13287 STDP EN final version 10 2010

PEOPLE’S COMMITTEE OF QUANG BINH PROVINCE



Sustainable Tourism Development Plan
2010 to 2020
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park Region

September, 2010

Prepared by
Tourism Resource Consultants (TRC)
Prepared for
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH
As part of the Nature Conservation and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in
the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region Project


ABBREVIATIONS
ADB

Asian Development Bank

BMZ

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung

CBT

Community Based Tourism

CBfT

Community Benefit Tourism

CPC

Commune Peoples’ Committee

CTMB

Community Tourism Management Board

DARD

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

DED

Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst

DPC

District Peoples’ Committee

DPI

Department of Planning and Investment

DCST

Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism

FFI

Flora and Fauna International

FIT

Free Independent Travellers

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

GMS

Greater Mekong Subregion

GTZ

Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit

HCMC

Ho Chi Minh City

HRD

Human Resource Development

IUCN

International Union for Conservation of Nature

KfW

Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau

LAC

Limits of Acceptable Change

Lao PDR

Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic

MARD

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

MCST

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

MTCO

Meking Tourism Coordination Office

ODA

Overseas Development Assistance/Agency

PATA

Pacific Asia Travel Association

PNKB

Phong Nha Ke Bang

PNKB NP

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park

PPC

Provincial Peoples’ Committee

SEDP

Socio-Economic Development Plan

STDP

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan

TOR

Terms of Reference

TIPC

Tourism Information and Promotion Centre

TRC

Tourism Resource Consultants

UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

VFR

Visiting Friends and Relatives

VNAT

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

WHS

World Heritage Site

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS

II

TABLE OF CONTENTS

III

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES

VI

Figures

vi

Tables

vi

INTRODUCTION

7

1.

7

2.

PREAMBLE
1.1.

Introduction

7

1.2.

Mandate and orientation

8

1.3.

Planning vision and timeframe

9

1.4.

Geographical jurisdiction

10

1.5.

Structure

12

PLANNING CONTEXT

13

2.1.

Legal background

13

2.2.

Current planning situation

15

2.3.

Planning approach

17

2.4.

Planning methodology

18

CHAPTER ONE - ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF TOURISM SITUATION AND

POTENTIALS FOR THE PHONG NHA KE BANG NATIONAL PARK
REGION, QUANG BINH AND VIETNAM
19
1.

2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PNKB NATIONAL PARK REGION

19

1.1.

The Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

19

1.2.

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park

20

1.3.

The Bufferzone

22

1.4.

Institutional Framework of the Phong Nha Ke Bang Region

24

SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS

26

2.1.

Current Tourism Situation in Vietnam

26

2.2.

Tourism in Quang Binh and PNKB NP Region

32

2.3.

Sustainable Tourism Development Analysis for PNKB NP Region

41

2.4.

Strategic Directions for Sustainable Tourism Development for PNKB NP Region 45

CHAPTER TWO - SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE
PHONG NHA KE BANG NATIONAL PARK REGION 2010 – 2020

46

1.

46

2.

PLANNING VISION, OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES
1.1.

Planning vision

46

1.2.

Sustainable tourism planning objectives

47

1.3.

Sustainable tourism planning principles

47

FUTURE TOURISM GROWTH AND KEY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE PNKBNP REGION

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

49
iii


3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

2.1.

Principles for sustainable tourism growth

49

2.2.

Forecast of visitors to the PNKB NP Region

49

2.3.

Strategies for sustainable tourism growth

51

2.4.

Key strategic tourism growth indicators and targets

51

SPATIAL FUNCTIONAL AND TOURISM ZONING

54

3.1.

Introduction

54

3.2.

Description of Tourism Zones

54

3.3.

Guidelines for spatial functional zones

56

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT PROPOSAL PROCESS

65

4.1.

Tourism Development Investment: Calls for Proposals and Initial Screening

65

4.2.

Sustainable tourism development criteria for the proposal review, approval,
implementation and operations process

65

GUIDELINES AND ACTIVITIES FOR INVOLVING COMMUNITIES FOR

POVERTY REDUCTION AND LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

67

5.1.

Introduction

67

5.2.

Community Based Tourism (CBT)

67

5.3.

Community Benefit Tourism (CBfT)

69

5.4.

Legislative imperatives and support

73

5.5.

Strategic Planning Framework

74

5.6.

Development activities

75

TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

77

6.1.

Strategic approach and development guidelines

77

6.2.

Orientation of tourism products and tourism routes

78

6.3.

Strategic planning framework

83

6.4.

Development activities

86

TOURISM MARKETING AND PROMOTION

92

7.1.

Strategic approach and guidelines

92

7.2.

Strategic planning framework

93

7.3.

Development activities

94

TOURISM INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND INTERPRETATION
MANAGEMENT

96

8.1.

Introduction

96

8.2.

Strategic approach and development guidelines

96

8.3.

Strategic planning framework

97

8.4.

Development activities

98

TOURISM HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

100

9.1.

Strategic approach and guidelines

100

9.2.

Strategic planning framework

101

9.3.

Development activities

103

TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT
10.1. Introduction

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

105
105
iv

10.2. Strategic approach and guidelines

105

10.3. Current supporting infrastructure development considerations

106

10.4. Strategic planning framework

107

10.5. Development activities

108

CHAPTER THREE - IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS, SOLUTIONS,
MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

111

1.

111

2.

3.

4.

IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
1.1.

Management

111

1.2.

Policies

113

IMPLEMENTATION SOLUTIONS

115

2.1.

Raising awareness on Tourism

115

2.2.

Solutions for tourism development management

116

2.3.

Solutions for tourism development policies

117

2.4.

Promotion and marketing solutions

119

2.5.

Human Resource Development Solutions

120

2.6.

Financial solutions

120

MONITORING GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION

122

3.1.

Introduction

122

3.2.

Baselines, indicators and targets

123

3.3.

Monitoring guidelines

125

3.4.

STDP monitoring

126

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

128

4.1.

Introduction

128

4.2.

Short term (up to 2012) priority implementation activities

129

4.3.

Medium term (2013 to 2015) implementation objectives

142

4.4.

