90% of Vietnamese hotels feel unsure about what “sustainability” truly means for their daily operations, causing them to face higher cost, lose competitiveness, and miss business opportunities with international travelers and investors in 2025.
Instead of looking at sustainability as a complex, global concept, this blog shows you local insights and practical actions of sustainability in hotels and travel companies, helping your business in: cost-saving, guest experience, operational efficiency, and long-term competitiveness.
Dedicating specifically to hotel owners, hotel general managers, or tour operators, this article helps you build the right mindset before learning about certification.
1. Why “Sustainability” Matters for Hotels and Tours NOW in Vietnam?
“Sustainability” has become a popular topic in the tourism industry in 2025, yet most hotels and travel companies still see it as something optional or “nice to have.”
The truth is:
- 12-15% increased demand for power and water in Vietnam from 2026 to 2030, leading to rising operational costs if hotels do not act starting 2026.
- 53% of global travelers are more conscious of tourism’s impact on the environment and local communities (Booking.com’s 2025 Travel & Sustainability report).
- 84% of travelers want to have a positive impact on the places they visited.
- 90% of travelers plan to travel more sustainably next year.
With peak seasons approaching and international tourists coming, hotels and destinations that integrate sustainable practices early will have stronger competitiveness, better cost control, and faster alignment with government directions toward responsible tourism.
Sustainability is no longer an option nor a one-time side project, it is a strategic advantage for your hotels and travel companies to operate more efficiently and sustainably in 2026 and beyond.
2. What “Sustainability” Really Means for Hotels and Travel Companies?
Sustainability is often misunderstood as marketing materials to highlight businesses’ sustainable effort or commitment.
- What “Sustainability” IS NOT:
❌ Vague claims saying
“eco-friendly”, “green”, or “biodegradable”, “made from recycled materials”
❌ A one-time tree-planting campaign for marketing
- What “Sustainability” TRULY IS:
✅ Reducing waste energy, electricity, water, and resources
✅ Improving guest satisfaction and safety
✅ Lowering long-term operational cost
✅ Strengthening brand credibility and reputation
✅ Supporting local suppliers and provide jobs for local communities
✅ Ensuring well-being of employees
✅ Integrating projects that promote mutual benefits for customers, suppliers, and the company itself
Genuine “sustainability” always needs to go with transparency and evidence, not just unverified claims for marketing.
The ultimate goal of sustainability is to improve sustainable hotel and tour operations and build trust and accountability from customers and investors (and all other stakeholders). Helping them make decisions with confidence on the products/ services they buy, the companies they invest in, and the organizations they support or partner with.
3. Why Hotels in Vietnam struggle with sustainability (and it’s normal)
The biggest barrier for most hotels and tour operators in Vietnam to adopt “sustainability” is because it is not mandatory by law in Vietnam, yet.
Common issues from larger hotels (4-5 stars):
- High utility costs but no monitoring
- Staff turnover makes continuity difficult
- Don’t have a dedicated sustainability person yet
- Cost reduction without compromising quality
- Weak waste separation & supplier transparency
- Outdated equipment → high electricity & water waste
- Applying to a true third-party certification body in Vietnam
Common issues from small hotels:
- Limited budget
- Lack of trained staff
- Limited knowledge of operations or marketing
- Heavy reliance on Booking/AirBnb/Agoda
- Poor wastewater & waste management
- No documentation for future investors
These challenges of hotel sustainability in Vietnam are completely normal, especially when sustainability is still new and not yet required by law. Understanding these struggles is the first step, and at MQL Sustainable Tourism Services, we will show how sustainability certification gives structure to solve them.
4. 4 Common Misconceptions about sustainability
The biggest mistake many people have is thinking “sustainability” only means planning more trees or reducing plastic waste.
Misconception 1: Sustainability is about solving environmental issues.
Reality: Sustainability tackles many aspects other than environmental, involving operational matters that many businesses overlook: human resources, operations, energy, waste, transparency (not financial or private issues), safety, suppliers, and long-term competitiveness.
