Làng Nhỏ Becomes Vietnam's First Good Travel Seal–Certified Destination
An eco-tourism village in Khánh Hòa has become the first business in Vietnam to earn the international Good Travel Seal certification, a new step forward for sustainable tourism.
Làng Nhỏ, an eco-tourism village in Diên Thọ commune (Khánh Hòa), has received the Good Travel Seal, becoming the first in Vietnam to earn this certification for sustainable tourism among small and medium-sized businesses.
The Good Travel Seal is an international certification developed by Green Destinations and based on the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). It assesses real day-to-day practices rather than commitments or sustainability claims.
According to Green Destinations, the Good Travel Seal helps small and medium-sized tourism businesses (SMEs) work step by step toward international sustainability standards. It has 57 criteria in 12 themes, covering sustainable management, environmental protection, energy efficiency, waste management, social responsibility and engagement with local communities.
The certification is seen as a notable milestone as Vietnamese tourism moves toward green growth, lower emissions and higher-quality destinations.
Speaking to the press, Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Bình San, owner of Làng Nhỏ, said the pop-up resort model, combined with low-impact construction and comprehensive green energy, suits Vietnam's natural conditions and the reality of its businesses.
"Vietnam has a great advantage in its rich and diverse nature, while most tourism businesses are small and medium-sized. The pop-up resort model makes sustainable tourism possible with reasonable, flexible and adaptable investment," Mr. San said.
According to Mr. San, a pop-up resort costs less than 50% of a traditional resort with the same number of rooms. It can also be dismantled, upgraded and adjusted easily, which suits expansion as well as seasonal events and themed experiences.
One reason Làng Nhỏ meets the Good Travel Seal criteria is its off-grid operation: most of its energy comes from green energy solutions, with little reliance on conventional infrastructure.
The village also builds with minimal land clearing, keeps the natural terrain intact, favours eco-friendly materials and designs buildings to blend into the landscape. Activities focus on nature, local culture and environmental awareness for guests.
Sustainable tourism experts say models like Làng Nhỏ show that green tourism does not have to mean large, high-investment projects: with the right approach, it can work well at a small and medium scale.
Looking ahead, Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Bình San said that over the next five years Natural Life Holding plans to develop more nature-and-culture retreats across southern and central Vietnam, in places with strong ecological value and local identity.
The company also plans to offer consulting and development services for pop-up resort projects to domestic investors, helping to build a sustainable tourism community in Vietnam. "We hope this model won't just be Làng Nhỏ's story, but can be replicated to suit many localities and investment conditions," Mr. San said.
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