Long term (up to 2020) implementation directives

144

APPENDIX

145

Appendix 1:

Description of Visitor Markets and Segments

145

Appendix 2:

Current Tourism Related Construction and Investment Projects for
Quang Binh Province

150

Appendix 3:

Yearly Visitor Market Segment Growth Estimates

152

Appendix 4:

Yearly Visitor Number Forecast

153

Appendix 5:

Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

154

Appendix 6:

PNKB National Park Region Tourism Site Assessments

157

Appendix 7:

List of Tourism Activities by Tourism Site and Target Market

211

Appendix 8:

Tourism business operations, Concession Policies and Regulations

216

Appendix 9:

Operating Agreement for Community Based Tourism in the Bufferzone 224

Appendix 10: List of Potential Tourism Development Indicators

227

Appendix 11: List of key participants in the planning process

237

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

v

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
Figures
Figure 1: Map of administrative borders of the PNKB NP and communes in the Buffer zone ................... 20
Figure 2: Organisational structure of the PNKB NP ................................................................................... 21
Figure 3: Institutional framework for the PNKB NP Region ........................................................................ 24
Figure 3: International visitor arrivals to Vietnam ....................................................................................... 26
Figure 5: Tourism flows through Vietnam ................................................................................................... 30
Figure 6: Map of the GMS Region .............................................................................................................. 31
Figure 7: Seasonality of visitors to PNKB NP region .................................................................................. 35
Figure 8: Map of the tourism zones of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park Region........................... 63
Figure 9: Map of the tourism sites of the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park Region ............................ 64
Figure 10: Map of the detailed tourism routes and sites of the PNKB NP Region ..................................... 81
Figure 11: Map of the detailed tourism routes and sites of the PNKB National Park Region .................... 82
Figure 12: Tourism concession system .................................................................................................... 218

Tables
Table 1: Summary of jurisdictional zoning of PNKB NP Region ................................................................ 11
Table 3: Relevant national level laws ......................................................................................................... 13
Table 4: Relevant National and Regional level decisions .......................................................................... 13
Table 5: Relevant international level agreements ...................................................................................... 14
Table 6: Ethnic minorities per commune .................................................................................................... 22
Table 7: Visitor figures to Quang Binh Province and PNKB NP Region 2002 to 2009 .............................. 32
Table 9: Key economic figures for tourism in Quang Binh and PNKB NP ................................................. 34
Table 10: Tourism revenue summary of the PNKB NP Region, 2009 ....................................................... 35
Table 11: Tourism employment in the PNKB NP Region ........................................................................... 39
Table 12: Strengths and Opportunities for Sustainable Tourism Development in the PNKB NP Region .. 41
Table 13: Constraints and Threats for Sustainable Tourism Development in the PNKB NP Region ........ 42
Table 14: Critical issues and solutions for sustainable tourism development ............................................ 43

Table 15: Visitor forecast PNKB NP Region, 2009 to 2020 ....................................................................... 50
Table 16: Strategies for sustainable tourism growth .................................................................................. 51
Table 17: Quantitative strategic tourism growth indicators and targets ..................................................... 52
Table 18: Qualitative strategic tourism growth indicators and targets ........................................................ 53
Table 19: Description and management objectives for High Volume Tourism Zone ................................. 54
Table 20: Description and management objectives of Nature and Heritage Tourism Zones ..................... 55
Table 21: Description and management objectives of Strict Ecotourism Zone .......................................... 55
Table 23: Description and management objectives of Tourism Infrastructure Investment Zone ............... 56
Table 24: Tourism management objectives and requirements for the Administrative & Service Area ...... 57
Table 25: Tourism management objectives and requirements for the Ecological Restoration Area ......... 58
Table 26: Tourism management objectives and requirements for the Strictly Protected Area .................. 59
Table 27: Tourism management objectives and requirements for the Extension Area .............................. 60
Table 28: Tourism management objectives and requirements for the Bufferzone ..................................... 61
Table 29: Initial Screening Criteria for Tourism Development Investment Proposals ................................ 65
Table 31: Strategic planning framework for CBT and CBfT ....................................................................... 74
Table 32: Development activities for CBT and CBfT .................................................................................. 75
Table 37: Strategic planning framework for tourism product development ................................................ 83
Table 41: Strategic planning framework for tourism marketing and promotion .......................................... 93
Table 42: Development activities for tourism marketing and promotion .................................................... 94
Table 47: Strategic directives for tourism resource development ............................................................ 100
Table 49: Strategic planning framework for tourism human resource development ................................ 101
Table 50: Development activities for tourism human resource development ........................................... 103
Table 51: Strategic directives for tourism infrastructure development ..................................................... 105
Table 52: Development guidelines for tourism infrastructure development ............................................. 106
Table 60: Baseline items for monitoring activities .................................................................................... 123
Table 62: Guidelines on timelines for monitoring ..................................................................................... 125
Table 72: Business sector/non-governmental investment projects .......................................................... 150
Table 73: Yearly visitor market segment growth estimates ...................................................................... 152
Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

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INTRODUCTION
1.

PREAMBLE

1.1.

Introduction

1.1.1.

Project Background
The Sustainable Tourism Development Plan (STDP) 2010 – 2020 for the Phong Nha Ke
Bang National Park (PNKB NP) Region was prepared as a consultancy assignment for
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) as part of the Nature
Conservation and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Phong Nha Ke
Bang Region Project. The project is funded by the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaftliche
Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ).
The project is a joint cooperation between the Provincial Peoples’ Committee (PPC) of
Quang Binh from the Vietnamese side and GTZ, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and
Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED) from the German side. The PPC is the executing
agency and the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) of the PPC acts as project
owner and implementing body. GTZ and KfW support the project by means of financial and
technical cooperation. A cooperation agreement between the PPC and GTZ was signed on
19th October 2007 and on the 23rd of January 2008 the agreement between the PPC and
KfW was signed.
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the conservation of the Northern

Annamite Region1 and its biodiversity and ecological services in close relation with a
sustainable socio-economic development in the Corezone (including Administration and
Service Area, Ecological Restoration Area, Strictly Protected Area and Extension Area) and
Bufferzone of the National Park. The project seeks to reduce the pressure on the natural
resources of the National Park as well as support the reorganising of legal income and
alternative livelihood activities of the local population. The Project duration is eight years,
six years for the implementation phase and the last two years for the aftercare phase.
The main interventions of the project that relate to tourism development are:
1. The management of the national park (KfW has the lead during planning
and implementation)
2. The development of the Bufferzone (GTZ has the lead during the
planning and KfW supports the implementation)
3. Tourism development in the PNKB Region (GTZ has the lead during the
planning and KfW supports the implementation)
The project will also support to prepare a Master Plan for PNKB NP Region. This will be a
comprehensive planning document that guides the development aspects of the region. The
Master Plan will integrate the intervention strategies and implementation programme of the
STDP.

