MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
AND TRAINING

VIETNAM ACADEMY
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

GRADUATE UNIVERSITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
-----------------

HOANG THI KIEU OANH

Major : Physical Geography
Code :

9 44 02 17

ASSESSMENT TOURISM RESOURCES AND
BIOCLIMATIC CONDITIONS FOR DEVELOPING
TOURISM IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM

SUMMARY OF GEOGRAPHY DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Hanoi - 2019


The dissertation has been completed at: Graduate University Science
and Technology - Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

Science advisor 1: Prof. Sc Dr. Nguyen Khanh Van
Science advisor 2: Assoc Prof.Dr. Dang Van Phan


West sides. The climate regime of the Southern Vietnam is favorable
for tourism all year round. The annual temperature amplitude is not too
different, rainfall does not last long, there are very few natural disasters
and floods. It has a huge network of rivers, streams, canals with raft
houses, floating markets on the river, large lakes, waterfalls (Da Han,
Mo), Binh Chau hot springs, high mountain terrain.
In fact, the effectiveness of Southern Vietnam tourism is not
commensurate with its potential. The tourism between South-East and
South-West Region are not evenly developed. Tourism is mostly
concentrated in a number of tourist centers such as Ho Chi Minh City,
Can Tho and Vung Tau with lack of regional connectivity and uneven
distribution in quantity and quality. Tourism products lack specificity
and originality, especially in South-West Region. The infrastructure is
not synchronous, some projects have not been able to promote the
efficiency or abandoned.
At present, there are no topics to study in detail about the role of
Bioclimatic Condition to development of regional tourism. It is
necessary to have further studies, focusing on orientation, determining
the key types of tourism of the Southern Vietnam with high potential to
bring higher efficiency for tourism development in the coming time, to
meet the actual social needs. Four types of tourism selected for


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evaluation in the dissertation are outstanding types such as sightseeing
tourism, relaxation tourism, ecotourism and cultural tourism.
For the above reasons, the PhD student has decided to select
the topic "Assessment tourism resources and bioclimate conditions
to developing tourism in the Southern Vietnam" for her doctoral
dissertation. Hopefully, this dissertation can give the future



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CHAPTER 1
RATIONALES, METHODS FOR EVALUATING TOURISM
RESOURCES AND BIOCLIMATIC CONDITIONS FOR
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
1.1. Overview of relevant scientific researches
1.1.1. Relevant researches on over the world
In the past 9 decades, many research directions for developing
tourism have been established, in which assessing territorial
resources for tourism development is mentioned with many
approaches such as works of Demoders, I.A Vedenhin and N.N.
Misonharrenco (1969), I.I Piriicic (1985), A.G Ixatsenko. Today,
tourism activities have been standardized, managed closely and
monitored with conservation, especially in developed countries,
which is published by Hu and Rit Chie.J (1993), Daniel Leung and
others (2013) , Jianwei Quian et al (2019), C. Lim and J.C.H. Min
(2008), R.Sharley and Telfer (2002).
The history of bioclimatel research has existed for a long time.
Many climate studies are the basis for the development of bioclimate
researchs such as W. Koppen (Germany), Buduco, Alixop, Yeu Am
Sinh, de Freitas et al. , Asgary et al. Climate is the key to forming
many different tourism resources, thereby assessing the role of
climate for each specific tourism resource (Becken (2013), Scott &
Lemieux (2009) and Gomez Martin (2005), Hamilton and Lau
(2005), C. Goh (2012), D. Maddison (2001), Hadwen et al. (2011)).
Currently, many general climate parameters are established in applied
bioclimate such as DI, ET, EI, and HIS, SET, PET, or CIT, TCI
found by Mieczkowski (1985). The TCI index has been developed

seminars for tourism have been conducted to promote tourism
development in this region. It is an important step of socio-economic
development orientations in order to link tourism development
among Southern provinces (Nguyen Minh Tue; Vu Tuan Canh and
others; Bui Thi Hai Yen, etc.). Besides, there are many researches on
tourism of each locality in the South, each work is the experience of
culture, ethnicity, bringing diverse perspectives on tourism potentials
of specific localities.
There have been a number of researches on bioclimatic
conditions for tourism in Southern Vietnam. However, they are still
limited and coherent, not classified and established a map of the
tourism bioclimate. In this serie, some works can be listed such as
Dang Van Phan, To Hoang Kia, Nguyen Khanh Van and others.
1.2. General rationales of dissertation
1.2.1. The concepts of tourism
According to the Vietnam Tourism Law in 2017: “Tourism is
an activity related to human outside of his regular residence with the


