The country itself is of course an ecologically diverse nation, stretching from the temperate north to the sub-tropical south, from the mountainous west to the coastal plains of the east. The jungles of the interior are still home to much varied wild life, from rare birds to protected species of animal, many of which can now only be found in the wild in Vietnam.

Vietnam boasts plenty of national parks and reserves and the country is serious about protecting the environment for generations to come. Visitors can take advantage of this through specialised tours which will take them to some of the most beautiful spots in Vietnam.

Ha Long Bay is an obvious - and much visited - option for MICE groups, with its stunning scenery providing the perfect backdrop for serious meetings or just fun, team-building events hosted aboard the variety of boats which ply the waters between the islands. At the edges of Ha Long lies Cat Ba island, a protected nature reserve home to many indigenous plants and animals.

In the centre and south of the country more intrepid guests will be rewarded with some of the finest scenery and wild life to be seen in Vietnam - at Ba Na and Bach Ma close to Danang and Hoi An, or Cat Tien National Park just a short journey from Ho Chi Minh City. Visitors to these parks and reserves can take advantage of the traditional "home-stay" accommodation - basic but definitely "close to nature" in their facilities!

Another fascinating aspect of Vietnam has to be the country's minority tribes, mostly found in the mountainous north and central regions of the nation. Again, home-stay accommodation is available at many traditional hill-tribe locales, although for those visiting Sapa (a regional centre of minority life to the north-west of Hanoi) visitors can take advantage of some very up-market accommodation options. Trips to any of these minority centres are easily arranged through your tour leader or operator.

And finally, Vietnam's central coastal region is developing something of a reputation for eco-tourism, with a few resorts now offering "back to nature" packages with basic accommodations, no telephone or even electricity after ten pm. Guests at these spots are compensated however with stunning views across unspoilt waters, deserted beaches and an untouched natural habitat which is home to many species of unique flora and fauna.

For details of eco-tourism packages and add-ons, please contact your travel agent or tour operator.