ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GRADUATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ------

Nguyen Thu Nhung

LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT FOR TAY NGUYEN TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION OF TOURISM BASED ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VIEWPOINT

Major: Physical Geography Code: 62 44 02 17

SUMMARY OF GEOGRAPHY DOCTORAL THESIS

Hanoi - 2017 The study is accomplished at: Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

Scientific instructor:

1. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Khanh Van

2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Trung Luong

Opponent:......

Opponent:......

Opponent:......

The dissertation is protected before the Institute Council at Graduate University of Science and Technology at: ...... day ...... month ...... year 2017

The dissertation can be found at: - National Library of Vietnam; - Library of the Graduate University of Science and Technology.

LIST OF SCIENTIFIC WORKS PUBLISHED BY AUTHOR RELATED TO THE THESIS 1) Nguyen Thu Nhung, Nguyen Khanh Van, Pham Trung Luong, 2017. Tay Nguyen territorial organization of tourism based on the sustainable development viewpoint. Human Geography review, ISSN 1859 – 1604, no.3 (18). 2) Nguyen Thu Nhung, 2016. Assessing tourism resources for a type of resort tourism development in Tay Nguyen. Human Geography review, ISSN 2354 - 0648, no.4 (15), pp: 55 - 59. 3) Nhung Nguyen Thu, Bac Hoang, 2016. Bioclimatic resources for Tourism in Tay Nguyen, Vietnam. Ukrainian Geographical Journal, ISSN 1561 – 4980, No.3, pp: 33-38. 4) Pham Hoang Hai, Nguyen An Thinh, Nguyen Thu Nhung, Hoang Bac, Tran Thi Mai Phuong, 2013. Theoretical basis and practical experience of eco- economic model: an application research for Tay Nguyen. Vietnam Journal of Earth Sciences, ISSN 0886 - 7187, no.4, pp: 327 - 335. 5) Nguyen Thu Nhung, Hoang Bac, 2016. Aggregated assessment of natunal and human resources for a type of sightseeing tourism in Tay Nguyen. Proceeding of the 9th National Scientific Conference on Geography, pp: 351 - 356. Publishing house for science and technology (ISBN: 978-604-913-513-2). 6) Pham Thi Ly, Hoang Luu Thu Thuy, Vuong Van Vu, Nguyen Thu Nhung, 2016. Bioclimatic of Lamdong. Proceeding of the 9th National Scientific Conference on Geography, pp: 1138 - 1145. Publishing house for science and technology (ISBN: 978-604-913-513-2). 7) Duong Thi Hong Yen, Nguyen Thu Nhung, 2014. Situation of surface water pollution in . Proceeding of the 8th National Scientific Conference on Geography, pp: 823 - 829. City Pedagogical University Publishing House (ISBN: 978-604-918-437-6). 8) Pham Hoang Hai, Nguyen Trong Tien, Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, Ly Trong Dai, Hoang Bac, Nguyen Manh Ha, Duong Thi Hong Yen, Nguyen Thu Nhung, Do Van Thanh, Nguyen Quyet Chien, Dang Thị Hue, Nguyen An Thinh, 2014. The geographic basis proposes a sustainable eco-economic model for some key geographical regions in Tay Nguyen. Proceeding of the 8th National Scientific Conference on Geography, pp: 534 - 543. Pedagogical University Publishing House (ISBN: 978-604-918-437-6). 9) Nguyen Thu Nhung, 2013. The Agricultural development in province, period 2005 - 2011. Proceeding of the 7th National Scientific Conference on Geography, pp: 1008 - 1014. Thai Nguyen University Publishing House (ISBN: 978-604-915-044-9).

INTRODUCTION 1. Reason for choosing theme Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), a region in the center of Southern Indochina, has a strategically importance for national defense, security, environment and ecology. This is an intermediate clue for commercial and relational exchanges with the neighboring countries in the west and the coastal region of Vietnam in the east. The Tay Nguyen has a great potential for tourism thanks to its particularities such as natural landscape, year-round cool climate, healthful hot mineral water sources and longstanding traditions of ethnic cultures. The tourism in Tay Nguyen has been flourishing, transforming and achieving some encouraging results for the past several years. However, its development is still limited, the territorial organization of tourism of the region has not been complete, reasonable. As a result, the thesis entitled as "Landscape assessment for Tay Nguyen territorial organization of tourism based on the sustainable development viewpoint" is chosen. 2. Objective The objective of the thesis is to set up the scientific bases for territorial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen with an orientation to rationally utilize and maintain the diversity of tourism resources. 3. Tasks - Overview the documents and establish theoretical bases of research, methods of landscape assessment for territorial organization of tourism; - Set up landscape map of Tay Nguyen at scale of 1 / 250,000 in order to determine the spatial differentiation of tourism resources and the relationship between tourism resources and structure of natural landscape as bases for proposing territorial organization of tourism. - Analyze the system of tourism resources (both natural and human types) and the factors related to territorial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen. - Assess the landscape for tourism development of recreation and sightseeing in Tay Nguyen. - Analyze the status of tourism development and the territorial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen; identify the challenges for tourism development in current context. - Spatially orientate the territorial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen from viewpoint of sustainable development. 4. Scopping - Space: The research is spatially limited within to five provinces of Tay Nguyen, including Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong.

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- Time: The thesis uses data on natural, socio-economic development of Tay Nguyen in the period of 2005 - 2015; the data of projection and orientation to 2030 is taken into account. - Science: The dissertation focuses on studying and evaluating two tourism types of sightseeing and recreation in Tay Nguyen region, serving rational use of natural resources for tourist development. 5. Defended arguments - Argument 1: The region of Tay Nguyen is characterized by a monsoonal tropical landscape. The differentiation and diversification of landscape in Tay Nguyen occurs lawfully (84 landscape genera of 19 landscape types, 8 landscape subclasses and 4 landscape classes), determining the particularities of tourism resources (landscape structure, tourism resources), controlling the territorial organization of tourism in micro-extent. - Argument 2: Spatial orientation for tourism development proposed for Tay Nguyen is based on an integration of the follows: landscape assessment for two tourism types (sightseeing and recreation); analysis of current situation of development and territorial organization of tourism; analysis of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). 6. Novelties of thesis - Contribution on theory analyzing the relationships: between landscape structure and tourism resources; between landscape with territorial organization of tourism; simultaneously clarify the landscape features and tourism resources according to the landscape units as the basis for the Tay Nguyen territorial organization of tourism. - Classification of bioclimatic for Tay Nguyen tourism (map of 1 / 250,000 scale attached) and initially quantify some climatic factors for tourism development as well as their impact on the tourism seasonality in Tay Nguyen. - Landscape genera assessment for tourism development (for two main tourism types: sightseeing and relaxation). On that basis, orientation Tay Nguyen territorial organizaton of tourism belong to sustainable development, (specific: Creating centers of tourism area, key zones for tourism, touristic sites, travel tours are identified in the thesis and their relationship is showed on map of Tay Nguyen territorial organization of tourism, scale 1/250.000). 7. Significances of thesis - Scientific significance: The results of thesis could contribute to the improvement of the methodology assessing the advantageousness of resources for territorial organization of tourism; clarify the relationships between tourism resources and landscape and between landscape and terriorial organization of tourism.