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time under 1 year in order to meet the needs of sightseeing, study,
entertainment, and relaxation in certain time period or other
purpose’’ “Tourism resources are Tourism resources are natural
landscapes, natural elements, cultural and historical relics, human
creative works and other human values can be used to to meet the
demand for tourism, is a basic element to form tourism zones,
tourism spots, tourism routes, tourism towns. Tourism resources
include nature resources and cultural resources”. Tourism territorial
organizations include tourism destinations, tourist area, tourism
route, tourism centre.

1.3.2. Research mothods
1.3.2.1. System of general research methods: The following
popular methods are used in this dissertation: Methods of data
collection, analysis and processing; Field practical methods; Map and
GIS methods; Professional solution.
1.3.2.2. Rationale of physical geographic zoning
Inheriting the results of local and world researchers about
geographic zoning, studies of the natural characteristics of the
Southern Vietnam, the PhD student has selected 5 principles of
zoning of physical geography in the Southern Vietnam as followed:
objective; incurred; systemized; relative homogeneity and same
territory.
The choice of zoning of physical geography in Southern
Vietnam includes 3 following methods: zoning according to the key
factor; linkage analysis of constituent components; comparative
geography, in addition there are many other methods such as map,
field practie, ancient geography, geophysics, geochemistry,
mathematics.
Based on the differentiation characteristics of the physical
geography in Southern Vietnam, PhD student has selected to inherit
the results of physical geography zoning by research group Pham
Hoang Hai, Nguyen Thuong Hung, Nguyen Ngoc Khanh (1997) with
the 3-level system: Zone  Region  Area for zoning of physical
geography in Southern Vietnam.
1.3.2.3. Methods for assessing resources and bioclimatic
conditions
a. Rationale for evaluating the systhemizing of resources
According to work of Pham Trung Luong: “Assessing natural
conditions and natural resources for tourism are used to determine
the level of convenience(good, medium, poor) of natural conditions

comfort index is based on average maximum temperature and
average minimum relative humidity) / CIA: Daily comfort index
(Daily comfort index is based on average air temperature and average
humidity) R: Average daily rainfall in a month / S: Average number
of sunny hours in a month / W: Average wind speed.


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CHAPTER 2
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESOURCES AND
BIOCLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN SOUTHERN
VIETNAM
2.1. Nature Characteristics of Southern Vietnam
2.1.1. Geographic location of Southern Vietnam
The Southern Vietnam is located in the South of Indochina
peninsula, from latitude 8o to latitude 12o N. East-Southern Vietnam
has an area of 23,590.7 km2, accounting for 7.1% of the whole
country area. West-Southern Vietnam has an area of about 40,576
km2. The position of Southern Vietnam is the premise to create
motivation to attract domestic and abroad tourists.
2.1.2. Geological and topographic characteristics of the
Southern Viernam
In the exploitation of tourism, the terrain of East-Southern
Vietnam is very diverse: mountain topography is mainly distributed
in the North, Northeast, midland terrain, selling plains of basalt soil
with a height of 50-200 m. West-Southern Vietnam is a relatively flat
delta, divided by interlaced system of rivers and streams, middle
islands, riverside, island system and sea encroachment area with
many pristine islands, some low mountains with the form of

