Vietnam: Laguna Lăng Cô Awarded EarthCheck Gold Certification

POSTED ON December 6, 2019 @ 7:48 am

Hue, Vietnam: Laguna Lăng Cô has enhanced its reputation as one of Vietnam’s foremost resorts and a leader in environment protection, after being awarded a Gold Certification by EarthCheck, a scientific and environmental benchmarking, certification and advisory group for the travel and tourism industry.

Since 2013, Laguna Lăng Cô has partnered with EarthCheck to integrate scientifically proven and critically defendable systems for the benefit of environmental preservation and conservations across operations.

In 2016, the resort was awarded ‘Silver EarthCheck Certification’, a year after gaining ‘Bronze EarthCheck Certification’, which positioned the venue as a leader in a worldwide group of sustainable tourism operators.

Laguna Lăng Co’s water buffaloes manage the rice paddies on the golf course.

Laguna Lăng Cô boasts an 18-hole course that is a Sir Nick Faldo Signature design, host venue of the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, and widely regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly courses in the world.

A family of water buffalo, who act as Bio-mowers, help to protect the traditional landscape, whilst managing the rice paddies by eating the excess weeds surrounding the course that would otherwise need machinery to manage. The unique nature of the course also means it provides for the local community with the rice paddies being harvested twice a year, producing up to 20 tons of rice of which the majority is donated to support local families in the area.

A Golf Course Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, Laguna Lăng Cô is fast-growing a reputation as one of the most spectacular and unique courses in Asia.

“Laguna Golf Lăng Cô is a unique destination that shows off the very best of Vietnam and provides golfers with an alternative challenge. We are delighted that all the hard work put into our Sir Nick Faldo Signature design course, to make it environmentally sustainable, has been recognised by EarthCheck through the awarding of this gold certification,” said Gareth Williams, Director of Design & Operations at Faldo Design, an Associate Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

“Everyone associated with Faldo Design is determined to make sure that Laguna Golf Lăng Cô continues to set high standards in order to remain as an industry leader for tourism and travel. We also can’t wait to welcome all of our Faldo Series participants, in March 2020, for the 14th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final and show off what makes Laguna Golf Lăng Cô so special,” added Williams.

Laguna’s four precincts, that include Banyan Tree Lang Co Hotel, Angsana Lang Co Hotel, the Laguna Lăng Cô golf course and Laguna Lăng Cô Service Centre, were assessed for meeting EarthCheck Gold Certificate requirements for five continuous years.

There are 10 key performance areas that are addressed in order to make this standard – Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Conservation and Management, Management of Freshwater Resources, Eco-system Conversation and Management, Social and Cultural Management, Land Use Planning and Management, Air Quality Protection, Wastewater Management, Solid Waste Management and Environmentally Harmful Substances.

Adam Calver, Laguna Golf Lang Co’s Director of Golf, said: “We are extremely proud to have been awarded gold certification by EarthCheck. Laguna Lăng Cô focuses heavily on environmental sustainability and this certification is testament to all the hard work and effort shown by everyone making sure the resort maintains its position as a leader in environmental stewardship for the travel, golf and tourism industry.”

Stewart Moore, CEO of EarthCheck, said: “I congratulate the whole team at Laguna Lăng Cô on their achievement. Adam Calver and his team are a valued member of a global group of tourism operators who dare to make a difference. Laguna Lăng Cô has now joined other industry leaders in taking the meaningful steps towards resolving some of the very real issues that our planet faces.”

Laguna Lăng Cô is the first and largest world-class integrated resort in Vietnam and is home to a 280-hectare community, which marks the first project in Vietnam for Banyan Tree Group, and is famed for its three-kilometre beach that overlooks the East Sea, an area renowned for its natural scenery and close proximity to UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The community includes Banyan Tree and Angsana branded hotels and spas, private villas, residences called Laguna Park Lăng Cô available for sale and rentals, conventional facilities and an array of recreational activities. It offers guests the chance to rejuvenate their mind, body and soul, whilst enjoying memorable experiences in a breathtaking location.

Founded in 1987, EarthCheck science and products were developed by the Australian Government Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre (STCRC). Their products are built on the Agenda 21 principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.

EarthCheck has helped travel and tourism organisations to increase efficiencies, maximise guest experience and minimise their environmental footprint. EarthCheck helps organisations by providing them with the expertise needed to move forward in a world where changing regulatory environments, rapidly evolving markets and complex risk implications are a massive threat. They have completed over 40,000 performance reports, thousands of on-site audits and certified clients in more than 70 countries.