Vietnam launches Hon Yen coral conservation project amid tourism pressure

The initiative, organized by the provincial Women’s Union and the People’s Committee of O Loan Commune, is meant to protect coral ecosystems while supporting local livelihoods and preserving coastal cultural values.

The project is funded by the United Nations Development Program through the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Program and runs till December 2026.

Nguyen Chu Hoi, head of the national steering committee of the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Program, said nearshore waters in the former Phu Yen Province area host about 182 coral species, while Hon Yen has 12.7 hectares of reefs with 17 species growing on basalt rock.

Phu Yen was merged into the expanded Dak Lak Province in July 2025 under a nationwide administrative overhaul.

Hoi said the reefs are under significant pressure from natural disasters, climate change, and human activities, including pollution, coral harvesting, trampling, and overfishing.

Local tourism operators said they are prioritizing visitor experience and environmental protection over volume, as increasing tourist flows without effective management risk further damaging the reefs.

Nguyen Thi Phan, director of the Hon Yen Tourism Cooperative, said members are working to protect coral and maintain environmental sanitation but lack stable funding and infrastructure to manage visitors.

She said the cooperative has organized local households and fishermen into a unified service network and developed tourism products such as fishing village experiences and responsible coral viewing.

Officials said the area needs a centralized reception zone to better manage tourists and improve service quality, along with planning adjustments for aquaculture zones to reduce visual and environmental impacts.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Nguyen Thi Hong Thai, chairwoman of the provincial Women’s Union, called for stronger coordination among authorities and communities to implement the project, including training in tourism skills, homestay management, and coral conservation.