1

The Annamite Region is a mountain range of eastern Indochina, which extends approximately 1100 km (700 miles) through Laos,
Vietnam, and a small area in northeast Cambodia. It is known in Vietnamese as Dãy Trường Sơn, in Lao as Phou Luang, and in
French as the Chne Annamitique. The mountain range is also referred to variously as Annamese Range, Annamese
Mountains, Annamese Cordillera, Annamite Mountains and Annamite Cordillera.

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

7

1.1.2.

The need for tourism planning in the PNKB NP Region
The PNKB NP Region is a developing tourism destination in the central part of Vietnam.
The Region is located in a unique natural environment, which is recognised on the
UNESCO World Heritage List for its geological and scenic values. The PNKB NP received
311,630 visitors in 20092.
Tourism development in the PNKB NP Region, especially in the Bufferzone, is at an early
stage. The region does not have a long history of tourism and consequently there are
considerable opportunities for tourism development. Current tourism development within
the PNKB NP Region is focused on the Phong Nha Township, the Phong Nha Cave
(including Tien Son Cave) and the Eight Heroic Volunteers Cave. These sites receive a
high volume of visitors, especially during the summer season. Visitors rarely or only
occasionally visit other areas of the PNKB NP Region. Accommodation and tourism
facilities are only available in the Phong Nha Township or in nearby Dong Hoi. The largest
tourism operator in the PNKB NP Region is the PNKB NP which operates the Phong Nha
Cave tours. However access to other areas of the National Park and the Bufferzone are
limited due to capacity, lack of infrastructure and permit process.
Tourism has been growing fast in Vietnam since 1990 which, combined with the region’s
World Heritage Site (WHS) status, has led to the PNKB NP Region experiencing significant
visitor growth over the past years. Increasingly, tourism developers are approaching the
PPC of Quang Binh and the PNKB NP to develop tourism infrastructure in the region. At
present there are only a few planning documents3 that refer to the PNKB NP Region.
There is no planning document that specifically addresses the region and guides and
advises the provincial or local authorities, the National Park or potential tourism
development investors.
The PNKB NP Region is at a very crucial stage and any future tourism development in the
region needs to be carefully planned so it does not compromise the region’s sensitive and
unique environment, cultural heritage and PNKB NP’s WHS status. There is a need for

tourism planning for the PNKB NP Region to ensure the conservation of the natural
heritage and to encourage tourism development that benefits the region and its inhabitants.
The STDP is very timely and seeks to provide a comprehensive tourism development
planning framework that will help guide national, provincial and district government and
potential tourism developers and investors in the future.

1.2.

Mandate and orientation
The STDP has been prepared as a planning document to guide the management of
sustainable tourism development for the PNKB NP region. The STDP intends to be a
unifying, clearly laid out and readily implementable plan that will lead to the long-term
sustainability of conservation and development in the PNKB NP Region.
The authority and ownership of the STDP is under the PPC of the Quang Binh Province, in
particular the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It is expected that the document
will be accepted as a statutory document by the PPC and integrated to future tourism
planning of the Quang Binh Province.
An additional intention of the STDP is to complement the PNKB NP Region Development
Plan (PRDP), which will guide and manage all development aspects of the PNKB NP
region. The Master Plan is set to include the management components of the PNKB NP
and the Bufferzone. The Master Plan will be prepared in 2010.

2
3

Data based on visitor statistics from the Tourism Administration, Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Quang Binh province
Master Plan for Tourism Development in Quang Binh Province for the Period 1996 to 2010 (Department of Trade and Tourism of
Quang Binh, 1996); Master Tourism Plan for North Central Tourism Zone Up to 2010 and Forward to 2020 (VNAT, 2001);
Comprehensive Study on Tourism Development in the Central Region of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (JICA/VNAT, 2002).

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

8


Furthermore, the STDP is set to support the fulfilment of the UNESCO WHS requirements,
to have instruments in place for the management of the WHS. The STDP will address the
tourism management and planning of the PNKB NP WHS. A separate operational
management plan for the PNKB NP which will include relevant parts of the STDP will be
developed separately and finally integrated into the Master Plan.
The orientation of the STDP is set by a planning vision focusing on the overall desired
development of the PNKB NP region and reflecting the interests of all involved and affected
stakeholders. The planning objectives and principles provide specific approaches and
guidelines for the management of sustainable tourism development and the implementation
of the STDP.
The implementation plan of the STDP was developed through consultation, review and
subsequent approval by relevant government departments, development agencies and
partners and other relevant stakeholders. The principle execution of the STDP lies with the
following agencies:
 PPC of Quang Binh as leading authority and lead agency for the implementation
with assistance of the following departments:


Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DCST)



Department of Planning and Investment (DPI)



Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD)



Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE)

 PNKB NP as an implementing agency and assistant to the PPC
 District Peoples’ Committees (DPC) of Bo Trach, Minh Hoa and Quang Ninh as
implementing agencies and assistants to the PPC
 GTZ, KfW, ADB and FFI, as a donor, implementing partner and technical assistant
to the PPC

1.3.

Planning vision and timeframe

1.3.1.

Basis for the principles of sustainable tourism development
The Vietnam Law on Tourism defines sustainable tourism as:

“Sustainable tourism is development of tourism that meets the needs of the present
without harming the ability of the future to meet its own tourism needs.”

The principles of sustainable tourism development include:
 Conservation and enhancement of resources.
Tourism development must
contribute to protection of the environment, conservation and enhancement of
natural and cultural resources to ensure the long-term existence and health of

these resources.
 Development of quality tourism products and services that reflect the special
characteristics of the destination as well as the market demands and expectations
of tourists and tourism businesses with interest in supporting sustainable
development.

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

9


 Supports forms of local socio-economic development that contribute to an equitable
distribution of benefits and livelihoods.

1.3.2.