2.2. Characteristics of humanitarian tourism resources of
Southern
2.2.1. Cultural and historical relics
Shouthern Vietnam is the most abundant land of religious
belief in Vietnam, with many particularly important relics and high
values for tourism. East-Shouthern Vietnam has 156 cultural and
historical relics of cultural heritage ranked nationally, including 1
intangible cultural heritage of the world, 7 special national
monuments. West-Shouthern Vietnam has 182 cultural and historical
relics ranked nationally, including 6 special national monuments.
Artistic architectural monuments include many types such as
pagodas, temples, shrines, cathedrals and ancient houses associated
with the spiritual life and indigenous people's culture.
2.2.2. Folk culture festival
In Southern Vietnam, the folk festivals of Vietnamese people
are still unified from the North to the South, with central festivals
attracting a large number of pilgrims to attend. The total number of
festivals in West-Southern Veitnam is 1,237 festivals.
2.2.3. Traditional handicraft villages
Handicrafts in the East-Southern Vietnam are not many but
quite unique. East-Southern Vietnam has about 90 traditional
handicraft villages with many exploiting values for tourists. Besides,
West-Southern Vietnam currently has 211 handicraft villages.
2.2.4. Other humanitarian resources
Culinary culture: folk cuisine is unique regarded as high
cultural value for tourism development. Traditional art: Southern


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Vietnam culture has two main characteristics: the characteristics of

statistical methods and data processing, field practical methods and
methods of using GIS geographic information systems. The mapping
method to show the main contents of the map is the point sign
method (meteorological stations), method of combining brush strokes
with quality base (bioclimate types). The 1: 250,000 map scale is
determined by contents and research territories.


11


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2.3.4. Evaluation of the characteristics of tourism bioclimate
in Southern Vietnam using TCI index
According to results of the assessment and calculation of
climate data series at meteorological stations in Southern Vietnam in
the period from 1980 to 2015, it is showed that TCI of Southern
Vietnam mainly is in the range of 40- 54 (from the acceptable
threshold to relatively good), which means that it is possible to
develop tourism activities. In 12 months, TCI
Area: according to the actual differentiation of natural
conditions, the level of regional division is determined based on the
tectonic - geomorphological criteria, with the typical points of
hydrological characteristics, differentiation criteria between the sea
and land.
2.4.2. Results of zoning of physical geography in Southern
Vietnam
Southern Vietnam has 3 zoning levels, in which the highest
level is Southern zone, consisting of two different physical
geographic regions: Region of the East-Southern highland delta (I)
characterized by the terrain region with low hills and high deltas,
relatively ancient, gradually rising with ancient steps + 20m, + 40m
and + 100m, large basalt eruptions filled the valleys between ancient
stone blocks; Region of the West-Southern Delta (II) The main
characterized by the relatively flat and low delta area below 10 m,


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young, wide, fast-growing, built up by the alluvium of the Mekong
River and the Saigon - Dong Nai river system during the period of
sea level rise slowly from 7 thousand years ago. This region tends to
sink in general.
The lowest zoning level is area. the Southẻn Vietnam has 11
areas. East-Southern Vietnam region is divided into 3 areas based on
tectonic - geomorphological criteria. Meanwhile, the West-Southern
Vietnam region consists of 8 areas based on tectonic criteria geomorphology and the norm differentiation between sea and land,
which consists of 6 inland areas and 2 areas of coastal islands.
Table 2.4. Zoning system of physical geography in Southern
Vietnam
Southern Vietnam

9. Ca Mau peninsula
10. Island area of Gulf of Thailand
11. Island area of eastern West-Southern
region

I.2
I.3
II.1
II.2
II.3
II.4
II.5
II.6
II.7
II.8


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16
CHAPTER 3
GENERAL EVALUATION OF TOURISM RESOURCES AND
BIOCLIMATIC CONDITIONS FOR TOURISM TYPES OF
SOUTHERN VIETNAM
3.1. Basis for selection and evaluation of tourism types in
Southern Vietnam
In the scope of this dissertation, PhD student only assesses
several typical tourism types, depending on the resources and
sustainability factors. The selected tourism types for evaluation

