The choice of a park management model: A case study of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam

• Examines the development process of the Vietnamese park system
• Identifies the factors behind the transformation into the co-existing management model
• Provides a theoretical explanation of the choice of Vietnamese park management model
• Facilitates transferability of the Vietnamese park management model to other countries in Southeast Asia

Establishing balance among the mandates for recreation, conservation and economy makes sustainable tourism management of parks and protected areas a challenge. The Vietnamese park system continues to transform into different management models. In 2006, the Special-Use Forests Policy introduced the co-existing management model, under which power is distributed between the public and private sectors. The unique model has long been applied to the management of parks in Vietnam, but no explanation has ever been given on how the model was chosen. This study investigates the co-existing management model in the Vietnamese park system using the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park as a case study. The research examines the development process of the Vietnamese park system and identifies the factors behind the transformation into the current management model. As such, the study provides a theoretical explanation of the choice of the co-existing management model in Vietnamese national parks, and discusses its practical implications to park management in other countries.