First “Mobile Nature Centre” launched in Ninh Binh, connecting tourism with environmental conservation

Designed as a traveling exhibition housed in specially equipped buses and featuring virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, the initiative aims to bring engaging conservation stories closer to the public.

The launch event took place at the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve and attracted representatives from government agencies, conservation organisations, tourism businesses, as well as local residents and visitors. The event also marked the opening of a series of activities under the Ninh Binh Trang An Creative Music Festival 2026.

The “Mobile Nature Centre” is led by Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) in collaboration with the Environmental Crime Prevention Police Department, the Forestry and Forest Protection Department, and the Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Agency, among other partners.

What makes the project unique is its fully mobile exhibition space, integrated into three specially designed buses. To provide visitors with an immersive and interactive learning experience, each bus focuses on a different theme and incorporates a range of modern technologies, including 3D wildlife models, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and touchscreen information systems.

According to the organisers, the journey of these “green buses” will extend far beyond Ninh Binh. In the coming months, they will travel to residential communities, schools, tourist destinations, and buffer zones surrounding protected areas across the country.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Director of the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism Pham Duy Phong emphasised that the province is home to invaluable natural assets, including the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Cuc Phuong National Park, and Van Long Nature Reserve.

He noted that Ninh Binh’s long-term strategy is to promote sustainable tourism while balancing economic growth with the responsibility of preserving natural and cultural heritage.

The province is also actively working on a UNESCO World Heritage nomination dossier for the “Trang An Van Long Kim Bang Tam Chuc Delacour's Langur Cultural and Ecological Landscape,” which is expected to be submitted for consideration in the near future.

“We encourage tourism models that combine nature-based experiences, environmental education, and wildlife protection. These are essential elements in building Ninh Binh’s tourism identity and brand,” Phong said./.