Unique 'duck massage' in the Mekong Delta

In the Mekong Delta, tourists can visit Son Island (Binh Thuy Ward, Can Tho City) to experience the unique "duck massage" service.

Con Son Island now offers new services.

Located in the middle of the Hau River, Con Son Island is isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city. It possesses a rustic charm with its riverboats, traditional houses of the Mekong Delta, and lush fruit orchards that thrive year-round.

For a long time, Son Island has been known as one of the most attractive eco- tourism destinations in Can Tho. This reputation is built not only on its lush green nature, but also on the innovative and creative tourism products devised by the local farmers.

Using everyday animals, the people of Son islet have put on many "entertaining" circus acts such as frogs jumping through hoops, training snakehead fish to fly like gymnasts, or teaching snakehead fish to drink from bottles like newborn babies… And recently, a woman has launched another unique service: "duck massage".

Foreign tourists enjoy the "duck massage" experience on Son Island, one of the famous tourist destinations in the Mekong Delta. PHOTO: THANH DUY

Out of curiosity, we sought out the place where the ducks that "massage" the plants are kept. It's a wooden hut on a pond in the durian and pomelo orchard of Ms. Bui Thuy Lieu (41 years old, owner of Phuong My garden), which is currently bearing fruit. Surprisingly, even with visitors walking around, the ducks remained unfazed, swimming and preening their feathers in the cool water.

To test the ducks' patience, Mrs. Lieu brought a plate of pellets from her house. Guests were instructed to sit on a wooden platform, dangling their feet on a wooden stool, and wait to experience the unusual sensation. The seating area was a wooden floor, which the ducks only used when permitted, so it was always clean. In fact, Mrs. Lieu even cleaned the floor every morning.

"Quack, quack, quack…", Mrs. Lieu's rapid calls immediately attracted the attention of the group of "massage" ducks submerged in the pond. They flapped their wings, turned around, and swam in the same direction as if they knew it was time for another performance. Mrs. Lieu opened the gate, and the flock of ducks skillfully climbed the vertical ladder, then proceeded towards the feet of the visitors without any fear.

These ducks are trained to be tame enough to give massages to tourists. PHOTO: THANH DUY

As Mrs. Lieu scattered handfuls of food at the guests' feet, the ducks immediately scurried over to peck at each piece. Dozens of duck beaks tapped up and down unevenly, creating a stimulating sensation on the skin, both tickling and enjoyable; some guests even tried letting the ducks massage their hands.

During the experience, Nguyen Hai Lap (24 years old) laughed with delight: "The feeling of being massaged by a duck is indescribable, ticklish and fun. This idea is novel; it's my first time experiencing it. I have to admit the farmers here are creative, but I wonder how they manage to make those ducks so tame and interactive."

Do something kind to the ducks.

Ms. Lieu said that households involved in tourism on Son Island are very interested in using self-sufficient food to create an impression of homemade cuisine . Previously, she raised a flock of ducks for eggs, which she used to make fried eggs, boiled eggs, and other dishes for tourists.

The ducks were raised in a pond, and many visitors liked them so much that they scattered food to entice them to come and take pictures. Seeing this, she came up with the idea of ​​massaging the ducks, because these animals are gentle and have a rather cute gait. Especially, seeing the ducks reminds people of the orchards and waterways of Southern Vietnam, with flocks of ducks roaming the fields. So she built a wooden stilt house, erected a miniature scene of a catfish bridge, and let the ducks swim happily underneath to evoke the setting of the Mekong Delta.

The sensation of dozens of ducks massaging their feet at the same time made the tourists laugh. PHOTO: THANH DUY

By the time the idea became clear, the first flock of ducks had grown up, and no matter how Mrs. Lieu tried to teach them, they wouldn't listen. So, she brought home a new flock of ducks, about 15 days old, to train them. "Initially, I would scatter food on my legs and patiently sit still so they would come and eat. I persevered for months, because the ducks were very shy; even the slightest movement would send them scattering. But if you patiently bonded with them, they would eventually become more confident," Mrs. Lieu said.

According to Ms. Lieu, initially, the flock of ducks used for massage services for tourists numbered nearly 60, but due to the difficulty in raising them, only over 30 remain, all of which are egg-laying ducks. When they were over two months old, with strong appetites and sturdy beaks, she launched the tourism product just in time for the National Day holiday on September 2nd. Exceeding expectations, the duck massage service has attracted many tourists, especially children and foreigners.

"I have to wait until the ducks are big and strong enough to give tourists a satisfying massage. These ducks will both serve the tourism industry and lay eggs every day. On Son Island, people live respectfully with the plants and animals that help them develop tourism. And this flock of ducks is the same; I will raise them until they are old and die, not slaughter them for meat," Ms. Lieu shared.

According to Thanh Duy (TNO)

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/doc-dao-massage-vit-o-xu-con-mien-tay-post565374.html