STDP planning vision
The planning vision guiding the STDP to 2025 is:

“The PNKB NP region is maintained in a manner that achieves the Conservation
of Heritage Values with Improved and More Sustainable Livelihoods in Local
Communities with the Support of Sustainable Tourism Development.”

1.3.3.

Timeframe
The STDP has become effective with the approval of the PPC of Quang Binh at the end of
2009. It has a 10-year operational period from 2010 to 2020 that is guided in part by a
planning vision to 2025. The operational implementation period of the planning document
is structured in three planning approaches:

1.4.

Geographical jurisdiction
The STDP will cover the complete PNKB NP Region. The PNKB NP Region is understood
to comprise an area that includes the entire area of the PNKB NP (Corezone) and the 13
communes in four districts that border the National Park boundaries, generally referred to
as the Bufferzone4.

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
The core zone of PNKB NP has an area of 85,754 hectares (ha) which is divided into three
functional areas: a) Strictly Protected Area: 64,894 ha, b) Ecological Restoration Area:
17,449 ha and c) Administrative and Service Area: 3,411 ha5. The complete core zone of
PNKB NP is recognised as a WHS by UNESCO.
In addition to the above, by issuing Decision No. 1678/QD-UBND dated 14 July 2008, the
PPC of Quang Binh approved the extension of PNKB NP area. The Extension Area
includes 31,070 ha of land in the Thuong Hoa and Hoa Son communes (Minh Hoa District)
and is categorised as a special use forest. Table 1 provides a summary of the relevant
jurisdictional zoning of the PNKB NP Region.

4
5

See details in Table 1 and 2
Decision No. 189/2001/QĐ-TTg dated on 12/12/2001

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

10

Table 1: Summary of jurisdictional zoning of PNKB NP Region

6

Land area of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park Region
PNKB NP Core zone (ha)

Strictly Protected Area

64,894

Ecological Restoration Area

17,449

Administrative and Service Area

3,411

Extension Area

31,070

Special Use Forest Area

8,364.5

Land without Forest Area

173.6

Other

367.5
Total

125,729.6

Total land area of PNKB NP Region

Buffer zone (ha)

217,908.44

343,638.04 ha

Bufferzone
The Bufferzone has a total area of 217,908,44 ha and includes 13 adjacent communes with
over 64,243 people. The people belong to different ethnic groups such as Kinh, Bru - Van
Kieu (including Van Kieu, Khua, Macoong and Tri) and Chut (including Sach, May, Ruc, A
Rem and Ma Lieng). Table 2 provides an overview of the relevant Bufferzone communities
in 2009.
Table 2: Population of the Bufferzone in 2009

District
Bo Trach

Commune

Village

7

No. of households
Buffer zone

Core zone

18

2.602

11.071

Phuc Trach

12

2.369

10.713

Son Trach

10

2.454

10.571

Tan Trach

2

0

18

469

2.464

9

655

2.713

Xuan Trach

10

1.249

5.701

Trung Hoa

10

1.037

5.122

Dan Hoa

12

669

3.342

Trong Hoa

16

641

3.463

5

318

1.547

Thuong Hoa

10

654

3.065

Quang Ninh Truong Son

22

919

4.027

Phu Đinh

Minh Hoa

Hoa Son

14.036
Total

7

Buffer zone

Hung Trach

Thuong Trach

6

Population

154

78

78

14.114

Core zone

0

63.799

444

444

64.243

Decion No. 189/2001/QĐ-TTg dated on 12/12/2001, Decision No. 1678/QĐ-UBND dated on 14/7/2008, Decision No. 857/QĐUBND dated on 26/4/2007 and statistical data 2009 from District Statistical Department of Bo Trach, Minh Hoa and Quang Ninh
Source from statistical data 2009 from District Statistical Department of Bo Trach, Minh Hoa and Quang Ninh

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

11

1.5.

Structure
The STDP is structured in an opening chapter and three main chapters.
 The opening chapter is an introduction and background to the planning document
to understand the necessity of the planning and the context of how the plan was set
up.
 Chapter One – Analysis and Assessment of Tourism Situation and Potentials
of the PNKB NP Region, Quang Binh and Vietnam is a detailed current analysis
of relevant areas for tourism development. This information forms the background
of the STDP.
 Chapter Two – Sustainable Tourism Development Plan for the Phong Nha Ke
Bang National Park Region 2010 - 2020 is the main planning component of the
document. It includes the planning vision, goals and objectives, the policy and
regulatory framework of the STDP along with detailed strategies, guidelines and
development activities for the following core areas: tourism development and
investment proposal process, tourism business operations, concession policies and
regulations, community based tourism, tourism product development, marketing
and promotion, Information and interpretation, human resource development, and
tourism infrastructure and investment.
 Chapter Three – Implementation Requirements, Monitoring and
Implementation Plan outlines the requirements for implementing and monitoring
the STDP and includes an implementation plan,
An Appendix provides relevant and associated documents that support the interpretation
and implementation of the STDP.

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

12


2.

PLANNING CONTEXT

2.1.

Legal background
The STDP is prepared with guidance from relevant national and regional level laws and
decisions. The following sections include a list of the relevant legal documents that were
considered in the preparation of the STDP.

2.1.1.

Relevant national level laws

Table 3: Relevant national level laws
Relevant National Level Laws
 Law on Organising People’s Council and People’s committee, dated November 26th, 2003;
 Law on Forest Protection and Development, dated December 3rd, 2004;
 Law on Environmental Protection, dated November 29th, 2005;
 Law on Biodiversity, dated November 13th , 2008;
 Law on Tourism, dated June 14th, 2005;
 Law on Cultural Heritage, dated June 29th , 2001;
 Law on Land, dated November 26th, 2003;
 Law on Investment, dated November 29th, 2005

2.1.2.

