A natural beauty to preserve
In order to preserve biodiversity, 27 national parks have been created in Vietnam. Even if their vocation is not originally tourist, many visits and activities are still organized there to discover the rich natural heritage of the country. While diving, going on long hikes or observing the animals, one realizes the incredible diversity of the places. The national parks are home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna, no matter what part of the country you set foot on. The Cuc Phuong National Park, which was the first to obtain this title in 1962, is located in three provinces in northern Vietnam. It is home to centuries-old trees, aquatic plants, caverns with traces of prehistoric man, and a huge variety of animals such as birds, reptiles, mammals and amphibians. When you reach the Mekong Delta, you can spend time in the Tram Chim Bird Sanctuary, a wetland that is a delight for birdwatchers. It is home to some very rare bird species, including the famous Japanese crane. In the centre of the country, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is nicknamed the "Kingdom of Caves and Caverns. "The reason is simple, it is home to more than 300 natural cavity systems and it is important to note that only 20 have been explored to date; Hang Son Doong is the largest cave in the world and was discovered in 2009. This national park is a fabulous terrain for activities such as biking, trekking and cave exploration. Water has an important place in Vietnam, you can see this as you cross the country and head for Ba Be National Park in Bac Can province. It was founded to protect the lakes of Ba Bê, where you can go for a boat ride. Around it? Lush nature with 600 species of plants and a multitude of animals. Another park, another wealth, those who have the opportunity to stay close to the Con Dao National Park in the eponymous archipelago have everything they need to enjoy the seaside: dream beaches and the observation of corals and sea turtles during scuba diving. How can we talk about Vietnam without mentioning its landscapes that can be seen in many films, The smell of green papaya by Tran Anh Hung or Indochina by Régis Wargnier. The Bay of Along and its rocky peaks and the rice terraces of the provinces of Hà Giang, Lào Cai and Lai Châu, form almost unreal landscapes with a beauty unique in the world. During a stay, the Mandarin Route is a good way to cross the country from north to south and to see all the diversity of landscapes. A recommended break is the one that can be made only two hours by boat from Hôi An, in the Cu Lao Chàm archipelago. On these eight small islands there are pleasant little fishing villages where you can taste the local gastronomy and laze on white sandy beaches and turquoise waters.One of the countries most affected by climate change
It is a very sad reality that affects the country, but Vietnam is one of the territories that will be most affected by climate change. Over the past 20 years, the increase in natural disasters has been costing 1 to 1.5% of GDP and preventing poverty reduction. If climate change destroys the environment, it inevitably has serious consequences for the population by reducing agricultural yields. Another environmental problem facing Vietnam is rising water levels. Now inevitable, it is a reality for almost half of the provinces bordering the ocean. According to government estimates, one-third of the Mekong Delta, considered the country's rice granary, will be submerged in the coming decades if sea levels continue to rise at this rate. Large cities will also suffer the consequences of rising water levels, such as Ho Chi Minh City, where the population continues to settle in low-lying areas. While we are on the subject of cities, we should mention another major problem affecting Vietnamese territory. Air pollution is reaching alarming levels in the main metropolises. With the development of pathologies that inevitably affect populations. Asthma, bronchitis, eye irritation, heart problems affect the most vulnerable people.
Is human activity the main culprit?
Located on the continental shelf of Southeast Asia, Vietnam is one of the least forested countries in the entire region. However, its territory has natural conditions that are highly favourable to the development of tropical rainforest. Although the virgin forest was already affected by chemical weapons during the Vietnam War, it is now also threatened by the country's economic development. Forest areas are indeed at the heart of the development mechanism, since they are home to resources and potential areas for agriculture exploited by humans. Timber is also a rare commodity that is fetched at a golden price in Southeast Asia. As a result, deforestation is one of the fastest in the world. It has other disastrous consequences such as landslides with heavy rains and the loss of ancestral habitat for ethnic minority groups. At the level of major industries, they also have heavy responsibilities in polluting the country, the air and the water. We remember the Formosa Plastics scandal, responsible for the country's biggest environmental disaster. The Taiwanese company Formosa Plastics Corp. is the main shareholder in a steel complex which, by dumping its waste into the ocean, poisoned more than 100 tons of fish, damaged coral and contaminated shellfish. The scandal has brought thousands of people to the streets, demanding the truth and worrying about the ecological consequences. In a society of all plastics, the industries, but also the inhabitants, are responsible for the fact that Vietnam is one of the biggest polluters of the sea in the world, with notably 13 million tons of plastic waste dumped into the sea every year. Every minute, up to 1,000 bags are used and only 27% of them are processed and recycled. As far as mentalities are concerned, the population still seems a little reluctant to invest in ecology, certainly due to a lack of information, even if natural disasters (floods, storms, drought...) and scandals linked to industries seem to awaken a few protesting minds. The authorities, if encouraged by the international community with which they have formed some partnerships, often limit themselves to encouraging speeches, but close their eyes when it comes to industrial development, corruption and animal trafficking, and in reality only see the immediate financial interests.