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- Practical signification: The results of thesis would be the scientific bases for managers, organizers to plan a numerous sites and routes of tourism in Tay Nguyen. 8. Documentary bases for thesis implementation - National and international publications on the theory assessing natural and human resources for tourism development in general and for some tourism types in particular. The projects, scientific reports, tourism-related articles on the Tay Nguyen region; - Statistic data on tourist activities and socio-economic planning from provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Tay Nguyen, Development Strategy Institute; Research Institute for Tourism Development. - Documents from the projects of the Tay Nguyen Program 1, 2 and projects coded TN3 / T03 and TN3/T18 belonging to Tay Nguyen Program 3. - Topographic map of the Tay Nguyen at scale of 1/250,000 and 1/100,000. Satellite images of Spot 5 (in 2010 and 2014). - Observations, records, analyzes and photos taken by author and colleagues in field works from 2012 upto present. 9. Thesis structure The contents of the dissertation are divided into following sections: Introduction (6 pages); Chapter 1- Theoretical background of landscape assessment for territorial organization of tourism from the viewpoint of sustainable development (49 pages); Chapter 2 - Landscapes and tourism resources in Tay Nguyen (43 pages); Chapter 3 - Landscape assessment and orientation for territorial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen from the viewpoint of sustainable development (40 pages); Conclusion (4 pages); References (8 pages); Appendix (28 pages); thesis-related publications of author (1 page), 19 tables and 24 figures (9 maps, 6 graphs, 8 diagrams). CHAPTER 1. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT FOR TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION OF TOURISM FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 1.1 Overview of related researches 1.1.1 Researches on tourism and territorial organization of tourism - During the past decades, in the world as well as in Vietnam, tourism researches have focused on four directions: (1) Theoretical, methodological issues of tourism research; (2) Specific evaluation of some resources for tourism development; (3) Tourism planning / territorial organization of tourism; and (4) Tourism economics. - In Tay Nguyen region, there are several tourism studies mainly in provincial extent. More recently, in the Tay Nguyen Program 3, regional potential has been assessed for tourism development in general and the

3 natural and cultural heritages have been regarded as internal resources for tourism development. From these bases, some models of tourism development are proposed for highland. However, in those studies, the exploitation and planning of resources have been concentrated only in the South whereas the great potential for tourism in the North (especially the ) has not yet been utilized correspondently. 1.1.2 The researches on landscape and landscape assessments for tourism development In the world, the research on landscape and landscape assessment for development of concrete economic sectors, including tourism, has been very early regarded and obtained many remarkable achievements. In Vietnam and Tay Nguyen, the landscape has been researched in general, but the research specialized for tourism development is quite limited. 1.2. Theoretical bases for territorial organization of tourism The concepts on tourism, sustainable tourism, and territorial organization of tourism have been clarified in the thesis. Based on that, the forms of territorial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen would include territorial system of tourism, area of tourism and their smaller divisions such as sites, key areas and routes of tourism The approach assessing landscape in territorial organization of tourism is applied in this thesis. 1.3 Theoretical bases on integrated assessment of natural and human resources for tourism development Analyzing the concepts of landscape and tourism resources shows that each landscape unit contains tourism resources, the vertical structure of landscape expresses the particularity and potential of tourism, the horizontal structure of landscape expresses the connection of tourism resources in lineament, the temporal variation of landscape represents the seasonality in tourism. Assessment of the natural conditions, natural resources and socio- economic activities in the region is to evaluate the interaction and the binding among the natural conditions, to identify the law of spatial differentiation and temporal variation in certain equilibrium. The process of landscape assessment consists of the following steps: setting up a rating scale; setting up an indicator system for evaluation; weighting; evaluating; and classifying the advantage level of resources. 1.4. Point of view and researching methods To carry out this research, we use four viewpoints (territorial integration, system, history-perspective, sustainable development) and five methods (field survey, mapping and GIS, multi-criteria assessment, SWOT analysis, Arima model).

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1.5. Process for thesis implementation The dissertation is implemented in four following steps: (1) Defining the object and objectives of research; (2) Reviewing documents related to research direction and area; (3) mapping landscape and synthetically assessing natural and human resources for the development of recreation and sightseeing tourism; (4) Analyzing the regional status of tourism development and territorial organization, and synchronously analyzing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threat of tourism development in Tay Nguyen for territorial organization and development orientation of tourism. Summary of Chapter 1 A general review of tourism studies in the world, Vietnam and Tay Nguyen shows that tourism has developed in four directions: (1) Theoretical, methodological issues of tourism research; (2) Specific evaluation of some resources for tourism development ; (3) Tourism planning/territorial organization of tourism; and (4) Tourism economics. In which the direction of research on territorial organization of tourism is quite close to the thesis objective. From this basis, the thesis has clarified the basic concepts recognized in the world as well as in Vietnam, such as: tourism, sustainable tourism, territorial organization of tourism and its forms. At the same time, the forms of territorial organization of tourism in the Tay Nguyen are identified as territorial system of tourism, area of tourism and their smaller divisions such as sites, key areas and routes of tourism. An overview of the studies on landscape and landscape assessment for territorial organization of tourism shows this research direction, in the world, has been very early regarded and obtained many considerable achievements. In Vietnam and in the Tay Nguyen, although studies on landscape and landscape assessment, in general, for socio-economic development have been published, there are a few studies on landscape assessment for development and territorial organization of tourism. This shows that the landscape assessment for development in Tay Nguyen is very necessary, because it enables to overview and to evaluate the overall resources for tourism development. Since then, the first chapter of this dissertation has analyzed, clarified the relationship between landscape and tourism resources, and affirmed the role and position of landscape in territorial organization of tourism for sustainable development (rational use and diversity conservation of touristic resources). This is the achieved novelty of thesis, contributing to improve the methodology on landscape assessment for tourism development. Simultaneously, to solve the problems identified in the thesis, five basic geographic methods (field surveys, mapping and GIS, multicriteria evaluation, SWOT analysis, and Arima model) are applied. Among them, the multi-criteria evaluation and the mapping and GIS are used for landscape

5 assessment to develop two main touristic types in Tay Nguyen (sightseeing and recreation). CHAPTER 2. LANDSCAPES AND TOURISM RESOURCES IN TAY NGUYEN 2.1 Tay Nguyen Landscape features 2.1.1 Classification system of landscape The landscape of Tay Nguyen is mapped at 1:250,000 scale, served as landscape assessment for tourism development of sightseeing and recreation. The classification system includes six landscape levels: system, sub-system, class, sub-class, type and genera 2.1.2 Landscape features The Tay Nguyen is situated entirely in landscape system of continental tropical monsoon of Southeast Asian; Landscape subsystem of tropical monsoonal plateau covers whole Tay Nguyen. The topographical differentiation with the variation in law of altitudinal zonation has determined the diversity in landscape structures and divided Tay Nguyen landscapes into 4 classes, 8 sub-classes, 19 types and 84 genera (Fig 1). 2.1.3 Landscape profile AB longitudinal (from Ngoc Linh to Don Duong) and CD cross sections landscape (from Da Sar to Chu Yang Sin nation park profiles to Yok Don national park) are analyzed to represent the differentiation, structure and function of landscape units (Fig 1). 2.2 Tourism resources in the Tay Nguyen 2.2.1 Natural tourism resources 2.2.1.1 Geographical position Tay Nguyen is one of eight important geographical regions of Vietnam, located in the Western of South Central Vietnam. Tay Nguyen is located in the center of Southern Indochina, having strategically important for national defense, security, environment, ecology and economic development 2.2.1.2 Topographical resources Tay Nguyen is topographically characterized by three types: mountains, plateaus and inter-mountainous depressions. - Plateau relief: 07 plateaus are widely found from Kon Tum to Lam Dong at evevation ranging from 400 to 1600m. These plateaus are characterized by gentle slopes, facilitating the travel of visitors. - Mountain relief: 06 mountainous ranges running from Kon Tum to Lam Dong with the concentration of highest peaks in Ngoc Linh (2,598m) and Chu Yang Sin (2,442m).

