Attractive community tourism in coconut land

02/05/2023 1356 0
Quitting his job during the Covid-19 epidemic, Quach Duy Thinh (born in 1992) was determined to return to his hometown to start a business, turning his current house into a tourist destination Homestay Maison du Bays de Ben Tre associated with using indigenous resources to attract tourists.

Tourists ride bicycles in the coconut garden.

In 2020, after resigning from his job due to the Covid-19 pandemic which caused the tourist area where he worked to temporarily cease operations, Thinh, with 7 years of experience in the industry, decided to borrow 300 million VND from the bank to open "Homestay Maison du Bays de Ben Tre" right at the house where he and his grandmother live in Thanh Phu Dong commune, Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province.

Just 3 months after opening and welcoming 119 tourists, the homestay was affected by the pandemic and had to shut down for 8 months. To sustain himself, Thinh had to engage in various livelihood activities while also repaying the bank loan. Fortunately, as tourism began to recover post-pandemic, his tourist spot also managed to sustain and develop until now.

To reach Thinh's homestay, one must first take a paved road, then a concrete road, and finally a gravel road lined with lush green coconut trees on both sides. The environment with coconut trees, farming activities, and livestock is the highlight that Thinh leverages for community tourism development.

Upon entering the gate of his modest home in Thanh Phu Dongcommune, Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province, Thinh has meticulously designed a space that reflects the characteristic charm of rural Ben Tre. Surrounding the area are bundles of coconut leaves used for the kitchen, a traditional stone mortar for grinding flour, bamboo fishing tools, and a harmoniously arranged and humble dining table. What's particularly noteworthy is the attention to detail in minimizing environmental pollution, such as using coconut palm leaf straws instead of plastic ones and banana leaves as food wrappers.

Visitors to Thinh's homestay experience various activities such as cycling through coconut gardens, visiting cocoa gardens, rowing boats, and exploring a local Roman Catholic church. They also enjoy delicious dishes prepared by Thinh's grandmother and local women from the village. In 2022, Thinh's homestay hosted over 1,000 tourists, with 80% being domestic travelers. In the first three months of 2023 alone, they welcomed 620 guests, including 469 overnight stays.

Early in the morning, Thinh, his grandmother, and two neighbors were busy preparing meals for a group of five French tourists who came to experience the tour and local cuisine. Thinh mentioned that his 76-year-old grandmother would personally prepare traditional "bánh khọt" cakes from the countryside for the tourists to observe and enjoy on the spot. Thanks to tourism, Thinh has created employment for five local workers.

Mr. Le Thanh Rum, formerly a cattle farmer and gardener, has transitioned to becoming a tour guide and bicycle companion for tourists over the past year, earning approximately 4.5 million Vietnamese Dong per month. He shared, "I only completed secondary school education, and throughout my life, I worked as a farmer, so I never thought I would one day become a tour guide. Now, in addition to farming, whenever there are tourists, I ride bicycles and guide them to beautiful countryside scenes. My communication skills are not professional as I haven't received formal training, but tourists seem to enjoy my authentic rural voice."

To develop community tourism, Thịnh collaborates with four farming households to maximize local resources, including fruit orchards and scenic rivers in the countryside. Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong's family, residing in Hung Le commune, Giong Trom district, has shifted to tourism from their 1.5-hectare coconut and cocoa garden through a partnership with Thinh's homestay.

Mr. Cuong explained that previously, they cultivated cocoa alongside coconut trees, but the yields were low, and prices were relatively poor. In 2016, prolonged saltwater intrusion caused significant losses in their cocoa trees, reducing their garden to nearly 200 trees. With limited quantities and difficulty in harvesting, they were considering clearing the garden. However, nearly two years ago, Thinh proposed a partnership to bring tourists for visits, prompting Mr. Cuong to maintain the garden until today.

When visiting Mr. Cuong's home, we encountered a group of foreign tourists exploring the organic farming processes of coconuts and cocoa. They were fascinated to witness firsthand the beekeeping barrels for honey, personally harvest cocoa pods, and feed the goats. After the tour, the guests enjoyed fresh cocoa directly from the garden. Mr. Cuong happily remarked, "Thanks to the tourists, I can sell fresh cocoa on the spot for 25,000 Vietnamese đồng per cup, without worrying about market outlets as before. My wife and I take care of the garden and livestock while earning income from tourism, so our lives are very stable."

Secretary of the Youth Union of Giong Trom District, Ms. Le Thi Phi Yen, mentioned that Quach Duy Thinh's tourism model is one of the youth entrepreneurship initiatives in the district, earning him third place in a startup competition organized by the Provincial Youth Union and an encouragement award at the regional level. In the near future, Thinh plans to lease 500 square meters of land adjacent to his home to create a space reflecting the distinctive characteristics of Ben Tre, while also collaborating with more local households to enrich and sustainably develop his community tourism model.

Source https://nhandan.vn

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