Relevant national and regional level government decisions

Table 4: Relevant National and Regional level decisions
Relevant National and Regional Level Decisions
 Decree No. 23/2006/NĐ-CP on implementation of the Law on Forest Protection and Development dated on
March 3rd, 2006;
 Decree No. 80/2006/NĐ-CP on detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of Articles of the law on
environmental protection dated on August 9th, 2006;
 Decree No. 92/2007/NĐ-CP of Government dated on June 1st, 2007; on detailing the implementation of some
articles in the Law on Tourism;
 Decree No. 92/2002/NĐ-CP of Government dated on November 11th, 2002 on detailing the implementation of
some articles in the Law on Cultural heritage;
 Decree No. 59/2007/NĐ-CP on managing solid waste dated on April 4th, 2007;
 Decree No 181/2004/ND-CP dated October 29th, 2004 on implementation of the Land Law;
 Decree No. 108/2006/NĐ-CP of Government dated on September 22nd, 2006 on detailing the implementation
of some articles in the Law on Investment;
 Decision No. 186/2006/QĐ-TTg on promulgating the Regulations on Forest management dated on August 8th,
Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

13


2006;
 Decision No. 189/2001/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister on upgrading Phuong Nha – Ke Bang Nature Reserve to
National Park dated on December 12th, 2001;
 Decision No. 02/2003/QĐ-BTNMT of Ministry of natural resources and environment promulgation the
regulation on Environmental protection on the field of tourism dated on July 29th, 2003;
 Decision No. 22/2006/QĐ-BTNMT dated on December 18th, 2006 of the Ministry of Natural resources and
environment on applying Vietnamese standards on environment;

 Decision No. 104/2007/QĐ-BNN promulgating regulations on Management of Ecotourism activities in National
Parks and Nature Reserves dated pm December 27th, 2007;
 Decision 18/2007/QĐ-UBND of QB PPC on issuing regulations on Management of PNKB NP dated on August
16th, 2007;
 Decree No 34/2000/ND-CP dated on August 8th, 2000 by the Government on Regulations for Border Areas of
Socialist, Republic of Vietnam (SRV);
 Decree No. 21/2008/ND-CP dated August 9th, 2008 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the
Government’s Decree No. 80/2006/ND-CP, detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of
the Law on environment protection
 Circular No. 179/2001/TT-BQP dated on January 1st, 2001 by the Ministry of National Defense on
implementation guidelines of Decree No 34/2000/ND-CP dated on 18/8/2000 by the Government on
Regulations for Border Areas of Socialist, Republic of Vietnam (SRV);
 Coordination Regulations on management of national territories and border lines in the province of Quang Binh
(issued with attached Decision No 59/2006/QD-UBND dated on December 25th, 2006 by Quang Binh PPC)

2.1.3.

Relevant international level agreements

Table 5: Relevant international level agreements
Relevant International Level Agreements
 Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, UNESCO World Heritage
Centre, 2005;
 International Convention on Cultural and Natural Heritage Protection dated November 16th 1972

2.1.4.

World Heritage Status requirements8
The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage,
signed in Paris on November 16th, 1972, is an international agreement through which

nations join together to conserve a collection of the world’s timeless treasures. The
Convention protects hundreds of sites of “outstanding universal value” - including cultural,
natural and mixed sites. To be included on the WHS list, a property must meet one or more
of the specific cultural or natural criteria, and its value(s) must withstand the test of
authenticity and/or integrity. The Convention sets four criteria for natural sites and six for
cultural sites as a means of determining values by which a property may be designated a
WHS.
The World Heritage Convention Article 5 notes that each State Party has to ensure the
protection, conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage situated on its

8

Adapted from Pederson 2002, Managing Tourism at World Heritage Sites: A Practical Manual for World Heritage Site Managers,
UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

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territory by taking appropriate legal actions. The Convention urges governments to “adopt a
general policy which aims to give the cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of
the community and to integrate the protection of that heritage into comprehensive planning
programmes”. Recommendations include taking into account local and national plans,
forecasts of population growth or decline, economic factors and traffic projections, as well
as taking preventive measures against disasters.
Periodic reports need to be submitted by the State Parties every six years on the state of
conservation of World Heritage sites. The World Heritage Centre can assist State Parties in
preparing the reports. State Parties are also asked to submit reports and impact studies
when large-scale work which may have an effect on the state of conservation is undertaken

at the sites. Proactive strategies are being developed for each of the regions for monitoring
heritage. The World Heritage Committee has opted for a regional approach to periodic
reporting as a means of promoting regional collaboration and strategies. Each regional
strategy is to result in a Regional State of the World Heritage Report.
The periodic report should consist of two sections. Section One should cover the State
Party’s overall application of the World Heritage Convention, including its efforts to identify
properties of cultural and/or natural value; the protection, conservation and presentation of
the cultural and natural heritage; international cooperation and fund-raising; and education,
information and awareness building. Section Two reports on the state of conservation of
the sites. The main objective is to demonstrate whether the World Heritage values for
which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List have been maintained over time.
All State Parties are requested to provide updated information on site management, factors
affecting the property and monitoring arrangements.
World Heritage sites are placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger when the World
Heritage Committee decides that a site is threatened by existing or potential threats, such
as degradation from uncontrolled urbanisation or unsustainable exploitation of natural
resources. The Committee can be alerted to possible dangers to a World Heritage site, and
then decide in consultation with the State Party whether to place it on the List of World
Heritage in Danger.

2.2.

Current planning situation

2.2.1.

Overview
Quang Binh Province’s emergence as a tourism destination is largely attributed to PNKB
NP and the UNESCO WHS listing in July 2003. Since 2003, tourism activity has visibly
increased and there is mounting pressure to develop more tourism infrastructure and

facilities. The absence of a plan or strategy to support sustainable development of tourism
is an ongoing concern of the PPC, PNKB NP and the international development agencies.
The relative lack of experience in tourism development and planning is evident in many
areas with differing understandings and appreciation amongst tourism stakeholders,
including a limited of understanding of the requirements and necessity of sustainable
tourism development, and a lack of supporting policies, lack of experience and supporting
structure for discussions with stakeholders and collaborative planning. There are also
institutional challenges that include jurisdictional boundaries that are not clear and
consistent with overlaps and gaps apparent. In the face of this, tourism development
pressures continue to build and the sector is expanding without a strategic orientation and
with mixed results. There is still time, and a wide stakeholder support’ for more sustainable
forms of tourism development to be achieved in the province.
Planning for tourism development and national park management for the most part follows
the conventional structure and systems of the government of Vietnam. While this structure
is effective to a point, the development and implementation of an effective STDP requires

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broader stakeholder collaboration
mechanisms.

and

integrative

management

approaches

and

At the provincial and regional level, tourism is considered primarily as an economic
spearhead; a tool for generating investment, revenue, and employment. Industrial
development in the traditional sense of factories and manufacturing has been at the heart
of Quang Binh’s development vision and activities and remains a provincial priority. As a
result tourism is still frequently viewed as another industrial option for economic
development. In fact the tourism industry is mostly made up of a service sector. While
some segments of government also recognise tourism’s potential contributions to resource
conservation (natural, cultural, heritage) and broader socio-economic potentials such as
targeting poverty reduction, these contributions are often missing in relevant policies and
plans. A broader understanding and appreciation of the full range of development benefits
potentially available through tourism would greatly enhance the development of more
sustainable tourism development policies, plans and programmes that also capable of
increasing the social economic contributions of this sector.

