Cù Lao Chàm-Hôi An (CBR) was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2009, with the Marine Protected Area of Cù Lao Chàm archipelago as the core zone and Hôi An Ancient Town, inscribed as World Heritage under criteria (ii) and (v) in 1999, as the transition zone. Riverside, natural wetlands, mangrove forest in estuary and the beaches of Hôi An city form the buffer zone connecting both areas. The archipelago is valued for its marine species with the islands containing mountainous areas and rainforest ecosystems. Hôi An, an ancient trading port, bears witness to the fusion of Vietnamese and European cultures. In order to develop an integrated management, MAB (Man and the Biosphere) Vietnam has designed the “Systemic thinking – Land/seascape planning – Intersectoral coordination with Involvement of Stakeholders – Quality economy Model” (SLIQ model) allowing policy makers, managers, local people and researchers to collaborate and address complex problems in a systemic way.