition, the results also recorded 78 species of blue-green algae, 95 species of green algae, and 75 species of fish present in water bodies in Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve.

In particular, in Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve, there are currently dozens of rare and precious mammal species that are in danger of extinction on a global scale, including 10 species of reptiles like Calamaria snakes, kraits, and many water birds.

Among the flora and fauna species found in the Reserve, there are up to 12 species listed in the Vietnam and World Red Data Books such as brownbeard rice, red geese, Dolichandrone spathacea, hairy-nosed otters, turtles, cobras...

Attracting many tourism businesses

Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve is located in Phuong Binh commune, Phung Hiep district, Hau Giang province, about 40 km southwest of Can Tho City southwest of Hau River. With precious values still preserved and a geographical location not far from the major urban centre of the Mekong Delta, Lung Ngoc Hoang is an ideal place to attract businesses to rent the forest environment to invest in eco-tourism.

According to Mr Doan Ngoc Than, the Lung Ngoc Hoang Natural Reserve Area eco-tourism project has been approved by the People's Committee of Hau Giang Province in Decision No. 1015/QD-UBND dated June 7, 2021. The project aims to fully promote the potential and value of special-use forests here, contributing to the province's tourism development.

This is the basis for organizations and individuals wishing to rent the forest environment of Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve to establish an ecotourism investment project combining forest protection and development and natural resource conservation to ensure compliance with legal regulations. Gradually improve the technical infrastructure system, establish ecotourism routes and create attractive destinations as a basis for making Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve a major tourist centre of the province and a national tourist area by 2030.

Through investment promotion activities in Hau Giang, the province has invited businesses to invest in exploiting forest eco-tourism. Currently, there are a number of businesses such as: Alphanam Investment Joint Stock Company, Uniland Investment Group Joint Stock Company, and Sun Group... that are interested, wishing to invest in tourism development in Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve.

Through ecotourism activities, educating people about environmental protection, implementing benefit-sharing policies with local people, creating jobs and converting careers for people in the buffer zone of Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve. Improve the efficiency of management, conservation and sustainable development of natural resources, contributing to local socio-economic development.​