2.2.2.

Relevant provincial level development planning
The Provincial Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) is the main planning document
for the province and provides both targets and directives that all sector development plans
must support. The SEDP in turn needs to align with the National SEDP that sets out targets
and directives for both economic sectors and geographic regions. SEDPs at both the
national and provincial level are reviewed and revised every 4 years. The National SEDP
was last revised in 2007 and the SEDP for Quang Binh was revised based on this and is in
the final review stages.

2.2.3.

Tourism development planning
As with all other sector development planning, tourism development planning must follow
the directives of the SEDP as well as directives of the National Tourism Development Plan
and Strategy. Sectoral planning at the provincial level takes place through line departments
representing major sectors or areas requiring specific attention of the government with
relevant ministries being charged to develop sectoral management plans and strategies.
At present, three tourism-planning documents refer to the Quang Binh Province and PNKB
NP Region:
 Master Plan for Tourism Development in Quang Binh Province for Period 19962010 (Department of Trade and Tourism of Quang Binh, 1996)
 Master Tourism Plan for North Central Tourism Zone Up to 2010 and Forward to
2020 (VNAT, 2001)
 Comprehensive Study on Tourism Development in the Central Region of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam (JICA/VNAT, 2002)
Decision No. 38/2006/QD-UBND dated September 1st, 2006 of the PPC of Quang Binh
Province describes the Tourism Development Programmes of the Qunag Binh Province for
the period 2006 to 2010. Decision No.1707/QD-UBND dated July 16th, 2008 of the PPC of
Quang Binh approves the preparation of a Provincial Tourism Development Master Plan up
to 2020 and vision up to 2025 and includes an outline of the document. Until now however,
no Provincial Tourism Development Master Plan has been prepared.

2.2.4.

Planning for the PNKB NP
The PNKB NP is under the authority of the PPC of Quang Binh and has a management
board that reports directly to the PPC. The PNKB NP Management Board is responsible for

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16

the operational management of the National Park with management documents approved
by the PPC.
At present there is no current management plan for the PNKB NP. The most recent park
management plan is dated 2001, which was before the UNESCO WHS listing. This
planning document refers to tourism, but not in much detail and is widely considered to be
outdated and no longer relevant.

2.2.5.

Tourism investment planning, assessment and approval process
Currently some tourism developments projects are briefly outlined and approved in the
Tourism Master Plan. For other tourism development a call for investment is usually made
and investors are invited to register and submit proposals. General tourism investment
requests from interested investors are submitted to the PPC and screened before being
passed on to the DCST and the DPI for review and comment. If found appropriate,
investors are provided with feedback for developing a more detailed development proposal.
Other relevant agencies are also asked to comment at this time. Once the detailed
development plan is submitted by the investor an appraisal meeting is held with relevant
departments for review. Once met with approval, the DCST and the DPI endorses the
proposal and submits to the PPC for final review and approval.

2.3.

Planning approach
Planning and developing the STDP involved a comprehensive, integrated, stakeholderdriven and adaptive planning approach that would meet the standards of international best
practices. International bodies including UNESCO and the IUCN were consulted to ensure
that the STDP would meet these standards.
The STDP development approach was led by a sustainable development orientation that

sought the comprehensive integration of the park environment and the adjacent
communities and their socio-economic-environmental dynamics as an integrated system
wherein tourism is an active agent of change and integral component of this system. The
STDP development process involved the active participation of stakeholders including local
communities through workshops, surveys and consultations. This input was not only
necessary for ensuring that the STDP will be a relevant and representative document, but
also recognising that the implementation of the STDP will rely on strong stakeholder
support and engagement. The STDP was designed to be adaptive in the sense that
options were presented not as permanent but with the flexibility to be moulded to suit the
expressed preferences and needs of the park and communities.
The participatory approach for the STDP was defined as follows:
Relevant stakeholders on all levels were heard and consulted via meetings and
workshops as far as possible. The consultancy team endeavoured to invite not
only members of the PPC, but also relevant stakeholders and community
members to seminars, meetings and workshops. Visions, processes, activities
and plans thus shaped and formed are put forward to the PPC for approval and
ultimate decisions.
The participatory approach focused on strengthening and building local competence in the
planning, development and management of sustainable tourism and associated elements.
A Project Task Force was formed and consultants actively engaged with the members of
the task force and other relevant local counterparts and provided informal mentoring and
capability building activities as far as possible. Task Force members were invited to join
field trips and consultation meetings working alongside consultants. In addition, regular
planning meetings were held with the task force.

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Through this planning process the STDP was designed to provide tangible outputs that
address priority issues and opportunities into a comprehensive implementation strategy
that will utilise a collaborative approach to involve other development partners where
strategically appropriate.

2.4.

Planning methodology
The STDP was prepared between February 2009 and October 2009. The methodology to
prepare the STDP included four core planning phases:
Phase 1 – Background Research and Consultation
 Review of existing tourism situation and relevant data and reports
 Formation of a Task Force for the plan preparation
 International Tourism Seminar
 Field visit and start of consultation process

Phase 2 - Analysis, Development and Consultation
 In-depth analysis of the issues and opportunities for tourism development
 Review and analysis in the context of the planning components:



Tourism policy, resource and visitor management



Tourism information and interpretation



Tourism training, capacity building and human resource development



Tourism product development



Tourism marketing and promotion

 Field visit and start of consultation process

Phase 3 - Preparation and Refining
 Review of analysis and consultations
 Preparation of the planning document
 Circulation of the planning document

Phase 4 - Finalising and Communication
 Review of the planning document
 Finalisation of the planning document
 Presentation of the planning document

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CHAPTER ONE
ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF TOURISM SITUATION AND
POTENTIALS FOR THE PHONG NHA KE BANG NATIONAL

PARK REGION, QUANG BINH AND VIETNAM
1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PNKB NATIONAL PARK
REGION

1.1.

The Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region
The PNKB NP Region is located in the western part of the Quang Binh Province
approximately 500km south of Hanoi in the narrowest portion of Vietnam between Laos
and the Tonkin Gulf. It is made up of the PNKB NP area and a Bufferzone that includes 13
communes in the close vicinity of the National Park. The total size of the PNKB NP Region
is 343,638 ha.
The main geological feature of the region is the karst landscape including spectacular
limestone rock formations and blue rivers. Another very special part of the landscape
formation is the extensive underground cave system found in the region including one of
the world’s largest cave systems and the world’s largest cave.
The Annamite mountain range runs through the region, which is one of the world's 200
most important ecological regions, based on outstanding biodiversity and the richness of
endemic species. The PNKB NP Region’s karst landscape also forms a critical part of the
Central Indochinese Limestone Ecoregion stretching from Quang Binh Province in Vietnam
to Khammoune Province in Laos. The PNKB NP Region together with Hin Namno in Laos
constitutes the largest protected area of karst habitat in mainland Southeast Asia. Figure 1
depicts the administrative borders of the PNKB NP and communes in the Buffer zone.

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19

Figure 1: Map of administrative borders of the PNKB NP and communes in the Buffer zone

1.2.

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park

Brief description
The area of today’s PNKB NP has been a place of note since the 1920s when the Phong
Nha cave was first discovered and visitors started to travel to the area. In 1937, the
Bureau of Tourism of French Resident Superior in Hue issued a brochure to introduce
tourists to Quang Binh Province and the Phong Nha Cave. During periods of war, the
forests and caves around the PNKB NP area in general and the Phong Nha cave in
particular were used as military quarters and weapon storages by the Vietnamese Army.
PNKB NP and the area surrounding the National Park were also an important transport
corridor for goods and for supporting military operations. The Ho Chi Minh Trail travels
along the current National Park borders. National Road 20, which was an important
access route to Lao PDR during the war, crosses the National Park property.
After the periods of war, local authorities organised and carried out surveys to protect the
region around PNKB. In 1986, a strictly protected forest area in PNKB was established
with an area of 5,000 ha. More people began visiting the area and in 1990 the first
guesthouse was built at Xuan Son Ferry offering the first boat tours to Phong Nha Cave. In
1993, the PNKB Nature Reserve9 was established with an area of 41,132 ha and in 2001
the Vietnamese Government issued a Decision to upgrade the PNKB Nature Reserve to
the PNKB NP. In 2003 the PNKB NP was officially listed as a UNESCO WHS. An
extension10 to the National Park land was granted in 2008 which included 31,070 ha of land
in the area of Thuong Hoa and Hoa Son communes (Minh Hoa District)
At present the PNKB NP comprises a total area of 125,729.6 ha referred to as the core
zone area. The National Park land includes a strictly protected area (64,894 ha),
ecological restoration zone (17,449 ha), administrative and service area (3,411 ha), an

9
10

Decision 964 QD/UB by the People’s Committee of Quang Binh Province dated 3 December 1993
Decision No. 1678/QD-UBND by the People’s Committee of Quang Binh Province dated July 14th, 2008.

Sustainable Tourism Development Plan - Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region

20


extension area (31,070 ha), special use forest area (8,364.5), land without forest (173.6 ha)
and other land area (367.5 ha).11
There are currently two ethnic minority groups with 78 households and 44412 peoples living
in the core zone of the PNKB NP. The Arem people have settled in village No. 39 of Tan
Trach commune which is located along the National Road 20 near the Western border of
the National Park. The Van Kieu people have settled in Doong village in Tan Trach
commune located at the Southern border of the National Park. The Doong village is in the
process of being resettled.
Organisation and management13
The PNKB NP has a management board with one director and two vice-directors and is
organised in three units (Scientific Research and Rescue Centre, Cultural and Eco-tourism
Centre, National Park Forest Protection Unit) and two functional office (Administration –
Organization and Planning - Finance). Most relevant to tourism development in the PNKB
NP is the Cultural and Eco-tourism Centre. Its tasks are regulated under Decision 313/QĐVQG dated 19/05/2004 issued by the PNKB NP Director on the regulations of functions
and tasks of the Cultural and Eco-Tourism Centre. Figure 2 depicts the organisational
structure of the PNKB NP.
The PNKB NP employs a total of 318 state officials and civil servants. The PNKB NP
Office has 20 official staff, the National Park Forest Protection Unit has 124 permanent
staff for protection and management of natural resources of the PNKB NP, the Cultural and

Eco-tourism Centre has 147 permanent staff for sustainable management and
development of cultural and ecological values and to promote the heritage values of PNKB
NP and the Scientific Research and Rescue Centre has 27 permanent staff for research,
conservation of scientific values and rescing wildlife.
Figure 2: Organisational structure of the PNKB NP

Vice Director
NP MB
(In charge of Forest
Protection Unit and
Scientific Research
and Rescue Centre)

NP Forest
Protection
Unit
11

12
13
14

(01 Head and
03 Deputies)

Scientific
Research and
Rescue
Centre

14

Director
NP Management
Board
(General
management and in
charge of Planning
and Finance
Division)

Planning
and
Finance
Division

Vice Director
NP MB
(In charge of
Administration and
Organization Division
and Tourism Centre)

Administra
tion and
Organization
Division

Culture and
Eco-tourism

Centre

(01 Head and
02 Deputies)
(01 Head and
(01 Head and
(01 Head and
Decion No. 189/2001/QĐ-TTg dated on 12/12/2001, Decision No. 1678/QĐ-UBND dated on 14/7/2008, Decision No. 857/QĐ02
Deputies)
01
Deputy)
01
Deputy)
UBND dated on 26/4/2007 and statistical data 2009 from District Statistical Department of Bo Trach, Minh Hoa and Quang Ninh
Source from statistical data 2009 from District Statistical Department of Bo Trach
Source from the Management Board of the PNKB National Park
Source from the Management Board of the PNKB National Park

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1.3.

