Visitors enjoy collecting clams during their trip to Hải Tiến Beach. — Photo nhandan.vn

HẢI TIẾN — Early in the morning, visitors at Hải Tiến Beach join local fishermen to rake for clams while others explore nearby fishing villages and historic sites.

Such activities are becoming part of Hải Tiến’s tourism offer as the coastal destination moves towards a more sustainable model.

Located in Thanh Hóa Province's coastal tourism corridor, Hải Tiến covers Hoằng Tiến and Hoằng Thanh communes. The area has a long coastline, rivers and an estuary ecosystem, offering favourable conditions for nature-based tourism.

Residents have also seen the problems that can come with rapid and seasonal tourism. These include household waste, pressure on the coastal environment and overcrowding during peak periods.

In response, local authorities and tourism providers have paid more attention to environmental protection and service quality. Tourism businesses have been encouraged to publicly list prices, keep prices stable and avoid soliciting customers.

The aim is to build Hải Tiến as a clean and friendly coastal destination while creating a more stable source of income for residents.

The scenic beauty of Hải Tiến Beach. — Photo vinwonders.com

Beyond the beach

Another focus is to offer visitors activities outside the peak summer season.

Beach trips are now being linked with local cultural and historical sites, including Bụt Pagoda, Lạch Trường fishing port, Khúc Phụ fish-sauce village, Hồi Long Pagoda and Tô Hiến Thành Temple.

Visitors can also take part in activities such as collecting clams and digging for lốc khốc, a local shellfish.

The activities give visitors a closer look at life in the coastal community.

For Phạm Như Quỳnh, a visitor from Hòa Bình Ward in Phú Thọ Province, this was one of the reasons her family chose Hải Tiến for their summer holiday.

“We wanted somewhere peaceful. The beach is clean, and the local people are friendly. There is no aggressive selling or inflated pricing like at some other coastal destinations,” she said.

Her children particularly enjoyed going out early in the morning with local fishermen to rake for clams.

“It was a real experience for them and something they will remember from this summer,” she added.

Visitors explore Khúc Phụ traditional fish sauce village. — Photo nhandan.vn

Community effort

Residents have also become more involved in protecting the beach and supporting tourism.

The Hải Tiến Beach Tourism Club was established by young people interested in the development of the local tourism economy. Its members regularly organise beach clean-ups and encourage tourism businesses to reduce their use of single-use plastics.

Since 2025, the club has helped mobilise the collection of tens of tonnes of waste and raise funds for the waste treatment.

The club also runs a free tourism guide service. Its members advise visitors on places to visit and help connect them with local tourism services.

“Tourism development is a long-term process,” said Cao Văn Biên, chairman of the Hải Tiến Beach Tourism Club.

“Many destinations have paid a price for developing tourism in a seasonal and fragmented way. We want to help local people develop tourism more effectively, while building Hải Tiến’s reputation and improving their incomes and living standards over the long term.”

Lê Xuân Hoàn, deputy secretary of the Hoằng Tiến Party Committee and chairman of the commune People’s Committee, said the club had made practical contributions to local tourism.

Its members have helped organise beach clean-ups, connect tourist sites, assist visitors and support search and rescue operations, he said.

Members of the Hải Tiến Beach Tourism Club and young people collect waste along the beach. — Photo nhandan.vn

Using social media

Hải Tiến has also made greater use of social media to communicate with visitors.

Facebook pages and community groups provide information about accommodation prices, food menus and service fees. Visitors can ask about weather conditions, tides and places to eat or visit.

The platforms also allow tourism providers and local residents to respond directly to questions and feedback.

Environmental activities are regularly posted on Facebook, including beach clean-ups and campaigns encouraging visitors to reduce single-use plastics. Photos and short videos of visitors taking part in local activities are also shared.

Trần Mạnh Đức from Hà Đông Ward in Hà Nội said the information had influenced his view of the destination.

“As someone interested in green tourism, I appreciate the environmental information shared on Facebook," he said.

"Posts reminding people to dispose of waste properly and reduce single-use plastics also make visitors more conscious of their behaviour.”

He plans to return to Hải Tiến with his family in the coming seasons.

For Hải Tiến, the beach remains the main attraction. But local tourism providers are trying to give visitors more reasons to come, stay and return.

Local experiences, cleaner public spaces and greater involvement from residents are becoming part of that effort. — VNS