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- Relief of inter-mountainous depression: Field of An, Sa Thay valley, Easoup plain, Cheo Reo - Phu Tuc depression and Krong Pach - Lak depression. The topographical diversity in the region of “strata-arranged mountain and plateau” has created the ideal sites for tourism development such as Lam Vien plateau, Kon Plong plateau, Ngoc Linh range, Chu Yang Sinh range, Đan Sơ Na - Tà Đùng range, etc. However, due to the formation in basalt, most of the plateaus in Tay Nguyen have been exploited for the development of long-term industrial crops such as , rubber, etc. Moreover, in Tay Nguyen, there are many landforms whose originality has a great attraction for visitors such as inactive volcanoes (15 volcanoes in , volcanic caves in Choah village). 2.2.1.3 Climate resources - Climate in Tay Nguyen is divided into two distinct seasons: the rainy season (May - October) and the dry season (November to April). Being a mountainous - plateau region, the climate in Tay Nguyen is also differentiated in accordance with elevation: at 500-800m height, the average temperature is 21-23oC; at 800-1100m, it drops to 19-21oC; and above 1500m, it rests only 18oC. In Tay Nguyen, total radiation reaches to 120-140 kcal/cm².year, sunshine hours obtain 2097.9-2484.3 hours/year, average wind speed ranges from 0.8 to 2.6 m/s. Rainfall distribution is uneven in both space and time. Average annual is about 77-83%, concentrating on the rainy season. - The results of TCI assessment show that climate potential for tourism in Tay Nguyen is quite high; the dry seasons (November to April), the weather is quite favorable for tourism activities. Lien Khuong, Bao Loc and M'drak areas have favorable conditions for tourism development. 2.2.1.4. Water resources The Tay Nguyen has a system of waterfalls, lakes and mineral water resources favoring the development of tourism. Currently, the Tay Nguyen has about 100 waterfalls, and 11 hot springs that could be exploited for tourism development. 2.2.1.5 Biological resources Biological resources of Tay Nguyen are diverse and abundant. National parks, nature reserves, special-use forests are places interesting visitors to explore and discover. At present, Tay Nguyen region has five nation parks, six biosphere reserves, three species and habitat reserves, two landscape protected areas, in which there is the one World Biosphere Reserve (Langbiang) and two ASEAN heritage parks (Chu Mon Ray and Kon Ka Kinh).

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2.2.2 Human tourism resources 2.2.2.1. Architectures In Tay Nguyen there are some traditional special architectures of the ethnic minority group such as Rong house in the North, Dai House in the Centre and the South, Mo house (tombs), additionally there exists also the modern architectures such as Kon Tum wooden church, Kon Klor suspended bridge, Dalat train station, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Bao Dai Palaces 2.2.2.2. Festivals and folklore The typical culture of the indigenous peoples in the Tay Nguyen is reflected in traditional festivals such as Gong festival, buffalo-stabbing festival, New Year holidays, worship festival, elephant racing festival. In addition, some cultural events such as coffee festival (Dak Lak), Flower Festival (Dalat), Tea Festival (Bao Loc), etc. are alternatively organized in the region. 2.2.2.3. Villages of traditional craft Traditional craft villages in Tay Nguyen have attached from generation to generation of ethnic groups such as M'nong, Gia Rai, Ede, etc. The traditional crafts include brocade weaving, traditional musical instruments, stem wine, bamboo and rattan knitting and brocade weaving is most prominent. 2.3 Particularity of tourism resources in landscape units Tourism resources of Tay Nguyen are exclusive and repeatable in space (in the North and South): - The only tropical region in Viet Nam where exists in landscape genera 4, 5, 7 and 11 belonging to Kon Plong, Kon Ray, Tu Mo Rong districts (Kon Tum) and landscape genera 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 26, 28, 43, 44, 45, 46, 58, 66, 71 and 81 of Lac Duong, Don Duong and Da Lat districts (Lam Dong). The only region which has a vegetation type of typical deciduous broadleaf opened forest (Dipterocarp forest), covering the landscape genera 73 of Ea Sup, Buon Don districts (Dak Lak). - The unique region in Vietnam where up to now exist the longest volcanic cave in Southeast Asia, found in the landscape genera 72 and 77 belonging to Krong No district (Dak Nong). - The region has many magnific waterfalls associated with the legend of local indigenous tribes. These are distributed in the landscape genera 47 and 79 of Kon Plong districts (Kon Tum), the landscape genera 11,14, 57 and 65 of Kbang, Ia Grai, Chu Se districts (Gia Lai), the landscape genera 68 and 80 of Krong Nang, Cu M'gar, Krong Bong districts, Buon Ma Thuot city (Dak Lak); the landscape genera 60, 71 and 72 of Dak Song, Kien Duc, Krong No districts (Dak Nong), the landscape genera 44, 45, 54, 60 and 66 of Da Lat city and Di Linh, Bao Lam, Duc Trong districts (Lam Dong).

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- The exclusive region of Gong Culture Space which is recognized UNESSCO as a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This Gong culture space spreads in all Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong provinces of Tay Nguyen, thus it covers all the landscape genera. Summary of Chapter 2 In this chapter, a system of landscape classification is set up and the landscape of Tay Nguyen is mapped at scale of 1 / 250,000 with the result that the Tay Nguyen is siuated entirely in landscape system of Southeast Asian continental tropical monsoon; Landscape subsystem of tropical monsoonal plateau covers whole Tay Nguyen, including 4 landscape classes, 8 landscape sub-classes; 19 landscape types, 84 landscape genera. Mapping landscape map of Tay Nguyen is based on the differentiation as well as the influence of natural components on regional tourism. This is the premise to have a synthetically assessment for development of two touristic types (sightseeing and recreation) mentioned in Chapter 3, as well as the contribution to improve the methodology on landscape assessment for development of concrete economic sectors. The differentiation of 84 landscape genera has influenced the diversification of tourism resources in Tay Nguyen: - The relief resources is diversified with three main groups, whose many terrain types are worth for tourism development such as relatively flat denudation surfaces, craters, the longest volcanic cave in Southeast Asia. These terrains are usually located at high altitudes with a mild climate and good surrounding observation; moreover, the spotted contrast of lakes and waterfalls is an originality of the landscape, very suitable for the development of touristic recreation and sightseeing. - The strong differentiation of climate resources with 25 bioclimatic types shown on the map of bioclimatic classification for tourism in Tay Nguyen at scale of 1 / 250,000. Additionally, the Tourism Climate Index (TCI) is applied to assess climate resources for the activities of tourism development in different territorial extents. This thesis novelty is resulted from assessing the climate impact on the tourism seasonality in Tay Nguyen. It shows that the Tay Nguyen has great climatic potential for tourism development. The appropriate period for touristic development falls in dry season, from December to April. The climate of Kon Plong, Kbang, M'Drak, Krong Bong, Lak, Krong No, Lac Duong, Lien Khuong, Bao Loc, Da Lat districts is favorable for touristic development. This feature should be considered as a positive basis for tourism planning in Tay Nguyen. - The distribution of surface and ground water resources, exploited for tourism, is closely linked with waterfalls, lakes, springs of thermal and/or mineral water. Many waterfalls and lakes in Tay Nguyen are worth not only in aesthetic but also scientific view (the relics marking the periods of

