<p>Afforestation tourism, a nature-based tourism form, targets higher education tourists who are concerned with conservation. It aligns with outdoor environmental education and can serve as a student field trip. This study uses questionnaire data to assess the value of afforestation tourism in connection with an environmental education course, taking a case study at the Can Gio Mangrove Forest in Vietnam. The work explores the relationship between afforestation tourism, outdoor environmental education, and indoor environmental education. We analyzed the preferences of 117 students, split into field-trip and non-field-trip groups, on a one-day trip. A confirmatory factor analysis model was used to evaluate students’ awareness and psychological factors. A linear regression analysis was conducted to identify significant factors influencing their willingness to pay for afforestation tourism. Results reveal five critical awareness and psychological constructs. Students’ willingness to pay is positively influenced by awareness of the human impact on nature, appreciation for the field trip, individual and family income, and the number of children in the family. However, students with a green daily routine are less willing to pay. The findings provide insights into how nature-based tourism can be integrated with university-level environmental education, highlighting its potential as an experiential learning platform, an aspect not previously emphasized in existing ecotourism or environmental education literature.</p>