"Nature-friendly" tourism in Con Chim
The most impressive destination in Tra Vinh today is Con Chim (Hoa Minh commune, Chau Thanh district), built with the support of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Economic and Tourism Development Research. Launched at the end of 2019, but due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, it was not until the end of 2022 that this land's tourism potential was "awakened"; becoming a typical green tourist destination in the Mekong Delta, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists to explore and experience. This has always been the destination chosen by travel businesses inside and outside the province when bringing visitors to Tra Vinh in recent years.
Tourists visit and cycle at Con Chim.
Mr. Truong Van Vinh, Director of IDo Tourism and Events Trading Company Limited in Can Tho, said that the company's customers are very interested in the community tourism destination of Con Chim - a peaceful and quiet riverside countryside with many rustic dishes of the Southwest region; being able to interact and chat with the honest, sincere and hospitable local people... Most visitors have positive feedback about this attractive tourist destination. Many have returned with relatives and friends. Up to now, the company has brought 07 groups of tourists from Can Tho to Tra Vinh; in which Con Chim is always the priority destination.
Surrounded by the Co Chien River, surrounded by mangrove forests and rows of water coconut trees, Con Chim has a natural area of 62 hectares with 54 households and over 200 people living there. Not having the typical characteristics of the islands in the Southwest river region, which are lush orchards, the special thing when coming to Con Chim is that visitors can immerse themselves in nature, learn and experience the daily livelihoods "following the nature" and enjoy rustic dishes of the South, participate in folk games...
Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Van, Head of the Con Chim Community Tourism Cooperative Group, said that in the past, local people mainly earned income from aquaculture with an average of about 100 million VND/ha/year. From January to the end of June, people raised crabs, whiteleg shrimp, and tiger prawns. From July to the end of December, people grew rice and raised giant freshwater prawns.
When it was first established, the Con Chim community tourism model had 11 participating households. It has now grown to 19 households, generating an additional income of 5 - 15 million/month/household. Each household is in charge of a destination with many unique entertainment, experience, and culinary activities, without duplication, causing boredom for tourists. All local people are responsible for protecting the environment; especially producing completely cleanly, without using fertilizers or chemicals to protect the natural environment and public health.
Coming to Con Chim, visitors are warmly and enthusiastically welcomed. Most visitors to Con Chim are very impressed with the cuisine here. The rustic dishes are deliciously prepared from fresh, clean products raised and grown by local people in accordance with nature; with the care and beautiful presentation that "captivates" many diners.
Coming to Con Chim for the first time, Mr. Dang Tan Tai (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) was very impressed with the responsible way of doing tourism of the local people. The experiential activities were also completely different from the usual tourist destinations in the Mekong Delta. Mr. Tai and his group enjoyed grinding flour and making banh la mo to enjoy at "Co Ba Sua's" house, drinking sweet coconut water at "Vuon co Be Thao" with grass straws; exploring the old Southern Kitchen; returning to childhood memories with folk games such as: o an quan, playing keo, jumping rope, throwing cans... Even more interesting, everyone got to participate in crab racing, shrimp fishing, rowing...
Lam Huu Phuc, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh province, said that the number of visitors to Con Chim is increasing. In 2023, this tourist destination welcomed 22,450 domestic and foreign visitors. Since the beginning of 2024, this place has welcomed over 17,000 visitors...
Lots of growth potential
Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh province, Duong Hoang Sum, said that the province has great potential for tourism development with its location between two branches of the Mekong River and bordering the East Sea, with many islands and sandbanks along the river and the sea with specialized orchards of specialty fruit trees. This is an advantage for developing marine tourism, river and garden eco-tourism and resorts. In particular, this is a long-standing community of the Kinh, Hoa and Khmer ethnic groups, so there is cultural exchange and acculturation, creating a rich and diverse culinary culture.
In addition, the province has 143 Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas with unique architecture and many traditional festivals of ethnic minorities. The locality has 02 national treasures and 08 national intangible cultural heritages, 16 national relics and 41 provincial relics. This is a favorable condition for Tra Vinh to develop cultural tourism associated with spiritual tourism.
Tra Vinh currently has 07 typical tourist destinations, recognized by the Mekong Delta Tourism Association, including: Uncle Ho Temple historical relic site, Con Chim community tourism site, Huynh Kha eco-tourism site, Ao Ba Om cultural - tourist area, Con Ho community eco-tourism site, Khmer Ethnic Culture Museum and Heroine Nguyen Thi Ut (Ut Tich) Memorial Site.
Memorial site of heroine Nguyen Thi Ut (Ut Tich), Tam Ngai commune, Cau Ke district - a red address to educate the young generation about patriotic traditions.
Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh province, Duong Hoang Sum, said that in the province's tourism development strategy, Cau Ke district is identified as one of three tourism centers with the orientation of developing eco-cultural tourism into a typical and strong tourism product of the locality.
As a river area, located along the Hau River, Cau Ke is the most fertile land in the province, famous for its specialized orchards of specialty fruit trees. This is a favorable condition for developing eco-tourism. The locality also has many valuable historical, cultural, ancient architectural and artistic relics, 22 ancient Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas; the Vu Lan Thang Hoi festival is included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, held annually in the second half of the 7th lunar month...
The provincial tourism sector is seeking advice from travel agencies to improve products in Cau Ke district; at the same time, strengthening links and cooperation with provinces and cities nationwide to call for businesses to invest in infrastructure to serve tourism development. The province is committed to creating the most favorable conditions for investors and travel agencies to explore investment opportunities and bring visitors to Tra Vinh province in general and Cau Ke district in particular.
Within the framework of the 100-year Tra Vinh Wax Coconut Festival and the Vu Lan Thang Hoi Week of Cau Ke district in 2024 recently organized by the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province introduced to travel businesses the tourism potential of Cau Ke district and called for investment.
Cau Ke is located on the route from Can Tho to Tra Vinh, so many travel agencies believe that this is a favorable condition for Tra Vinh to exploit the tourist route in Cau Ke district. However, Cau Ke needs to upgrade and expand the traffic routes in the area; invest in the restaurant and hotel system. In addition, the locality needs to promote communication about the brand, cuisine, and organize more festivals to attract tourists; in particular, it is necessary to promote communication about Tra Vinh wax coconut specialty - the "king" of specialties of the province to create a highlight; at the same time, exploit other specialties such as coconut nectar, Tra Cuon sticky rice cake, etc.
Ms. Le Dinh Minh Thy, Director of Viettravel Tourism Company - Can Tho Branch, said that the locality needs to select tourism products, along with a team of professional tour guides to create a good impression for tourists.
According to Mr. Le Thanh Phong, Permanent Vice President of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association, Tra Vinh needs to create a highlight for Cau Ke tourism with available resources to develop products. This is a prerequisite for developing local tourism. Cau Ke has Tan Qui islet with green, fruit-laden orchards that are very suitable for garden tourism, the current trend of developing green tourism.
Article and photos: THANH HOA
Source: https://www.baotravinh.vn/kinh-te/danh-thuc-tiem-nang-du-lich-xanh-mien-song-nuoc-tra-vinh-41198.html
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