Developing the economy in the mountains.

Over the past decade or so, the idea of moving to the mountains to make a living in the Bay Nui region has become a fascinating topic. Besides the locals, many others, drawn by the beautiful scenery and the atmosphere of the mountains, have chosen to try their hand at mountain life. However, achieving success is not easy; the process requires patience, resourcefulness, and significant financial investment.

Tran Thi Anh Quyen, originally from Rach Gia ward, followed her husband to Nui Dai mountain to establish an orchard, nearly seven years ago. She can't even estimate the exact cost of acquiring her current property, which includes a 5-hectare fruit orchard on the mountain and homestay rooms. Step by step, she used the income from the banana trees already growing in the forest to cultivate avocados and durians, and has now developed it into a destination for tourists from afar to experience "healing."

Visitors arrive at the homestay for a relaxing stay. Photo: MY HANH

What attracted Ms. Quyen to become a farmer in the mountains, spending her days surrounded by trees, was the fresh, cool, and peaceful air of the mountainous region. This is also a favorite feature that many tourists have commented on after their visit. The homestay, built on the mountaintop, is conveniently located, offering views of the clear blue lake below. From other directions, one can clearly see the majestic To and Cam mountains in the distance.

“On rainy days or early mornings, you can ‘hunt for clouds’ and watch the sunrise here, which is very beautiful. On cloudy days, the early morning sun shines brightly, and the thick, fluffy clouds create a relaxing atmosphere. Sitting here, sipping tea and having breakfast… feels like being recharged. No wonder the owners named it ‘Garden in the Clouds’,” shared Mr. Ngo Tuan, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City.

From the foot of the mountain to Ms. Quyen's garden is about 4km by road. Along the way, this season you can admire gardens of winged beans laden with fruit, bananas, pomelos, and various herbs intercropped in the lower layers. In August, Ms. Quyen's garden only has avocados – a famous specialty alongside durian – to welcome visitors to the mountain.

We asked, "After the avocado and durian season is over, what will tourists experience here?" She confidently replied, "There are still longan, jackfruit, pomelo, dried bananas, coconut, guava, and organically grown vegetables. In addition, there are dishes prepared to suit tourists' preferences, such as grilled beef and roasted chicken. Some people wait for the fruit season to visit the orchards, while others simply seek a place to relax and regain balance after a busy and stressful work period."

At the Cloud Garden, it's not just about admiring the clouds; Ms. Quyen has cleverly arranged seating areas for guests to relax, enjoy the breeze, and gaze at the plains from above. Besides fruit trees, she also adds ornamental plants, flowers, and accessories. Mountain-based production relies heavily on rainwater, so she uses very little fertilizer and pesticides, primarily allowing the plants to grow naturally in a clean and healthy way.

This year, the durian harvest has been quite favorable. Ms. Quyen planted varieties such as Musaking, Thai, Chuong Bo, and Ri6. Although the selling price is high, it is accepted by customers and even sells out quickly. Thanks to proactively managing the irrigation water source, the durians were harvested earlier than in neighboring orchards around the mountain, and all of them were sold to tourists and passersby. Even tourists from Tien Giang , the durian capital, came all the way to the orchard to enjoy the taste of mountain durian.

When customers come to buy avocados at the orchard, Mr. Duong Phuoc Hai (Ms. Quyen's husband) jokingly says: "Have you thought carefully? Once you buy avocados here, you won't want to eat avocados from anywhere else. Due to lack of time for care, the hundreds of avocado trees (including the waxy and 034 varieties) don't yield very well." Yet, each fruit is as big as an arm, some weighing up to 600 grams, with a creamy, fragrant yellow flesh. Every year during the harvest season, customers inquire about placing orders.

Bamboo shoots are readily available in the forest, and Ms. Quyen harvests them, pickles them, and sells them to customers. She successfully experimented with drying wild-grown bananas, and these have now been certified as OCOP 3-star standard. Every morning, a quick walk around the garden provides enough food to prepare dishes for guests. Not only older customers, but also young people enjoy coming here; some even register to stay for a week.

By operating a homestay that caters to tourists visiting the mountain gardens, she maintains a steady stream of visitors – not overly crowded or noisy, but consistently high. Instead of maximizing her income, she balances supply and demand, aiming to gradually transition to offering healthy, macrobiotic meals to minimize her environmental impact on the mountain. This is also her way of showing appreciation for the land, with its beautiful scenery and pristine nature, contributing to a greener living environment.

MY HANH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/lam-kinh-te-tren-nui-a425736.html