It is said that the Maldives has “redefined paradise”. Photos of the Maldives seem to encapsulate the fantasies of any travel enthusiast’s ideal summer.

Heaven is not too far away

The Republic of Maldives consists of a group of more than 1,000 coral islands in the Indian Ocean but only has a total area of 298 km2, making it one of the 10 smallest countries in the world. This is because most of the islands here are fragile strips of land, suddenly appearing in the middle of the ocean, with only nearly 200 relatively large islands inhabited by residents. Although it is the smallest country in Asia and also one of the smallest island countries in the world, today the Maldives is known to the whole world for its irresistible beauty, not at all with the title “sea paradise”. island”. 

Thanks to tourism development, the Maldives has had a miraculous transformation, from a small, isolated, and economically underdeveloped island nation to one of the 26 marine paradises that attract the most tourists in the world. Tourism income currently accounts for more than 30% of the Maldives’ gross domestic product (GDP).

Familiar images of the Maldives are the endless coconut palms embracing the smooth white sand, the deep blue sky, the water surface with small waves but still so clear that you can see through to the bottom, and the luxurious resorts located on the sea. on the sea surface… In the Maldives, you can find all activities related to sea tourism, from simple experiences such as swimming, learning about the traditional fishing activities of fishermen on the island, and fishing to see the sunset. kiss with fishermen, scuba dive to see coral, swim with trained sharks, to luxury experiences such as flying a seaplane to see the entire archipelago from above and enjoying dinner at licensed restaurants. built underground under the ocean…

Maldives is an island nation with many private islands, moving between islands is not simple, so choosing where to stay will largely determine your experience. If you choose to stay in luxury resorts located far from the capital Malé, you will mostly only enjoy the services provided by the resort. Meanwhile, if you stay on inhabited islands, you will have the opportunity to learn and experience local culture. Maafushi and Malé islands are two inhabited islands chosen by many tourists. The limitation of these islands is that there are few beautiful beaches. The Maldives is a Muslim country, so on Maafushi Island there is only one beach where bikinis are allowed. Visitors are also advised not to wear revealing shirts or clothes above the knees.

Maldives is famous as a place for high-end tourism. Tourists from all over the world flock here to enjoy the luxury of the Maldives. Nothing is lacking here and nothing is out of reach. However, currently, with the island nation’s tourism stimulation policies, more and more tourists have the opportunity to come to the Maldives. Currently, tours from Vietnam to the Maldives cost from more than 30 million VND/per person. Maldives waives visa for all visitors for 30 days. You only need to prepare a passport with at least 6 months validity to enter the country.

Heaven can disappear

“Come to the Maldives before it’s too late” – that statement is not just an invitation but also a warning. Rising sea levels are threatening up to 1/10 of the world’s population living in low-lying areas, including the paradise islands of the Maldives. According to the website of the Guinness World Records Organization, 80% of this island nation is located just 2 meters above sea level. With the current climate change and sea level rise, the Maldives may disappear by 2050.

This is not an empty “threat”. In 2004, the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean left the Maldives severely affected. 20 islands of the Maldives have sunk into the sea or disappeared, forcing people to redraw the map of this island nation. At that time, the Maldives government even proposed the idea: Of migrating the entire population of the island nation to another place, but it is difficult to answer where to send nearly 400,000 people of this island nation. However, this idea also makes the world look more seriously at environmental issues, about the risk that many island nations will be wiped out on the world map because of rising sea levels, and about the fact that a nation may have to take refuge… Today, the construction of artificial islands and works to combat rising sea levels are still being urgently implemented in the Maldives.

Therefore, along with the desire to once set foot in the Maldives, tourists should also immediately embark on actions to protect the environment.