By and large, we travelers want to do our part to protect the environment, but figuring how to stick to our environmentally responsible practices in a foreign country isn’t always easy.
Here are four ways to protect the environment while making the most of your trip to Vietnam and showing the country some love while you’re at it.
Pass on the plastic.
To stem the flow of plastic waste, you can do your part by politely refusing straws, bags and other extras. But the number one way to cut down on your own plastic use is by bringing a reusable water bottle and filling up at larger water coolers and other safe water sources in hotels, restaurants and cafes.
Stick to reef-safe sunscreen.
You’ll want to stock up on sunscreen before your trip – and there aren’t many good, affordable options in Vietnam. Look for mineral sunscreens that have “non-nanotized” zinc oxide or titanium dioxide so that you can protect your skin and protect the environment.
Eat local.
Pass on imported food and drinks and spend your holiday diving into local dishes, from world-famous favorites like phở and bánh mì to lesser-known gems like bún chả (grilled pork with fresh greens and rice noodles), cơm tấm (broken rice, usually served with barbecue pork) and bánh bèo (savory steamed rice cakes).
If I had to list specific food destinations, head to Hanoi (home of phở and bún chả), HCMC/Saigon (home of bánh mì and cơm tấm) and Hoi An (home of cao lâu, a dish with pork, fresh greens and noodles that are only supposed to be made using water from a famous well in the town).
Thanks to a large Buddhist population, there are loads of vegan-friendly local options, and Vietnam’s abundance of rice-based dishes make it a great country for gluten-free diners, too.
Embrace slow travel.
If you’re traveling between destinations, for example, train travel is affordable and often safer than hitting the local highways on a bus. In town, hop on a bicycle or explore on foot instead of taking cabs and motorbikes.
Not only is slowing down one of the best ways to help the environment, it also gives you the opportunity to stumble upon unexpected finds: hidden street stalls, conversations with locals, and glimpses of everyday life you’ll find in pagodas, at roadside cafes and on sidewalks.
Dana Filek-Gibson is the author of Moon Vietnam,a guide for solo travelers produced by one of our partners, Moon Travel.
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