9 geological and geomorphologicall evolution) such as Dray Nur, Dray Wax waterfalls, T'Nung lake, etc., and in addition to them, the mineral water resources, useful for human health (11/24 sites), distributed in Lam Dong, Kon Tum, Dak Nong. - The diversity of biological resources is differentiated according to the elevation with the prominences for tourism exploitation such as: medium-to- high moutaineous, close broad-leaved forest, Dipterocarp forests, pine forests; many rare and precious plant species with typical scientific values (Glyptostrobus pensilis, Pinus dalatensis, Panax vietnamensis, Fokienia hodginsii); Many rare and precious animals of Ungulates (Elephas maximus, Bubalus arnee, Bos gaurus readei), Passeriformes (Laniellus langbianis, Carduelis monguilloti, Garrulax konkakinhensis); These worths are concentrated in 5 national parks, 6 natural reserves, 3 species and habitat reserves, 2 landscape-protected areas, in which there is the one World Biosphere Reserve (Langbiang) and two ASEAN heritage parks. - The diverse, distinctive cultures, identity-imbued cultures of 20 indigenous ethnic groups as well as historical, cultural and revolutionary relics are the valuable human resources for tourism. The human touristic resources in Tay Nguyen is various in forms and origin, and attractive to visitors. The exploitation of human touristic resources for development should be associated with preserving the traditional cultural values of indigenous ethnics in Tay Nguyen. - The differentiation of landscape units has determined particularity of tourism resources in the Tay Nguyen. That is the exlusiveness and spatially repetitive differentiation (resources exlusivenes on relief, climate, biology, water and human). CHAPTER 3. LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT AND ORIENTATION FOR TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION OF TOURISM IN TAY NGUYEN FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 3.1 Landscape assessment for the development of some tourism types - Based on the potentiality, status and orientation of tourism development in Tay Nguyen, two tourism types recreation sightseeing are chosen for this research. - The criteria and index of assessment for the two above-mentioned tourism types are shown in Table 3.1. Table 3.1: The criteria and index of assessment for the two tourism types Index for 2 tourism types Order Assessment criteria Sightseeing Recreation 1 Elevation (m) 0,08 0,04 2 Slope (°) 0,23 0,02

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Index for 2 tourism types Order Assessment criteria Sightseeing Recreation 3 TCI index 0,06 0,22 4 Appropriate time to travel (day) 0,13 0,07 5 Waterfalls, rapids 0,08 0,06 6 Hot springs 0,02 0,11 7 Biodiversity 0,08 0,1 Historical vestiges 8 0,05 0,02 (Density/100km2) 9 Architectural value 0,04 0,07 10 Value of Festival 0,03 0,05 11 Accessibility 0,07 0,04 The distance from tourist 12 0,06 0,02 destination to the center Quality of accommodation 13 0,06 0,12 facilities, catering services 14 Quality of tourism labor 0,01 0,06 3.1.1 Overall assessment results for sightseeing tourism Lam Dong has high and relatively high advantage for sightseeing, covering 5317000 ha in the landscape genera 8, 9, 14, 16, 26, 36, 42, 45, 46, 57, 66 and 81. Kon Tum has high and relatively high advantage areas for sightseeing reaching 486700 ha in the landscape genera 1, 2, 6, 7 and 47. Dak Lak has 576400 ha are assessed to be high advantage and relatively high advantage for sightseeing in the landscape genera 69, 73 and 74. Gia Lai area has high and relatively high advantage is 420980 ha in 14, 14 and 73 landscape genera. Dak Nong has very high and high advantage area of 224500 ha in the 70th and 73th landscape genera. 3.1.2 Overall assessment results for recreation tourism The area of very high and high advantage occupies 8,4% in the landscape cartegories 8, 9, 10, 45 and 46 belonging to Kon Plong district (Kon Tum), Kbang (Gia Lai), Krong Bong, Lak (Dak Lak), Lac Duong, Dam Rong (Lam Dong). The advantage area accounts for 19.2%, in the landscape cartegories 8, 14, 16, 26, 28, 43, 44, 45, 46, 58, 66, 77 and 81 of the districts: Dak Glei, Tu Mo Rong, Dak Ha, Kon Ray (Kon Tum), , KBang (Gia Lai), Lak (Dak Lak), Dak Glong, Krong No (Dak Nong), Da Lat city, Don Duong, Duc Trong, Lam Ha, Cat Tien, Da Teh, Bao Lam, Da Huoai (Lam Dong). The medium and low advantage area for recreation development accounts for 72.4% located in Gia Lai, Dak Lak.

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Figure 3.1. Advantageousness for Figure 3.2. Advantageousness for development development of sightseeing tourism of recreation tourism 3.1.3 Overall assessment for the two tourism types of recreation and sightseeing - The area with high advantage for tourism of recreation and sightseeing (ND1-TQ1) has 239047 ha (4.4% natural area of the region), distributed on genera 7, 8, 9, 11, 45, 46, 47 belong to located in Lac Duong province ( Lam Dong), Kon Plong (Kon Tum), KBang (Gia Lai). - The area with relatively high advantage for development of recreation and sightseeing tourism has 231321 ha (occupies 4,2% natural area of the region), distributed on genera 3, 4, 5, 12, 14, 20, 26, 36, 43, 44 belong to located in Da Lat city and Lam Ha, Lac Duong provinces, Dran and Don Duong towns (Lam Dong), Dak Glong (Dak Nong), Cu Jut (Dak Nong), M’Drak (Dak Lak), Tu Mo Rong, Dak Glei (Kon Tum). - The area with high advantage for development of recreation and relatively high advantage for sightseeing tourism has 190012 ha (occupies 3.5% natural area of the region), distributed on genera 10 belong to located in Lac Duong province (Lam Dong), Krong Bong, Lak (Dak Lak). - The area with high advantage for development of recreation and rather high and low advantage for sightseeing tourism (ND1-TQ3, ND1-TQ4) has 29130,8 ha (occupies 0,5% natural area of the region), distributed on genera 16 belong to located in Lak province (Dak Lak). - The area with relatively high advantage for development of recreation and high advantage for sightseeing tourism (ND2-TQ1) has 214636 ha (occupies 3,9% natural area of the region), distributed on genera 1, 2, 6, 66 belong to located in Dak Glei, Tu Mo Rong, Kon Ray provinces (Kon Tum), KBang (Gia Lai), Da Lat city, Lam Ha, Duc Trong (Lam Dong). - The area with relatively high advantage for development of recreation and rather and low advantage for sightseeing tourism (ND2-TQ3, ND2-TQ4) has 663671 ha (occupies 12,1% natural area of the region), distributed on genera 13, 17, 18, 19, 28, 58, 77, 79, 80 belong to located in Kon Ray province (Kon Tum), KBang province (Gia Lai), M’Drak, Krong Bong,