The Bufferzone15

Brief description
The Bufferzone is the area directly adjacent to the PNKB NP and, together with the
National Park, forms the PNKB NP Region. The Bufferzone has a total area of 217,908.44

ha.
At present, the Bufferzone includes 154 villages and hamlets in 13 communes in three
districts with 64,243 people or 14,114 households. The ethnic minority people living in the
Bufferzone and core zone of the National Park belong mainly to the ethnicities of Bru - Van
Kieu (Van Kieu, Khua, Ma Coong and Tri sub-groups) as well as Chut (Ma Lieng, May,
Sach, Ruc, and Arem sub-groups). About 22.31 percent of the population of the Bufferzone
belongs to ethnic minorities. Table 6 shows the number of ethnic minorities per commune
in 2009.
Table 6: Ethnic minorities per commune

District
Bo Trach

15

No of
people

No of
ethnic
households

No of
ethnic
people

Percentage
(%) ethnic
people

Commune

No of
households

Hung Trach

2.602

11.071

0

0

0

Phuc Trach

2.369

10.713

0

0

0

Son Trach

2.454

10.571

32

146

1,38

Tan Trach

78

444

74

437

98,42

Information adapted from the Vietnamese-German Cooperation PNKB Region Project Document, Decision No. 857/QĐ-UBND
dated on 26/4/2007 and statistical data 2009 from District Statistical Department of Bo Trach, Minh Hoa and Quang Ninh and the
Socio Economic Baseline Study commissioned by the Vietnamese-German Technical Cooperation Project “Nature Conservation
and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Region, Quang Binh Province,
Vietnam” - November 2008

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Minh Hoa

Quang Ninh

100,00

Thuong
Trach

469

2.464

469

2.464

Phu Đinh

655

2.713

0

0

0

Xuan Trach

1.249

5.701

0

0

0

Trung Hoa

1.037

5.122

15

94

1,84

Dan Hoa

669

3.342

651

3.323

99,43

Trong Hoa

641

3.463

641

3.463

100,00

Hoa Son

318

1.547

247

1.107

71,56

Thuong Hoa

654

3.065

172

757

24,70

Truong Son

919

4.027

528

2.542

63,12

14.114

64.243

2.829

14.333

22,31

Total

Land use
The dominant resource and land use throughout the Bufferzone is forest land and forestry.
Forest land covers about 95.54% (328,334 ha) of the total PNKB NP Region. Under
Decision 857/QĐ - UBND of 20 April 2007 of the PPC of Quang Binh Province this forest
land has been allocated to communes, state forest enterprises, management boards of
protection forests and the PNKB NP.
At present, 36.48% (125,362 ha) of this forest land belongs to the PNKB NP. The forest
land in the Bufer zone makes up 59.06 % (202,972 ha) of the PNKB NP region area, in
which 31.65 % (108,791 ha) are under the management of state forest enterprises and the
Protection Forest Management Boards, and 27.40 % (94.181 ha) are managed by the
communes of the Bufferzone.
The total area of agricultural land in the PNKB NP Region is about 7,074 ha, resulting in a
significant disadvantage for the local livelihood systems in the Bufferzone. The average
agricultural land per household is 0.50 ha, ranging from 0.24 ha in Tan Trach commune to
2.15 ha in Hoa Son commune. Only a fourth (1,255 ha) is irrigated land, explaining the
generally low production. Unused land (barren forest land and fallow agricultural land) and
other land amount to an estimated 8,230 ha. Except for a few small minority communities
practicing shifting cultivation inside the PNKB NP as well as adjacent to its boundaries
especially in Thuong Trach, Truong Son and Minh Hoa communes, agricultural land is
allocated to households through landuse certificates. The main crops cultivated in the
Bufferzone communes are paddy, maize, ground nut, pepper and cassava.

Local livelihood systems
Ethnic minorities in the region used to generate their income mainly from shifting cultivation
and forest resources extraction in the hilly areas. However, due to sedentarisation
programmes this livelihood strategy has become less important than previously and
nowadays only involves about 2,000 households in the PNKB Region. These households
typically rely on the forest resources as their primary year-round food source and economic
earnings. Wild honey, rattan and Corypha saribus are the three most crucial activities that
generate cash income. Ethnic minority groups often receive rice subsidies from annual
forest protection contracts under Programme 661. In contrast, the Kinh settlers in the
lowlands of the region have developed an agricultural base of intensive irrigated rice
production combined with livestock, home garden and a small upland component in
different variations depending on the availability of irrigable lowland, access to capital and
know-how.
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23


Both livelihood systems are under heavy pressure due to high population growth, medium
to poor soil fertility as well as very limited availability of agricultural and forest land in
general, aggravated through Park establishment and extension. As result there is a
significantly high poverty rate in some communes of the Bufferzone, for example in Thuong
Trach (96.88%), Dan Hoa (94.93%), Trong Hoa (94.25%), and Tan Trach (91.67%).

1.4.

Institutional Framework of the Phong Nha Ke Bang Region
The PPC of Quang Binh has the highest level of authority and responsibility for managing
and monitoring activities at the PNKB NP Region. PNKB NP management board is a unit
directly under the PPC of Quang Binh. The most relevant Departments in the PPC include

the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Planning and
Investment, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The institutional framework for management and monitoring of the PNKB NP Region is
described as follows:
 The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has responsibilities for monitoring
activities relevant to cultural conservation and development as well as tourism in
both the Corezone and Bufferzone.
 The Department of Planning and Investment has the responsibility for directing the
investment and implementation of infrastructure plans and activities delivered at the
District and Commune levels.
 The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Provincial Forest
Protection Department have the responsibility for monitoring activities of forest
resource management in both the Corezone and Bufferzone.
 The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has the responsibility for
monitoring activities of land, rock, karst, mine and water resource management in
the Park.
 The Department of Science and Technology has responsibility for monitoring
activities relevant to science and technology in the Park.
 District Forest Protection Departments have responsibilities for monitoring activities
of forest management in the Bufferzone.
 District Peoples’ Committees (DPC) and Commune Peoples’ Committees (CPC)
have responsibilities for cooperating and mobilising the local people to participate
in forest protection in both of the Corezone and Bufferzone.
 Communities in the Core Zone and Buffer Zone are able to participate in monitoring
activities of natural resource management in their areas.
Figure 3 illustrates the institutional framework for the PNKB NP Region.

Figure 3: Institutional framework for the PNKB NP Region

16

16

Adapted from KFW Project Institutional PNKB NP Review (2008)

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25