The Impacts of Community-Based Rural Tourism on Rural Development: Insights from Hội An, Vietnam

Despite growing policy interest in community-led tourism, empirical evidence remains limited on how Community-Based Rural Tourism (CBRT) influences livelihoods, cultural integrity, and environmental outcomes, as well as the barriers constraining inclusive participation. This study addresses this gap by examining the socio-economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts of CBRT in Trà Quế Village, Vietnam, and identifying the factors shaping its contribution to sustainable rural development. Drawing on sustainable tourism and community participation theories, a mixed-methods approach was employed, combining semi-structured surveys of 97 households (including CBRT participants and non-participants), a focus group of five key stakeholders, and systematic non-participant observation. Findings reveal that CBRT has diversified livelihoods, increased household incomes, strengthened participation in tourism value chains, and enhanced cultural identity and environmental stewardship. However, challenges persist, including limited financial access, skill deficiencies, fragmented governance, and risks of cultural commodification. The study contributes to the understanding of CBRT’s dynamics in developing contexts, offering practical insights for inclusive and sustainable tourism governance. Strengthening institutional support and participatory management is essential to scaling CBRT as a viable, replicable model of community-managed, sustainable rural tourism in Vietnam.