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Krong Pak, Krong Ana (Dak Lak), Dak Glong, Dak Song, Krong No, (Dak Nong), Cat Tien, Bao Loc, Dam Rong (Lam Dong). - The area with high advantage for development of sighseeing tourism and rather and low advantage for recreation tourism (ND3-TQ1, ND4-TQ1) has 786905,8 ha (occupies 14,4% natural area of the region), distributed on genera 14, 53, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 81 belong to located in provinces: Dak Doa, Mang Yang, KBang, Chu Prong (Gia Lai), Ea Sup, Buon Don, Dak Mil (Dak Lak), Cu Jut, Dak Glong, Krong No (Dak Nong), Lam Ha, Dam Rong, Cat Tien, Da Teh, Duc Trong (Lam Dong). - The area with relatively high advantage for development of sighseeing tourism and rather and low advantage for recreation tourism (ND3-TQ2, ND4-TQ2) has 621248,4 ha (occupies 11,4% natural area of the region), distributed on genera 24, 25, 29, 31, 37, 39, 41, 42, 49, 57, 68, 76 belong to located in provinces: Dak Glei, Ngoc Hoi, Dak To, Sa Thay (Kon Tum), Chu Pah, Phu Thien, , Krong Pa (Gia Lai), EaH’Leo, Krong Nang, Ea Kar, Buon Ma Thuot city (Dak Lak), Tuy Duc, Dak R’lap (Dak Nong), Da Teh (Lam Dong). - The area with rather and low advantage for development of sighseeing and recreation tourism (ND3-TQ3, ND4-TQ4, ND3-TQ4, ND4-TQ3) has 2488310 ha (occupies 45,6% natural area of the region), located in remained provinces and towns of Pleiku plateau, Buon Ma Thuot plateau and Kon Tum basin, Dak Nong plateau and Di Linh low mountain. 3.2. Orientation for territorial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen from the viewpoint of sustainable development Orientation for territorial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen is not only based on the of landscape assessment on the two main tourism types but also on current status of tourism development and territorial organization. In addition, it is necessary to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in present and future that the tourism in Tay Nguyen has to face. 3.2.1 Current situation of tourism development in Tay Nguyen In 2015, Tay Nguyen received nearly 281959 foreign visitors and 4072000 domestic ones. However, the number of visitors mainly concentrated on Lam Dong province. In comparison with three other provinces, though Dak Lak has recently made the attraction to tourist but the number of visitors only reaches 26.5% of Lam Dong province. It also shows that there has not been a balance of tourism development between the North and the South of Tay Nguyen and Tay Nguyen has not really a creating center of tourism. - Benefit from accommodation and catering services still accounts for a large proportion, those from travel - transportation and entertainment services is rapidly increased but negligible.

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- In 2015, accomodation facilities increased significantly, 1.8 times higher than in 2005, but the accommodation facilities in ranking of 3-5 stars are largely located in Lam Dong and Dak Lak provinces. - In 2015, the number of labor in tourism reached 16327 (2.25 times higher than 2005), the average growth rate in 2005-2015 period is 8.5%. - Though entertainment sectors in Tay Nguyen in recent years have been invested and upgraded, this is still a weakness of the region. - Road: Tay Nguyen has eight national highways that are the main transportation axes between the provinces in the region, the South Central region and the South East region - Airport: there are 03 airports in the region in cluding Lien Khuong, Buon Ma Thuot and Pleiku. 3.2.2. Current status of territotial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen Tourism in Tay Nguyen is territorially organized in accordance with tourist destinations (ecotourism sites, cultural and historical sites, cultural and ecotourism with cultural sites), tourist sub-regions (North, Central and South of Tay Nguyen), tourist zones (Mang Den, Yok Don, Tuyen Lam and Dankia - Suoi Vang), tours and Da Lat tourist city. 3.2.3. Analysis of strength, weakness, opportunity and threat for tourism development in Tay Nguyen Table 3.2. SWOT Analysis for Tourism Development in Tay Nguyen Strength Opportunity - Tay Nguyen is a strategically - International tourism important region of national security, demand increases in the trend of economics and ecology. gradually moving to East Asia - - Tay Nguyen has abundant natural Pacific and Southeast Asia. That resources such as cool climate, many context creates favorable waterfalls, National park, Nature conditions for Tay Nguyen reserve, hot mineral water, the tourism to develop towards longest volcanic cave in Southeast international integration. Asia. These are the advantages for - Vietnam became the 150th tourism development. member of the WTO from 2007 - The originalities in art and life of 20 accompanying with the policy indigenous ethnic groups in Tay changes, the opening and Nguyen such as Cong Chieng, epics, integrating process has created, folk festivals, etc. being the basis for creates and will create favorable development of visitation tourism. conditions for the tourism - The perceptions and actions of local industry. authorities and people during the - Tay Nguyen has the advantage international integration on tourism of becoming a national and development have been altered by the international tourist area with impact of the expansion of particular tourist products such as transportation routes, airports and recreations and sightseeing tours. border gates. - Expanded transportation system - The quality of tourism services is has facilitated to the tours linking

14 improved and confirmed through Tay Nguyen with South Central conferences and seminars. Coast, Southeast, Laos and - Hotels and restaurants in Tay Cambodia. Nguyen develop quite fast. - Travel services have developed, the tourist promulgation on the mass media has been promoted. - In term of political and social security, Tay Nguyen is considered a safe and friendly destination. Weakness Threat - Tourism in Tay Nguyen is - Tourism in Tay Nguyen characterized by distinct seasons and develops in politicoeconomic accommodations are concentrated in period with many global changes. the dry season, so the capacity of - While the competition in the rooms is low and ineffective. tourist market is increasingly - There is no creating center of severe, tourism in the Tay Nguyen tourism areas which is strong enough, is lack of linking for development. distinct, diffusive as the flagship for - Tourism resources is depleted by development of whole region severe deforestation, the threat of - The level of economic development, hydropower construction, bauxite living standard of people is lower mining process, the unplanned than other regions. aggressive development of - The cultural and historical relics, industrial crops landscape and environment at tours - The living spaces of indigenous and tourist destinations were peoples have been narrowed and deteriorated and have not been changed; This leads to a change in remedied in time. their lifestyle, customs and - Conservation is paid attention but culture. not yet effective. - The migration process has - Tourism products are not unique, resulted in the identification of diversified; recreation and indigenous peoples with migrants, sightseeing have not yet defined as gradually losing or changing key products, recreation – cultural identity of indigenous therapeutics tourism has not been peoples in Tay Nguyen. exploited effectively. - Cultural space of Gong is at risk - Tourist businesses only invest to of gradually loss or being accommodations and restaurants, not commercialized. Traditional to tourist products in the destinations. culture and art is no longer - Accommodation facilities increase attractive to the indigenous young but the quality is limited, the number generation. of establishments is ranked lower - The traditional social structure in than adjacent regions. Tay Nguyen has been changed. - Tourism promulgation has not expanded to foreign markets.