Misconception 2: Sustainability is expensive.
Reality: The cost of sustainability depends on the size of your hotel or travel company, and the numbers of full-time employees you have.
Misconception 3: Sustainability is a form of greenwashing.
Reality: Greenwashing happens when hotels or operators promote green labels without evidence, and it can mislead customers. True sustainable certification protects your brand from false claims and reputational damage.
Misconception 4: Only new buildings can be sustainable.
Reality: Adapting sustainability standards into already-operating hotels/ tourism companies is possible and actually more common.
In reality, sustainability should be everyone’s responsibility. Particularly when consumers nowadays drive the market demands with more sustainable options, while companies need investment and profit.
Hotels or tours who are certified by MQL Sustainable Tourism Services sustainability certifications can benefit from economic incentives, attract more customers, and comply with government policies before it becomes mandatory and competitive.
5. The 4 Most Practical Benefits of Starting Sustainability Now (Before Certification)
6. Hotel Sustainability Mini Case Studies in Vietnam
Real successful examples from hotels in Vietnam that are already applying sustainability in practical, cost-effective ways:
- Solar farm “Ninh Van Greens” to generate solar electricity, heating water: 844,976 kWh in 2024
- On-site organic garden for restaurants: 12,488 kilograms in 2024
- Providing lights to nearby communities: 800 individuals from communities
- Eliminating single-use plastics: 272,425 bottles in 2024
Lessons:
- Reduce energy cost and plastic use leading to significant cost savings
- Positioned as a premium unique selling point that still goes with luxury guest service
- More than 90% LED lighting with building automation: Carbon Footprint: 64.78 kg per room night.
- 32,000 m³ of water reused annually for irrigation and cooling: Water Footprint: 1105.09 liters per room night.
- Meeting rooms, restaurants and bars: Zero single-use plastic
- On-site herb gardens: Over 30 varieties of veggies are grown
- Kitchen waste: Enzyme Solution to treat odor and waste
Lessons:
Urban, full-service hotels can implement sustainability to lower resources used without harming high-end guest experiences.
Xom Bien Homestay – Phu Yen:
- Setting up waste separation bins: Guests interest in waste sorting methods
- Training staff on sorting methods properly with guidance in Vietnamese and English: easy-to-understand instructions for everyone
- Implementing on-site rooftop composting for organic waste and garden
- Placing water filtration system around the homestay
- Small box to collect used battery for recycling
Lesson:
- Sustainability is not only for big budgets
- Small changes can show clear impact, resulting in satisfied guests and positive reviews
Conclusion: Key Takeaways
- Sustainability is important for the tourism sector because it deals with matters that directly impact the business operations: cost – service – brand – risks – revenue.
- Genuine “sustainability” always needs to go with transparency and evidence. Without certification, sustainability efforts are difficult to verify → investors and international travelers do not trust unvalidated claims.
- Sustainability is more than just planning more trees or reducing plastic waste. Sustainability is measurable, achievable, and profitable with the right roadmap.
- Greenwashing is dangerous for your company’s reputation. So, sustainability certification is necessary to ensure your sustainability commitments and the stories you tell are true.
- Many hotels and tours in Vietnam hesitate to adopt sustainability but doesn’t mean they are not eligible for it.
- Sustainability is possible for big hotel chains to smaller ones. It can start simple with small steps and already drives visible results.
Why is MQL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM SERVICES Trusted by Hotels and Travel Companies in Vietnam?
MQL Sustainable Tourism Services helps hotels and destinations operating within Vietnam and internationally adopt sustainability with structure, evidence, and practical operational steps, tailored to business size and resources.
From our real experience ➡ 80% of hotels in Vietnam fail when trying to implement sustainability without structure, evidence, and a sustainability dedicated person.
With deep experience advising hotels across Vietnam, we help you:
- Understand your current sustainability baseline
- Identify quick-win areas
- Train your sustainability dedicated person
- Reduce operational costs
- Improve guest experience
- Prepare for certification at your own pace
