4th International Forum on Red River Basin Development

The 4th International Scientific Conference on the Red River Basin Development Forum, themed “Economic, Cultural, Environmental Protection and Sustainable Tourism Development in the Red River Basin,” was organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism of Lao Cai Province and Honghe Academy (China) on November 9th and 10th, 2012 in Lao Cai Province.Attending the workshop were Mr. Cao Duc Hai - Head of the Propaganda Department of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee; Ms. Ha Thi Nga - Vice Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee; Dr. Tran Huu Son - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai Province; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, along with scientists and lecturers from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Honghe Academy (China)... The workshop focused on two main contents: the current state of research and cooperation in the development of the Red River basin; and some solutions to promote research cooperation to promote exchange activities in the Red River basin in the future. Following the opening session, the workshop worked in three subcommittees: - Subcommittee 1: Cultural and economic exchange among ethnic groups in the Red River basin; - Subcommittee 2: The Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong economic corridor and related issues; - Subcommittee 3: Cooperation and sustainable tourism development in the Red River basin. The presentations at this conference covered various aspects, with most focusing on the exploitation and preservation of cultural values ​​and natural landscapes for sustainable tourism. They also emphasized the need for inter-regional and inter-sectoral development, balancing exploitation with conservation, short-term and long-term benefits, development and sustainable development, improving human resources for tourism, and promoting sustainable tourism development in several localities and between the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam and Southwestern China. The analyses and policy suggestions from the conference presentations contributed to the development of tourism activities in each country and the tourism network of both countries in the Red River basin, focusing on exploitation, conservation, and improving the quality of life for local people. The idea of ​​organizing the scientific conference "Red River Basin Forum" was conceived during a meeting between the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai Province, Vietnam, and Honghe Academy, Yunnan, China. On October 28, 2005, the first workshop was held in Mengzi, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan, China. To date, the organizing committee has held four workshops, attracting over 300 Vietnamese and Chinese scientists with nearly 200 scientific papers. In the future, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province and Honghe Academy (China), together with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), will cooperate in implementing several joint research programs such as: the program for sustainable tourism development in the Red River basin, and the program for research on the culture of ethnic groups in border areas… The 5th International Forum on Red River Basin Development, to be held in 2014, is expected to be hosted by Honghe Academy.