DAOIST ECO-ETHICS AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS: LESSONS FROM TRAM CHIM

Abstract

  This paper investigates the integration of Daoist eco-ethics into the framework of sustainable tourism development within the Tram Chim Ramsar site, Dong Thap Province. The wetland ecosystem of Tram Chim, characterized by its profound biodiversity and serving as the critical habitat for the endangered Sarus Crane , currently faces severe pressures from anthropocentric expansion and commercial tourism overexploitation. Grounded in field surveys and carrying capacity assessments derived from the foundational master’s thesis, this study conceptualizes a novel theoretical paradigm synthesizing core Daoist tenets: Ziran (Spontaneity), Wu-wei (Non-coercive action), and Tian-ren-he-yi (Cosmic unity of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity). This philosophical ontology asserts that humanity is not a dominant hegemon but rather an organic, interconnected component within the holistic ecological flow. The findings indicate that operationalizing Wu-wei—by mitigating aggressive artificial interventions and strictly enforcing ecological carrying capacity limits —effectively preserves the pristine wetland biome while optimizing sustainable livelihoods for local buffer-zone communities. This study provides a distinct philosophical perspective for Vietnam’s tourism sector, arguing that ancient eco-centric ethics hold the definitive key to resolving the dialectical tension between conservation and development in international wetlands.