Lush green orchards

In summer, the eco-garden spots in Can Tho are ideal choices for tourists seeking cool, green spaces, relaxation, and experiencing the rustic lifestyle.

Tourists go canoeing in Tuan Tuong Ecological Park.

Located about 15km from the city center, the gardens in Nhon Ai and Phong Dien communes are becoming popular summer destinations. Lush, shady gardens with perennial trees and interwoven garden beds along canals create an airy, nature-friendly atmosphere.

A highlight is the Lung Tram Ecotourism Garden (National Highway 61C, Nhon Ai Commune), covering approximately 3 hectares, surrounded by a lake, thousands of melaleuca trees, and many types of specialty fruit trees. Interspersed within this space are canals, lotus ponds, and water chestnut fields, creating a quintessential Mekong Delta countryside atmosphere. Here, visitors can experience many interesting activities such as swimming in the river, rowing boats, walking on monkey bridges, picking fruit, or enjoying mud baths, digging for water chestnuts, and picking lotus flowers.

Tourist Nguyen Khanh Ngan ( Ho Chi Minh City) said: “I heard from others that Can Tho has many lush green gardens, so I came here to experience it. I like the natural green space with lots of trees like this, plus rowing a boat, enjoying fresh fruit and delicious local dishes is really relaxing.”

A few kilometers away, the Phi Yen Ecological Park and Tuan Tuong Ecological Garden (Phong Dien commune) also attract tourists thanks to their shady gardens. Tourist Nguyen Van Bach ( Hanoi ) said: “The trees here are old and diverse. I see strawberries, jackfruit, mangosteen... The fruit tastes better when picked and eaten right in the garden. There are boat rides, fishing, and shrimp catching activities here, which are quite interesting.”

Ms. Ngo Thi Ngoc Han (Hanoi) said: "Not only are there orchards, but there are also quite attractive traditional cakes here. The cakes are prepared on the spot, so they are still warm when enjoyed, and I like that."

Currently, Phi Yen Eco-tourism Area charges an entrance fee of approximately 90,000 VND per person, which includes a boat ride and a buffet of traditional Vietnamese cakes. Tuan Tuong Eco-tourism Area, however, does not charge an entrance fee; only the cost of services used is charged. Especially on weekends, there is a special buffet of Vietnamese savory pancakes (banh xeo and banh khot) at a discounted price starting from 59,000 VND per person. In addition, they also serve many other traditional Vietnamese cakes such as palm sugar rice cakes (banh bo thot not) and pork skin cakes (banh da lon), all prepared by Ms. Truong Thi Hoa Lai, an artisan who has won numerous medals at cake festivals in Phong Dien and Can Tho City.

Located about 40km further from the city center, places like Ms. Thao's Durian Garden (547, Group 16, Thanh Phuoc 2 Hamlet, Trung Hung Commune) and Song Hau Farm Eco-tourism Area (Hamlet 1, Thoi Hung Commune) are also popular destinations for tourists due to their close-to-nature countryside atmosphere and naturally grown plants.

Ms. Ngo Thi Thao, owner of Thao Durian Garden, said: “The garden has been operating as a tourist attraction for about 9 years now. Tourists know about it and come here through word of mouth because the garden is grown organically and naturally. We only open to visitors when the trees are in season.” The garden covers an area of ​​nearly 14,000 square meters, of which about 10,000 square meters are planted with durian, 2,000 square meters with mangosteen and many other fruit trees. In addition, there are more than 100 apple trees that bear fruit all year round for visitors.

The highlight of the garden is that all the fruits are carefully tended, meticulously bagged, and the apples are covered with netting to limit pests and diseases, ensuring safety for consumers. The garden's durian has also been recognized as an OCOP (One Commune One Product) product. To enhance the visitor experience, the owner also prepares many durian-based dishes such as smoothies, ice cream, and durian coconut jam. It is expected that around mid-June, when the peak season begins, the garden will start welcoming more visitors.

Meanwhile, Song Hau Farm Eco-tourism Area (Hamlet 1, Thoi Hung Commune) has a total area of ​​14 hectares, including 7 hectares planted with more than 20 types of fruit trees, a greenhouse for organic vegetable gardens, ensuring year-round produce, such as guava, dragon fruit, apple, plum, pomegranate, golden star apple, longan, pomelo, strawberry, avocado, cocoa, grapes… Notably, there are about 2 hectares planted with melaleuca and bamboo to preserve the natural forest ecosystem and attract various birds and egrets to roost. The green space here attracts a large number of students to visit and experience during the summer.

In addition, visitors can enjoy many rustic dishes typical of the Mekong Delta, prepared on-site from ingredients readily available in the garden, such as fish, frogs, eels, or various garden vegetables. Upon request, these delicious, authentic dishes from the countryside can be prepared on the spot.

Every summer, the orchards in Can Tho attract tourists not only for their seasonal fruits but also for the authentic rural experiences they offer. The orchards and green ecosystem contribute to the allure of tourism in this riverine region.

Text and photos: AI LAM

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/miet-vuon-xanh-mat-a204573.html