Khanh Hoa aims to become a comprehensive global green destination

On the afternoon of September 11, in Nha Trang, Tuoi Tre Newspaper, in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa Province, organised a seminar titled “Turning Khanh Hoa into a Comprehensive Green Destination of the World.” The event was attended by leaders of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism), the Provincial Party Committee, the People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa Province, as well as leaders of various departments, business associations, and local authorities.

At the seminar, Dr. Huynh Ho Dai Nghia (Faculty of International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City) stated that Khanh Hoa possesses all the conditions to become a model locality that fully meets the criteria of sustainable development, balancing the economy with culture, society, and the environment.

According to Mr. Nghia, from a policy perspective, for the green transition in Khanh Hoa to be comprehensive and measurable, the province should first set a vision of becoming a “comprehensive green destination” by 2045, with the goal of achieving net zero emissions earlier than the national target of 2050. This vision would provide a framework for all subsequent policy decisions.

Three key pillars have been identified in the green growth roadmap: green technology - focusing on renewable energy development, smart cities, electric transportation, and promoting public-private partnerships for large-scale projects such as offshore wind power; green finance - with solutions to green credit, public spending, carbon market development, green bonds, and climate funds, while ensuring transparency standards to mobilize sustainable capital; and green human resources - placing people at the center through training experts and skilled workers, enhancing capacity for officials, expanding green education, attracting specialists, and spreading the “green citizen” movement.

Meanwhile, Mr. Le Thanh, Chairman of the Management Council of the Green Economy Institute, stated that the key to Khanh Hoa’s success in green development lies in diversifying its economic pillars, investing in sustainable products, strengthening international cooperation, and accelerating digital transformation — not merely focusing on tourism.

Therefore, Mr. Thanh emphasized that Khanh Hoa needs to diversify its economic pillars by prioritizing spearhead industries such as sustainable tourism development alongside processing technology and information technology. In addition, the province should develop strategic infrastructure by investing heavily in transport infrastructure such as expressways, coastal roads, seaports, and airports (with special focus on Van Phong Bay), as well as digital infrastructure to support logistics, tourism, and industry.

Khanh Hoa must also improve its investment environment and capital attraction by promptly resolving delayed projects and attracting major investors, especially in the green technology sector, to leverage regional linkages and diversify sources of FDI. In particular, the province should proactively establish cooperation mechanisms with financial institutions and domestic and international credit organizations to recognize and implement Khanh Hoa’s set of green credit criteria.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Long Bien, Vice Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, said that in recent times Khanh Hoa has been actively promoting many green transition programs, from developing eco-friendly and smart urban areas to implementing energy-saving initiatives. At the same time, the province has been pushing for environmentally friendly public transportation, encouraging the use of electric vehicles and clean energy; and motivating businesses to adopt circular economy models to minimize waste and single-use plastics.

According to Mr. Nguyen Long Bien, both central and local orientations have clearly defined that developing tourism in tandem with green urban development, a green economy, and green energy will serve as the pillars for Khanh Hoa to become a centrally governed city, an international coastal tourism hub, and one of the nation’s key growth poles.

Therefore, Khanh Hoa has been implementing several key programs: the Green Transition Project for the 2024–2030 period; the plan for developing green and sustainable tourism by 2030; and the provincial green tourism standards. In addition, the province is pushing forward with the application of green digital transformation in urban management, transportation, and tourism, building a shared data platform to enhance governance capacity and service quality.

On the same morning, the “Green Experience Day” event also took place, featuring booths showcasing and allowing visitors to experience green products and local specialty gifts; an exhibition and demonstration area for green technologies such as electric vehicles, lighting, and solar energy; hands-on workshops teaching how to make toys from recycled waste; and the “Exchange Recyclables for Green Gifts” program.