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Relaxation Tourism is a tourism type combining with health
recovery and healing. The areas with the most convenient bioclimate
for human health and beautiful natural landscapes are the conditions
for developing Relaxation Tourism. The PhD student selected 4
criteria: climate, beach, terrain and landscape.
Bioclimatic condition is the most important factor for
Relaxation Tourism development. It is determined as highest
coefficient, the beach is the second important factor, followed by the
terrain factor, finally the landscape has lowest coefficient in the
rating scale. In addition, criteria such as biological resources
(biodiversity, forest vegetation, subtropical fruits and vegetables ...)
are also considered and evaluated but not decentralized.
Based on the average score of each area, the results of
convineint level of each area are as follows: I.3 areas achieve very
convenient level for Relaxation Tourism development. Areas II.4, II.7
and II.8 are convenient. Areas I.1, I.2, II.2, II.3 are at the quiet
convenient level. Less convenient for Relaxation Tourism development
is belong to I.1, II.5, II.6
3.2.3. Evaluation of tourism resources for Ecotourism
development
Ecotourism is a tourism type based on indigenous nature and
culture, associated with environmental education, contributing to
conservation and sustainable development efforts with active
participation of local communities. Thereby, the PhD student
determined the requirements for ecotourism development as the
following 3 criteria: natural ecosystem with high ecological diversity,
bioclimatic conditions affecting tourist’s health when traveling,
terrain creating favorable conditions for travel. According to expert
opinions, criteria, evaluation level and score of biological criteria,

convenient level for Cultural Tourism development. The areas II.1
are assessed quiet convenient. Low convenient level for Cultural
Tourism development is belong to areas II.6 and II.7.
3.3. General synthesis of convenience levels of 4
tourism types in each area
Based on the evaluation criteria and the convenience level of
tourism types according to areas, the results of general assessment of
convenience levels of 4 tourism types are as follows: Areas I.3, II.4,
II.8 achieve very convenient level for general development of all
tourism types. Convenient level for tourism development is belong to
4 areas, including I.1, I.2, II.3, II.7. Besides areas II.1, II.2, II.5, II.6
achieve the assessment of quiet convenient level for tourism


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development. These areas often have no landscape, or monotonous
landscapes, not concentrated distribution of natural resources, limited
bioclimatic conditions for tourism.
3.4. Space orientation for developing tourism types in Southern
Vietnam
3.4.1. Current statement of tourism development in Southern
Vietnam
The number of tourists of Southern Vietnam increased rapidly.
In terms of statistics, domestic tourists dominate in Southern
Vietnam, international tourists also increase in quantity. EastSouthern Vietnam region has the highest revenue in the whole
country (2015), accounting for 46% of the total tourism revenue of
the country. The Southern Vietnam has about 6,652 accommodation
establishments. The labor force in the tourism sector has differences
in professional qualifications as well as scale and distribution
between East-Southern and West-Southern regions. The

tourism, ecology and sightseeing tourism, research tourism. Area
[II.2]: Developing types of river tourism, exploiting specialties in the
flood season, picnics or field trips. Area [II.3]: exploiting tourism in
the dry season, combined with spiritual and cultural tourism. Area
[II.4]: spiritual and cultural tourism, combined with sightseeing,
ecotourism, discovery mountain climbing tourism. Area [II.5]: river
tourism, wetland sightseeing tourism, visiting orchards, floating
markets on the river. Area [II.6]: homestay tourism, countryside
tourism, experience tourism, community-based ecotourism. Area
[II.7] sightseeing tourism, beach tourism, Relaxation Tourism,
tourism to explore the islands. Area [II.8]: sightseeing tourism,
relaxation, swimming and exploring the forest landscape.


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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The overview of research and evaluation of territorial
synthesis as a basis for tourism development, especially in the
Southern Vietnam, is the basis for determining the approach, research
methodology, an important data source for the PhD student to
redundant and promote research direction to achieve optimal results.
In bioclimate classification of human health for tourism
development, 12 types of bioclimate are classified. TCI index
achieving 60 - 80 scores (good to very good) are popular in the last 4
months from December to March -. Two regions are established in
the results of physical geographic zoning in Shouthern Vietnam,
including East Southern region and West Southern region, 11 areas