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3.2.4. Orientation for territorial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen based on sustainable development viewpoint a. Orientation for development of some indicators - Forecast of tourist quantity: Table 3.3. Forecasted tourist number in Tay Nguyen Province Tourist 2020 2025 2030 Domestic 376.000 560.000 782.000 Kon Tum International 22.000 27.000 32.000 Domestic 256.000 300.000 345.000 Gia Lai International 14.000 15.000 16.000 Domestic 668.000 824.000 979.000 Dak Lak International 81.000 108.000 137.000 Domestic 369.000 465.000 560.000 Dak Nong International 30.000 44.000 100.000 Domestic 3.500.000 4.300.000 5.100.000 Lam Dong International 357.000 414.000 470.000 - Forecast of accommodation facility: Table 3.4. Forecasted number of accommodation facilitation in Tay Nguyen Unit: Room Order Province 2020 2025 2030 1 Kon Tum 1.000 1.500 2.300 2 Gia Lai 600 700 900 3 Dak Lak 2.200 2.800 3.700 4 Dak Nong 900 1.300 1.900 5 Lam Dong 12.800 16.000 20.300 Region 17.700 22.500 29.200 - Forecast of demand for tourism labour: Table 3.5. Forecasted demand for tourism labour in Tay Nguyen Unit: Person Provin Tourism labour 2020 2025 2030 ce Direct labour in tourism 1.400 2.300 3.700 Kon Indirect labour from outside 2.800 4.600 7.400 Tum Total 4.200 6.900 11.100 Direct labour in tourism 900 1.200 1.500 Gia Lai Indirect labour from outside 1.700 2.300 3.100 Total 2.600 3.500 4.600 Direct labour in tourism 3.100 4.300 6.1 00 Dak Indirect labour from outside Lak 6.200 8.600 12.100 Total 9.300 12.900 18.200 Direct labour in tourism 1.300 1.900 3.200 Dak Indirect labour from outside 2.700 3.900 6.300 Nong Total 4.000 5.800 9.500

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Provin Tourism labour 2020 2025 2030 ce Direct labour in tourism 18.000 24.000 32.500 Lam Indirect labour from outside Dong 36.000 48.000 65.100 Total 54.000 72.000 97.600 Direct labour in tourism 24.700 33.700 47.000 Region Indirect labour from outside 49.400 67.400 94.000 Total 74.100 101.100 141.000 b. Orientation of spatial organization for tourism development b.1. Creating centers of tourism area Buon Ma Thuot city with the advantages of human touristic resources is assessed to be quite favorable for development of sightseeing tourism. In addition, since the period, Buon Ma Thuot city has been one of the largest towns in Tay Nguyen and the capital of this region. This city has a convenient transportation system, easily connecting to other tourist destinations in the region such as Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Lam Dong and Dak Nong, , Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City through the national routes 26, 27 and Ho Chi Minh highway. Therefore, Buon Ma Thuot City is the center creating tourism area in Tay Nguyen. b.2. Organization in accordance with key zones for tourism + Mang Den Typical touristic product: - Recreation and Therapeutics at Kon Plong, Dak Nen, Ngoc Tem. - Natural sightseeing at Dak Long, Mang But such as viewing the forest forest, lake, etc. - Cultural sightseeing at Kon Prink, Kon Tu Rang, Vio Lak, Vik Oa villages. + Yaly reservoir Typical touristic product: - Visiting Yaly Hydro-electric Power Plant, entertainment on the water surface, waterway tour in the lake, connecting with tourist sites in Kon Tum province such as Wooden Church, Orphanage, Foreign Missionary seminary, Indochina junction, Bo Y border-gate, etc. - Cultural sightseeing at Phung and Kep villages with the culture of tombs, drops of water, Rong house. + Buon Ma Thuot city and adjacent area Typical touristic product: - Natural sightseeing at Yok Don, Chu Yang Sin National Parks; Dray Nur - Dray Sap, Gia Long waterfalls,... - Cultural sightseeing at Buon Ma Thuot City, Buon Don, Buon Triet, Buon Tria, Buon Jun with special tourism products such as ethnic arts performance, gong performance, historical performances, elephant art show, elephant festival, souvenir from the elephant, etc.

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- Agricultural sightseeing at Buon Ma Thuot city: visiting the places with specialized farming products such as: sambar (Cu Ebur village); rabbit (Ea Tu); weasel coffee (Kien Cuong); DAKADO avocado fruit (Trinh Muoi); club of Hemibagrus catfishes (Hoa Phu), etc,.. + Dalat city and adjacent area Typical touristic product: - High-class recreation associated with visiting the forests landscapes, lake at Dan Kia - Suoi Vang, Tuyen Lam, Dai Ninh. - Natural sightseeing (pine forests, waterfalls) and culture sightseeing (art architecture, spiritual festivals, ethnic culture) at Da Lat city, Lien Nghia, Da 'Ran, Lac Duong and Lat. - Agricultural sightseeing: Visiting hightech agricultural models in Dalat (Ho Xuan Huong and Trai Mat). b.3. Organization in accordance with touristic sites - Tourism destinations has national significances: (1) Border gates such as Bo Y (Kon Tum), Le Thanh (Gia Lai), Bu Drang (Dak Nong); (2) National parks as Chu Mom Ray (Kon Tum), Kon Ka King (Gia Lai), Yok Don, Chu Yang Sinh (Dak Lak), Bidoup - Nui Ba, Cat Tien (Lam Dong) and Nature reserves as Ngoc Linh (Kon Tum), Nam Nung, Ta Dung (Dak Nong); (3) volcanic cave complex Choah, Krong No (Dak Nong). - Tourism destinations have local significance: Tab 3.5: Tourism sites with local significance Ordinal Province Tourist site Tourist activities number Water falls, lakes in Kon Plong Recreation and sightseeing Kon Hot waterfall in Dak To Recreation, therapeutics 1 Tum Kon Klor - Kon Ktu Cultural village; Kon Tum wooden church, the Dak To Historical and cultural visiting - Tan Canh victory Pleiku Prison; Stor Village Resistance; Dak Po, Plei me historical revolutionary Historical vestiges visiting T’nung lake, Ayun lake Sightseeing, entertainment 2 Gia Lai Phu Cuong water fall, Xung Khoeng water fall Sightseeing, entertainment Kon Ja Rang Nature Visiting, researching Reserve Bao Dai Palace, Trung Nguyen Coffee Village Visiting, entertainment Yang Prong tower, Krong 3 Dak Lak Kmar water fall, Thuy Tien water fall, Dray Nur water Entertainment, sightseeing fall Buon Don, Lak lake Visiting community's culture

