As soon as they got off the bus, dozens of tourists hurried towards the foothills, where vast expanses of green mangosteen, avocado, and durian trees laden with fruit were ready to pick and enjoy. The lively and exciting atmosphere created a sense of closeness for many families and added to the enjoyment of the trip .
June, when heavy rains fall evenly across Binh Thuan province, is also the peak season for ripe fruits. This is also the time of summer vacation for students, so many parents take their children on trips after days of hard work studying. Many parents in close-knit groups of friends often discuss and choose between "going to the beach" or "going to the mountains." For those living in coastal areas like Phan Thiet or La Gi, or further afield like Vung Tau and other places, community-based tourism focusing on gardens, waterfalls, and lakes is always the preferred choice. For those from other provinces and cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong , "going to the mountains" or "going to the beach" are both preferred options to give their children real-world experiences and learning opportunities.
Summer, the season of clusters of green and red rambutan hanging from branches, ripe mangosteens with their beautiful purple hues, and durians falling from the trees, filling the orchards with their fragrant aroma – all create a unique atmosphere of the countryside. This is also the time when city children, unfamiliar with various fruits, are taken on trips by their parents to experience picking and eating fresh fruit. This also helps them gain knowledge about Vietnamese and tropical fruits…
Mr. Nguyen Kien, a transportation business owner in Phan Thiet, recently organized a trip to Da Mi for his family and friends of over 20 people. He said: "My company's drivers have taken many domestic and international tourist groups to Da Mi. I haven't been there myself, but I've heard that every group who's returned praises it. Besides the dreamy beauty of the mountain scenery and Ham Thuan Lake, the tourists also told me that they could pick mangosteen, avocado, durian, and macadamia nuts to eat right in the orchards. So my wife and children insisted on experiencing it. And it was indeed a very interesting trip…"
I was quite surprised when a tour group stopped at the Cloud and Wind viewpoint for a rest and coffee before heading to the pier for a lake cruise. People in the group noticed a row of mangosteen trees near the stop with many ripe fruits, and many started picking them. Some climbed the trees to pick the ripe ones high up, while others reached for the ones within easy reach. The fruit-picking scene was quite lively as the fragrant, ripe mangosteens were passed around to be peeled and enjoyed. Seeing everyone "naturally" picking mangosteens, I blurted out: "Did you ask the owner beforehand? Why are you picking so freely?" Vinh, who was standing and reaching for the mangosteens, replied: "We contacted the manager beforehand; we're allowed to pick and eat as much as we want. Picking and eating like this is what makes a trip to the orchard worthwhile." Before Mr. Vinh could finish speaking, Mr. Mai Van Minh – Director of Da Mi Tourism Company – arrived on his motorbike carrying nearly 20 durians, and the group of tourists continued to happily peel and enjoy the delicious durians.
Late in the afternoon on Qitian Island, Vinh and Kien's group went to pick avocados and macadamia nuts. Kien's daughter, Ha Nhi, excitedly told her father: "This is the first time I've seen fresh macadamia nuts still on the branch and been able to pick and eat them. And the durians, with so many fruits hanging from the branches, looked so tempting. I like this trip because I've learned so much more about fruit trees and the countryside, Dad..." In Kien's group, I noticed the women carrying quite a lot of different kinds of fruit. I asked them about it and found out that besides eating them on the spot, they bought them to take home as gifts for relatives, friends, and family.
Besides its beautiful coastline, which serves as the foundation for tourism development, Binh Thuan also possesses significant potential for tourism development with its rural tourism models, traditional craft villages, lakes, waterfalls, and forests. In particular, lake and waterfall tourism combined with the experience of picking and eating fresh fruit in orchards is a "hot" tour this summer…
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