Abstract

Spiritual - ecological tourism has emerged as a vital orientation for sustainable tourism development in Vietnam, especially in regions where natural landscapes and religious heritage coexist harmoniously. Huong Pagoda (Chùa Hương) in Huong Son commune, Hanoi City, Vietnam, is widely recognized as one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage centers in the country and a unique complex that integrates sacred cultural values with rich ecological resources. Despite its popularity - receiving millions of pilgrims annually - Huong Pagoda faces multiple challenges in environmental management, service quality, heritage conservation, and sustainable tourism planning. This study investigates current conditions, tourism potentials, and constraints related to spiritual - ecological tourism development at Huong Pagoda. Using a mixed-methods approach that includes field observations, semi - structured interviews with local stakeholders, tourist surveys and secondary data analysis, the research evaluates the existing tourism model and proposes a comprehensive framework for sustainable development. Findings demonstrate that the site possesses exceptional assets (e.g., karst landscapes, cave systems, forest ecosystems, tangible and intangible Buddhist heritage), but suffers from overcrowding during the festival season, inadequate waste management, unregulated commercial activities, and limited community involvement. The paper proposes solutions regarding environmental governance, digital transformation, visitor flow control, community empowerment, interpretation enhancement, and heritage conservation. The study contributes practical recommendations that can support Hanoi’s strategic vision for transforming Huong Pagoda into a model of integrated spiritual - ecological tourism in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.