• Lush greenery of U Minh Ha
  • Tourism linked to forest protection.
  • Lush green ecotourism

Fresh and vibrant Trem River tourist area

The Song Trem Tourist Area, located in Hamlet 17, Khanh Thuan Commune, is attracting considerable attention from tourists. Mr. Tran Hoang Khoi, Head of the Tourist Area Management Board, shared: “The province's investment in upgrading and expanding the road from the Y-shaped bridge to the tourist area has created favorable conditions for more tourists to visit.” Since the beginning of the year, the Song Trem Tourist Area has welcomed over 10,000 visitors.

With over 110 hectares of forest area, the Management Board has allocated 12 hectares for tourism development. To meet the needs and preferences of tourists, the Song Trem Tourist Area is developing well-organized tours and routes, investing in raising giraffes, ostriches, and many other wild animals. Responding to tourist demand, the area has created many new attractions, contributing to the diversity of tourism under the forest canopy, such as investing in a purple rhododendron flower road, a forest walking trail, and a cherry blossom trail...

The hiking trail is located under a forest canopy that is over 40 years old.

“Specifically, to serve the needs of tourists visiting this area, we have established two routes through the forest, using ferries and motorboats. For the ferry route, tourists can enjoy meals on the ferry and then participate in traditional folk music performances amidst peaceful surroundings. As for the motorboat route, it wasn't operated a few months ago due to drought and low water levels in the canal; now that it's the rainy season, the water level in the canal is sufficient for travel, and many groups have already experienced this option. We've received feedback that tourists are very pleased,” Mr. Khoi shared.

Tourists can explore and travel through the forest by small boat.

Ostriches raised in the Song Trem Tourist Area are well adapted to the climate and soil of the U Minh Ha region.

Upon arriving at the Song Trem Tourist Area, visitors are captivated by the beauty of the pristine, unspoiled forests. It has been observed that the majority of visitors are tour groups, rather than individual travelers. There has been a recent increase in demand for large-scale events, but the tourist area currently lacks suitable venues. To meet this demand, the Management Board is working with a consultant to expedite the construction of an event center, which is expected to begin construction and be operational by the end of 2024. This center will be capable of hosting parties, events, weddings, and more.

“The Song Trem Tourist Area boasts a strong advantage: its melaleuca forest ecosystem, over 40 years old, with a diverse range of flora and fauna under its canopy, making it the province's largest 'zoo'. Looking ahead, we will develop the tourist area as a place for recreation, relaxation, and accommodation, aiming to retain visitors once they arrive,” Mr. Khoi passionately stated.

New tourism model

These days, Minh Duy Vineyard in Hamlet 15 attracts many visitors, becoming an ideal stop for tourists from both within and outside the province. Located just over 3 km from the center of U Minh town, the Minh Duy Vineyard is easily accessible by major roads, making it convenient for visitors to come and explore.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Hieu, the owner of the vineyard, shared: “Initially, I didn't intend to do any tourism. I just wanted to utilize 30% of the forest land to grow grapes and some fruit trees so that my children could come here on weekends to relax and enjoy the fresh air. But when the grapes started bearing fruit, people suggested I open it up for visitors. Initially, it attracted many visitors who came to experience it.”

Grapevines have taken root in the U Minh Ha forest, becoming a sought-after attraction for tourists.

Previously, visiting vineyards required traveling all the way to Ninh Thuan province. Now, in the saline and acidic soil of Ca Mau , tourists can visit and pick grapes directly from the vineyards. Minh Duy Vineyard is the second successfully established vineyard in Ca Mau, meeting the needs of tourists from both within and outside the province.

Currently, domestic tourism is the choice of many families. Ms. Diep Truc Linh, from Hamlet 2, Khanh Tien Commune, shared: “This summer, my children wanted to go on a trip, but traveling far would be too expensive for train and bus tickets, which my family couldn't afford. So, I chose to take them to tourist destinations within the province. It's convenient, not too expensive, and it also helps them understand more about their hometown of Ca Mau.”

“Most of the visitors here are local residents from the district and other districts of Kien Giang province. Visitors can both tour the vineyard and enjoy fresh, organically grown fruit on the spot. Because it's only the first harvest season, we haven't been able to meet the demand for takeaway fruit yet. In the future, I plan to plant another 100 grapevines. Currently, the vineyard has three varieties: milk grapes, black grapes, and ruby ​​grapes. Each variety produces different fruits, so if tourism develops, I can proactively manage the fruiting time of the vines to serve the needs of tourists,” Mr. Hieu shared.

Mr. Pham Quoc Thien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Khanh Thuan commune, happily stated: "There are three eco-tourism destinations in the commune. In recent years, tourism activities under the forest canopy have seen significant development, with an increasing number of visitors. Infrastructure has been gradually developed, and tourism services have been progressively improved to meet the needs of tourists."

The roads have been invested in and expanded, creating favorable conditions for tourists to visit and travel.

"Compared to other localities, ecotourism in the commune is just beginning, and much more needs to be improved in the future to attract tourists. The local government will support households and create favorable conditions for businesses to invest in tourism development. At the same time, we will connect with tourist destinations in other localities to develop tours and routes, aiming to attract more tourists here," Mr. Thien further shared.

Diamond

Source: https://baocamau.vn/phat-trien-du-lich-duoi-tan-rung-a33233.html