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Ordinal number Province Tourist site Tourist activities Dray Sap water fall, Gia Long water fall, Dieu Dak Thanh water fall, Trinh Nu Visiting, playing, sightseeing 4 Nong water fall, Ba Tang water fall, Dak Glun water fall Hot waterfall Dak Mol Recreation, Therapeutics Dan Kia - Suoi Vang, Da Lat city Recreation and Sightseeing Lang Biang, Xuan Huong lake, Dai Ninh lake, Tuyen Lam lake, Da Nhim lake; 5 Lam Lien Khuong water fall, Sightseeing Dong Voi water fall, Dambri water fall, Pongour water fall, Dantala water fall Lat, Cat Tien archaeological site, Bao Dai Cultural sightseeing Palace b.4. Spatial organization in accordance with travel tours Travel by Road: 1) International tour: - The Laos - Kon Tum - KonPlong - South Central of Vietnam tour through Bo Y border-gate, the national routes 40, 24 and Hochiminh - The Laos - Kon Tum - Gia Lai - Dak Lak - Dak Nong - South East of Vietnam tour along the Ho Chi Minh highway (running through the Tay Nguyen) or the national route 14C road. - The Cambodia - Gia Nghia - Lam Dong - South Central of Vietnam tour along the provincial route 989, the national routes 28, 20 and 27. - Cambodia - Pleiku - An Khe - Binh Dinh - Southern Central of Vietnam. 2) Inter-regional tour: - “Legendary Hochiminh trail”: this tour is from Quang Binh provinces, through Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue provinces, to South Central region of Vietnam. Traveling southward by Ho Chi Minh highway (running through the Tay Nguyen), tourists would arrive the Southeast region of Vietnam. - The Kon Tum - Pleiku - An Khe - Quy Nhon - of Vietnam tour along the Ho Chi Minh highway (running through the Tay Nguyen), national routes 19 and 1A road. This tour takes 3-4 days. - The Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang - South Central Coastal of Vietnam tour along national route 26. - The Buon Ma Thuot - Gia Nghia - Binh Phuoc - Binh Duong - Ho Chi Minh City tour along the Ho Chi Minh Highway.

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- The Da Lat - Duc Trong - Di Linh - Bao Loc - Dong Nai - Ba Ria Vung Tau - Ho Chi Minh City tour along the national routes 20 and 56. - The Dalat - Duc Trong - Di Linh - Phan Thiet - Phan Rang tour along the national routes 20, 28 and 1A. - The Da Lat – Phan Rang, Thap Cham tour along the national routes 20 and 27. 3) Inner-region tours - “Tay Nguyen green road”: This tour connects to the National Parks and Nature Reserves in the North of Tay Nguyen with the National parks and Nature reserves in the South of Tay Nguyen. - Kon Tum - Dak Glei tour goes northward, along the Ho Chi Minh highway (running through the Tay Nguyen). - Kon Tum - Kon Plong tour along the national route 24. - Buon Ma Thuot city - Ban Don - Yok Don tour. - Buon Ma Thuot city - Lak tour along the national route 27. - Gia Nghia - Dak Mil - Ra T'ling - Dakmam - Quang Son - Gia Nghia tour along to the Ho Chi Minh Highway (runing through the Tay Nguyen) and provincial routes 684, 695. - Tours in Da Lat city and adjacent areas. Summary of Chapter 3 Landscape of Tay Nguyen is lawfully distributed and diversified in 4 landscape classes, 8 landscape subclasses, 19 landscape types, 84 landscape genera; and the tourism resources in Tay Nguyen have the particularities according to landscape units; the multi-criteria method is applied to assess and to classify the advantageousness for development of two tourism types: recreation and sightseeing. The results show that Kon Tum and Lam Dong have favorable conditions for the simultaneous development of these two tourism types. Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Dak Nong have favorable conditions for development of sightseeing but less favorable for recreation. The result is the new contribution of the dissertation, which is also an important basis for spatially directing the tourism development in Tay Nguyen during the period of international integration. According to the current situation analysis of tourism development in Tay Nguyen, the average growth rate of tourism revenue in the period 2005 - 2015 was 16.1%, mainly in Lam Dong, Kon Tum and Dak Nong provinces; the number of international tourists to Tay Nguyen in 2015 was 2.4 times higher than in 2005. However, this obtainment is not commensurate with the regional potential as international visitors to Tay Nguyen increased only accounts for 3.55% of the whole country, lower than the North West. Accommodation facilities and tourist labor have been invested, but the ranked accommodation facilities are not many, the hotels, ranked 3 stars or more, are largely located in Lam Dong and Dak Lak provinces, while the number of trained workers is still

20 small. This is one of the difficulties that Tay Nguyen tourism has to face in the near future. Tourism development in Tay Nguyen has a large potential, but in reality, it occurs irregularly with a concentration in the south of Tay Nguyen. Although Da Lat is the highlight of Tay Nguyen tourism, the flagship in organizing inner-regional tours, the ability connecting it to other provinces is still difficult because of its geographic location in the south of Tay Nguyen. That shows the irrationality in the regional territorial organization of tourism. In addition to the constraints mentioned above, tourism in Tay Nguyen is now facing enormous environmental challenges such as severe deforestation, the threat of hydropower construction, the bauxite mining process, unplanned aggressive development industrial crops; the change of lifestyle, customs and culture of indigenous peoples; the conflict between tourism development and other sectors; between extent expansion of tourism and conservation, etc. Based on landscape assessment, analysis of current status of tourism development and territorial organization, and SWOT analysis for tourism development, the territorial organization of tourism is orientated with local typical products in accordance with 1 tourism-creating center (Buon Ma Thuot) ; 04 key tourism areas (Kon Plong, Yaly Lake, Buon Ma Thuot and adjacences, Dalat and its adjacencies); national tourism sites related to 03 border gates, national parks, natural reserves, tourism routes and air travel. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Conclusions In the general trend of tourism development in the world and Viet Nam, the territorial organization of tourism from sustainable development viewpoint, is very necessary for rationally exploiting natural resources and protecting environment. As result of studying the relationship between tourism resources (nature, humanity) and the lawful differentiation of the landscape in Tay Nguyen, the territorial organization of tourism from the view of sustainable development, some conclusions have been made as follows: 1. Based on the viewpoints and methodology of landscape research in the world and in Vietnam for tourism development, the close relationship in differentiation between the structure and function of landscape and the tourism resources is explained; the landscape role in territorial organization of tourism is analyzed in order to reasonably use natural resources and protect the environment for sustainable development. These results contribute to consolidate and confirm the rightness and relevance of a new research in landscape in Vietnam - studying landscape assessment for tourism development. 2. Territorial organization of tourism is the arrangement and coordination of objects in a multidisciplinary relationship in a region to

