The story of farmers developing ecotourism in their gardens.

No longer confined to traditional agricultural production, many farmers in Dong Nai have recently "revived" their orchards by opening them to visitors for tours and experiences.

The model of developing ecotourism in orchards has brought good income to many farmers in Dong Nai. Photo: An Nhon

From melon patches, apple orchards, and flower gardens to lush fruit orchards (rambutan, mangosteen, durian, etc.), ecotourism in orchards is gradually becoming a new direction, both increasing income and contributing to promoting the image of the fertile and peaceful lands of Dong Nai province.

Diversify models and enhance the value of agricultural products.

For about two weeks now, the garden of Mr. Tran Van Loc's family (in Cay Da neighborhood, Binh Loc ward) has been busier than usual. Mr. Loc and his children are cleaning up the parking area, tending to the flowers, and renovating the gazebos... to prepare for welcoming tourists when the fruit season arrives. At 76 years old, Mr. Loc is still agile and directly participates in many important tasks in the ecotourism model that his family has painstakingly built.

Few would imagine that Uncle Loc La (a name familiar to many tourists) was once a pure, traditional farmer, spending his days working in the fields. He recounted: After many years of traditional farming , his family barely made ends meet, rarely having the opportunity to prosper. The vicious cycle of "good harvest, low prices; high prices, poor harvest" kept repeating, causing him to ponder finding a new direction. "To improve our situation, we have to change. Farming the old way makes it difficult to progress," Mr. Loc confided.

About eight years ago, when the ecotourism model of gardens began to emerge in the area, he realized it was an opportunity for him. Despite having no prior tourism experience, he decided to give it a try. He started by applying for a job at the first tourist destination in the area to learn, then continued his research through books, newspapers, television, and the internet, even traveling to the Mekong Delta to visit successful models. "You have to learn whatever you do. I take a slow but steady approach, gradually gaining experience as I go," Mr. Loc shared.

Dong Nai currently has a large area of ​​fruit trees, with many specialty varieties such as rambutan, durian, mangosteen, pomelo, etc., which are popular in the market. Combining clean agricultural production with experiential tourism is becoming an inevitable trend, helping to increase the value of agricultural products, reduce dependence on traders, and open up opportunities for sustainable rural economic development.

By 2019, having accumulated sufficient knowledge and basic infrastructure, Mr. Loc boldly invested in opening his garden to visitors. Instead of working alone, he collaborated with neighboring garden owners to develop the economy together. After more than six years of hard work, his garden has become a familiar destination for many tourists from near and far. His family's income has improved significantly, and their lives are more stable. More importantly, this model has created jobs for many local workers and helped garden owners effectively market their products.

While Mr. Loc exemplifies the transformation of the older generation of farmers, Mr. Ha Anh Thuy (34 years old, residing in Bao Vinh ward) represents the younger generation who dare to think and act on their chosen entrepreneurial path. Having dropped out of school early due to difficult circumstances, Mr. Thuy worked various jobs to support his family. But deep within him always lay the dream of developing eco-tourism in his garden.

The high-tech cantaloupe farming model of Mr. Ha Anh Thuy (right) attracts many tourists to visit and experience. Photo: An Nhon

In 2019, Mr. Thuy decided to remove the unproductive crops and renovate his 1,500m² garden to grow watermelons and cantaloupes on trellises. This was a completely new approach in the area at that time. “It was very difficult at the beginning, but if you don't try, you won't know how far you can go…” Mr. Thuy recalled.

Thanks to his persistent application of modern science and technology, his melon farming model quickly yielded high economic returns. Not content with just selling agricultural products, in 2021, he further diversified into eco-tourism within the orchard. A unique feature is that visitors don't have to buy an entrance fee. They can freely explore, take photos, learn about the clean production process, pick melons themselves, and enjoy them on the spot. They only pay if they wish to purchase melons to take home.

This approach quickly attracted many visitors, especially families and groups of young people. To ensure a steady stream of tourists, Mr. Thuy adopted an intercropping method, guaranteeing a year-round harvest. "I can sell my products at a good price while also earning extra income from tourism services. More importantly, customers trust me because they can see firsthand the process of producing clean, safe products," Mr. Thuy shared.

A promising direction

In Cay Sung hamlet (Tri An commune), Mr. Nguyen Duc Toan also had a similar transformation journey. Having previously invested in mango cultivation but facing uncertain market demand, he decided to shift to a new business direction.

In 2022, he boldly cut down the old mango trees and invested hundreds of millions of dong to build a 2,500m² greenhouse to grow organic Thai apples. This was a new model in the area, so he faced many difficulties in the beginning. But with a learning-by-doing spirit, he persevered in studying documents and visiting successful models to learn from their experiences.

When the apple orchard started bearing a stable, high-quality harvest, more and more visitors came. Recognizing the potential, he expanded into eco-tourism in the orchard and has maintained it steadily for over two years. Visitors not only come to visit but also get to pick apples themselves, enjoy them on the spot, and buy them as gifts. The stable selling price, not dependent on middlemen, allows him to be more proactive in production. "Doing tourism helps me increase the value of my products. The fruit sold directly from the orchard is guaranteed to be clean, fresh, and delicious, and the spacious environment makes visitors very satisfied and willing to buy apples at a higher price," Mr. Toan said.

From specific stories like those of Mr. Loc, Mr. Thuy, and Mr. Toan, it's clear that the ecotourism garden model is opening up a new direction for the development of agriculture in Dong Nai.

In fact, when agricultural production is combined with tourism, the value of agricultural products is significantly enhanced. Farmers not only sell their products but also "sell" the experience and their stories of farming. As a result, their income is more stable and less dependent on the market. In addition, many farms invest in additional services such as fishing, preparing delicious local dishes, and experiencing farming activities to increase their attractiveness to tourists. Some places have become familiar destinations for family groups and students on weekends.

Besides bringing economic benefits, this model also contributes to preserving the rural landscape and raising environmental awareness. When engaging in tourism, people pay more attention to garden care, creating a green, clean, and beautiful environment.

With the dynamism of farmers and existing advantages, ecotourism in orchards is expected to continue to develop strongly in the coming time. From fruit-laden orchards and vibrant flower gardens with beautiful scenery and fresh natural air, a new and promising direction is opening up, not only helping farmers to prosper but also bringing the image of Dong Nai closer to tourists from near and far.

Thanh Nhan

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202603/chuyen-nong-dan-lam-du-lich-sinh-thai-vuon-c5e1ff1/