(VOVworld)- Combining tourism and environmental protection has become popular among the younger generation. This type of tourism gives them a chance to explore new places and new values of life. Many travel companies have introduced tours combining tourism with tree planting and waste collecting.

It has become trendy to combine tours with environmental protection and help local people protect the natural environment. The Viettravel Company organized many green tours this summer. After exploring new places and relaxing, tourists participate in installing dustbins, cleaning up the environment and encouraging local people to protect the environment. The Golden Tour Company has been organizing green tours for several years. Pham Tien Dung, the Director of the Golden Tour Company says: "During our tours, we try to create opportunities for tourists to improve the environment, and participate in the local community life. We aim to promote green tours among enterprises and joint ventures in Vietnam. Through these tours, we hope that tourists can contribute to making the country cleaner, greener and more beautiful".

Mr. Dung says his company has cooperated with local people to develop green tours that inspire tourists to join in environmental protection activities. "Our tours offer tourists a chance to become farmers for a day, joining local authorities and young people at Sam Son beach in Thanh Hoa province or Hoi An town in Quang Nam province to collect waste. In the autumn and spring, tourists can plant trees in the forests of Yen Bai and Tuyen Quang province. These tours help tourists get closer to nature while benefiting the local community", said Mr. Dung.

Dang Hue, an accountant who works for a foreign company recently had a green tour of Sam Son-Thanh Hoa, during which she enjoyed beautiful landscapes, went swimming and helped local people collect waste along the beach. "When our family went on holiday, we thought it was time for us to relax, but when we joined environmental protection activities on green tours, we found our holiday more meaningful. I think many people enjoy such tours, especially young people because they find their trips more significant", said Hue.

After a trip to the northwestern region, Duy Trinh, an IT employee remembers most clearly the method of planting trees that he learned from local people.Trinh says: "After this trip, we found life very relaxing. With other tours, we don’t learn much about local people’s lives but activities of green tours such as planting trees help us learn more about nature and the land where we live. More importantly, we learn about our environment and feel more energetic when we return to work".

Tourism nowadays is not just touring or relaxing, but aims at community values. Joining green tours helps tourists make their lives more meaningful.

Lan Anh