Your role in sustainable development of Mui Ne

This page is gathering ideas about the role each one of us can play in Mui Ne regarding to:

• environment
• social justice
• local economy

By being aware that you have such a role and by being willing to have a positive impact, you become “Responsible”.
Yeah, it sounds good! What can you do?
Mui Ne is driven by tourism so “responsible tourism” should be your main concern (weather you are a tourist or making your living from touristic activities).
Here are few ideas, it is up to you to build up your own rules:
Don't buy or eat local wildlife
In the menu or in a bottle of alcohol, you might find snake, bear, bats, frogs, turtles or sea horses. Some are endangered species (bear, frogs and turtles). If you see an abuse of animals or wildlife, report this to the Education for Nature Vietnam’s (ENV) toll free hotline on 1800-1522 or e-mail them at hotline@thiennhien.org.
Pick-up one plastic garbage, that's more than zero
For sure this is not convenient when you are practicing kitesurf, windsurf or walking on the street. Not all of us want to transform their Sunday morning into beach cleaning sessions. However, plastic bags and bottles will stay for long in the nature.
=> An easy action is to pick-up just one whenever you know you will reach a garbage bin soon.
Turn off your air-con when you are not in your room
If you want to cool down, why not having a swim, you are at the beach! Or a Mojito at the bar ;-)
Respect the safety of other people when practicing water-sport
Weather you are a kitesurfer, a windsurfer , a surfer or practicing any other activity, there are some safety rules that should be respected not only to keep you safe but also the others.
For the top 3 activities people practice in Mui Ne, here are only 3 rules:

• Do not practice near beach users (swimmers, sun-bathers, spectators...)
• For Kitesurfers : Never fly your kite on the beach (find more in kitesurfingmuine.com)
• For surfers: Use a leash! Or a wave might throw your board right in the face of a young kid playing in shallow water.

No drugs
Drugs is very severely punished in Vietnam (up to death sentence!). By buying drugs, you are increasing the demand and naturally the offer will grow having more people to depend on illegal activities.
No prostitution
Risk of contracting HIV and sexually transmitted diseases is growing very fast in Vietnam and there are other wider social implications. More than that, this side of the economy has no ethic and has no care of social development of the workers and their family.
Don’t drink and drive
Road accident is the first cause of mortality in Vietnam, don't challenge the statistics!
Help the kids, they are the future
I believe that giving money to children is not a good idea on touristic sites.
If you want to help children, you can get in touch with an orphanage in the region of Mui Ne. The Phu Hai orphanage has approximately 30-35 children, most of whom are under 6 years of age. Most were left at the Phan Thiet hospital as newborns. To visit this orphanage, traveling from Mui Ne: Head towards Phan Thiet. After you pass the toll at the bottom of the hill below the Cham towers, take an immediate right. You will pass a school on your right, and then a large new pagoda (temple). The river will be on your left all the way. The very next building on your right will be the orphanage. It is gated and sits inconspicuously on the hill next to the pagoda. Visitors will need to bring an interpreter as no one on site speaks English. The staff is kind and friendly and welcomes visitors. You may reach them at 062811788 (in Vietnam). If you wish to bring gifts or supplies to the orphanage at Phu Hai, the following can always be used: milk, fruit, cakes and candies; cloths and toys for toddlers and infants; school supplies for children in their first years of school; appropriate gifts on birthdays, Christmas, Têt and other holidays. Please also consider supporting the staff with gifts as well. They have made strong commitment and sacrifice to care for these children, with very meager salaries.
 
A lot of information is coming from the page of BuffaloTours about Responsible Travel Guidelines which we thank for the awareness