21 reasonably utilize natural and human resources, technical facilities, to promote an effective, professional and sustainable tourism development. Territorial organization of tourism is implemented on the basis of integrating the landscape assessment, the analyze of current development and territorial organization of tourism, the assessment of SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges) and the projection of tourism development trends to meet the increasing demand of visitors. The landscape assessment in this thesis is carried out on the bases of identifying the subject and the object, complying the processes and viewpoints, and choosing the appropriate assessment methods. In the landscape assessment methods for tourism development, the multi-criteria analysis is used in combination with the AHP analysis for weighting the criteria - the worthy factors (to clarify the role and the outstanding of some evaluated factors - the component of landscape units). Concomitantly, mapping and GIS methods are used to express the spatial distribution of tourism resources - elements forming landscape in Tay Nguyen; results of landscape assessment are bases for the development of the main tourism types are also as well as the spatial orientation of tourism development in the study area. In addition, in order to ensure the objectivity and practicality as well as the scientific basis for orientation of tourism development in Tay Nguyen, the two methods of field survey and SWOT analysis are also applied. 3. Tay Nguyen has abundant and original tourism sources, with the Vietnam largest system of waterfalls, lakes, national parks and natural reserves, with a temperate and cool climate of highland, attracting tropical people. Tay Nguyen is a long historical region having many ethnic cultural identities and valuable human relics. Tay Nguyen is a living region of many ethnic groups, including two indigenous groups: Mon -Kh'me (Bana, Xo Dang, Mnong, Ma, Xtieng, etc.) and Nam Dao (Giarai, Ede, Raglai, Chu Ru). The abundance, diversity and richness of natural and human tourism resources with their valuable identity and originality are outstanding strengths of Tay Nguyen for developing two main touristic types of sightseeing and recreation. 4. Tay Nguyen have the potential for tourism development but tourist activities are effected by the spatial and temporal division of climatic elements. Within the thesis, TCI was chosen to determine the effect. The research results show that in Tay Nguyen the dry season is a favorable period for tourism and the rainy season is a less favorable time for tourism. At the same time, Kon Plong, M’Đrak, Lien Khuong, Bao Loc, Lac Duong areas have favorable conditions for tourist activities. This is scientific argument about the segregation of space and the rhythm of the climate for Tay Nguyen territorial organization of tourism.

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5. The landscape structure and the tourism resource have tight relationship, the landscape diversification leads to the differentiation as well as the particularity of tourism resource; otherwise speaking, each landscape unit in Tay Nguyen has its own particularity and potential of tourism. The structure is diversfied to 84 genera of 19 types, 8 subclasses and 4 classes in landscape subsystem of monsoon - plateau, resulting in diversity, originality, attractiveness, locality and multi - ethnic features of tourism resources, hidden in natural landscapes, ecological environments, national parks, natural reserves having high biodiversity, and in highland ethnic communities. 6. Landscape assessment for the development of the two tourism types including sightseeing and recreation in Tay Nguyen is implemented by the methods of multi-criteria assessment and hierarchical analysis (AHP). Eleven criteria are grouped into three: natural resource, human resource and tourism accommodation facility. The assessment results show that: Lam Dong and Kon Tum provinces have highest potential for development of both above- mentioned tourism types, largely located in KonPlong district, Kon Tum city, Da Lat city and adjacences. Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong provinces have high potential for development of tourism sightseeing, mostly located in An Khe, Kbang, Chu Pah, Chu Prong (Gia Lai), Ea Sup, Buon Don, Lak, Krong Bong (Dak Lak), Cu Jut, Dak Mil, Krong No, Dak Glong (Dak Nong). 7. During the past 10 years (2005-2015), tourism in Tay Nguyen has relatively great steps of development. According to the analyses of current development and territorial organization of tourism, Lam Dong is the leading province in tourism, occupying nearly 70% visitors and revenue of whole Tay Nguyen region. Meanwhile, Dak Lak province is assessed to have the potential for tourism development with the advantage of Buon Ma Thuot city, the regional center, remarkably invested in touristic infrastructures, but is not really attractive to tourists. This shows that Tay Nguyen has not yet been a creating center of tourism area; and moreover the tourism in Tay Nguyen occurs irregularly, it is concentrated in the south (Lam Dong) whereas the north (Kon Tum), in spite of having comparable advantages, develops rather slightly. In addition, tourism in Tay Nguyen is developing in the period of many politicoeconmic fluctuations in the world as well as the region. While the competition in the tourism market is fiercely occurring, the tourism in Tay Nguyen lacks a development link, it has to face the threat of hydropower constructions, the bauxite mining, the unplanned and rapid development of the industrial crops, the narrowing of the cultural space, the gradual loss of cultural identity of the native ethnic communities, etc. Therefore, in the coming time, to make this region becoming a top tourist attraction in the highland and mountainous areas in Vietnam, Tay

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Nguyen tourism should continue to bring into play the achievements and to overcome the difficulties and challenges mentioned above 8. The implementation of territorial organization of tourism in Tay Nguyen is based on the combination following results: the assessment of some main tourism types, the assessment of current status of development and territorial organization of tourism, the SWOT analysis for tourism development, the forecasts of some tourism criteria in 2020, 2025, 2030 and tourism planning, national and regional touristic strategies approved by Vietnam government. As a result of these, a spatial organization of tourism development in Tay Nguyen is proposed in accordance with follows: creating centers of tourist area, key tourist zones; tourist sites, travel tours: - Buon Ma Thuot is proposed to be the center for creating tourist area; - Four key tourist areas: Mang Den for developing both sightseeing and recreation types at Dak Nen, Ngoc Tem, Dak Long, Mang But, Mang Canh, Po E communes; Yaly reservoir for developing sightseeing tourism with Yaly hydroelectric factory and and lake, exploration of cultural identity of ethnic Jrai in Phung and Kep village; Buon Ma Thuot city and its adjacencies for developing tourism of sightseeing at Yok Don, Chu Yang Sinh national parks, Krong No vocanic cave, Dray Nur – Dray Sap and Gia Long waterfalls, etc., visiting ethnic art performances, gong performances, epics, festivals of indigenous people in Buon Ma Thuot City, Buon Don, Buon Triet, Buon Tria, experiencing the life of local inhabitants in agricultural activities in Tan Tien Ward, Cu Eebur village; Da Lat city and its adjacencies for developing both sightseeing and recreation with specific tourism product, high-quality recreation combined with sightseeing in Dankia lake – Yellow spring, Tuyen Lam, Dai Ninh lake, natural and cultural sightseeing in Da Lat city, Lac Duong, Lat commune, Lien Khuong, participating together with local inhabitants into high-tech agricultural production in Da Lat. - The tourism sites consist of the national significances in association with Po Y, Le Thanh, Bu Drang international border gates, national parks, vocalnic caves in Krong No district; and other local and regional significances. - Travel tour are made by road and air Recommendation 1. Focus the investment on the development of the key tourist zone in Mang Den (Kon Plong, Kon Tum), prioritizing the combined development of recreation and sightseeing for effectively exploiting tourism potential in region, and spontaneously making a balance in tourism development between the North and the South of Tay Nguyen (Da Lat City and its vicinity) 2. Focus investment on tourism development in Buon Ma Thuot city to make it becoming a creating center of tourism area in Tay Nguyen.

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Figure 1. Landscape map of Tay Nguyen

Figure 2. Legend of landscape map of Tay Nguyen

Figure 3. Map of advantageousness for development of two tourism types in Tay Nguyen

Figure 4. Map of Tay Nguyen territorial organization of tourism