Sa Dec: Developing flower villages in conjunction with tourism.

Over more than a century of formation and development, from the first farmers who brought flowers to cultivate in Sa Dec (Dong Thap province) to the skilled and meticulous artisans who have successively formed this unique flower village. From there, many farmers have become wealthy through flower and ornamental plant production combined with tourism, contributing to the beauty of Sa Dec ward in particular and Dong Thap province in general.

FLOWER AND ORNAMENTAL PLANT TOURISM IS FLOURISHING

While in the past, farmers in Sa Dec were only familiar with producing and selling flowers and ornamental plants, nowadays many combine production and business with tourism .

The Rose Field Tourist Area is an attractive destination for tourists from near and far during holidays and festivals.

This new direction has helped Sa Dec tourism flourish in recent years, creating many valuable benefits and contributing to changing the local landscape.

With over 20 years of experience in flower and ornamental plant production, Mr. Pham Thanh Tam, owner of the Rose Field Tourist Area (Sa Dec ward), is always passionate about his profession and earns a considerable income.

Over time, Mr. Tam has introduced many new and exotic flower varieties to the flower village to serve the market well, such as: marigolds, velvet grass, landscaping plants, and various types of ornamental foliage plants…

To improve production efficiency, Mr. Tam uses organic fertilizers to help the flower garden thrive, and he has also invested in a 2.5-hectare Rose Field Tourist Area featuring a diverse range of unique flowers and ornamental plants, along with novel landscape designs.

Mr. Tam shared: "Whether it's a regular day or a holiday, the tourist area always attracts a large number of visitors."

Besides its picturesque scenery, the tourist area is constantly refreshing its landscapes to attract visitors. Over time, the departments and levels of Sa Dec ward and Dong Thap province have always encouraged flower and ornamental plant growers like me to apply science and technology to sustainable production.

At the same time, it supports knowledge on sustainable agriculture linked to tourism development, contributing to elevating the flower and ornamental plant cultivation profession…”.

Also a popular destination during holidays and festivals, the Tan An Flower and Ornamental Plant Production Cooperative (Sa Dec ward) is where farmers work together to cultivate flowers and ornamental plants and engage in agricultural tourism.

Mr. Dang Quang Giau, head of the Tan An flower and ornamental plant production cooperative, said: "In recent years, Sa Dec flower village has gradually 'changed its appearance' but still preserved its traditional cultural beauty."

Farmers in Sa Dec Flower Village are adept at finding new and unique flower varieties to serve the market.

Over the past period, farmers belonging to the Cooperative Group in particular and Sa Dec Flower Village in general have consistently improved production efficiency thanks to their keenness and increased application of science and technology in production, contributing to enhancing the value of the key agricultural product.

The Tan An Flower and Ornamental Plant Production Cooperative continues to strive to be a leader in supplying many new and unique flower and ornamental plant varieties to serve the market and exploit tourism…”.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

According to the People's Committee of Sa Dec ward, flower and ornamental plant growers in Sa Dec are making daily efforts, demonstrating keenness and creativity to "keep the flame alive" for the profession, pass on their skills, and develop it.

The entire Sa Dec ward has approximately 4,000 households producing flowers and ornamental plants, covering about 946 hectares; more than 200 flower and ornamental plant businesses; and about 2,000 varieties of flowers and ornamental plants.

The ward supplies the market with over 12 million flower and ornamental plant products annually; the total value of flower and ornamental plant production in 2024 is estimated at approximately 3,300 billion VND, accounting for 79% of the agricultural production value…

In addition, flowers and ornamental plants are the main industries of Sa Dec ward in particular and Dong Thap province in general, contributing to making Sa Dec ward a tourism center of Dong Thap province.

Tourists visit and experience the Tan An Flower and Ornamental Plant Cooperative.

These include models of flower and ornamental plant production combined with experiential tourism services such as homestay, and agricultural tourism associated with Sa Dec Flower and Ornamental Plant Village, with 6 OCOP-certified tourist destinations attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists…

As a pioneer in tourism, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hung, owner of Happy Land Hung Thy Garden Tourist Area (Sa Dec ward), shared that his family has been involved in flower and ornamental plant cultivation for three generations. Currently, with an area of ​​17,000 m2, his Happy Land Hung Thy Garden Tourist Area is one of the prominent destinations in Sa Dec Flower Village.

"Over the past period, the tourist area has been invested in and planned systematically, including functional areas such as: a nursery for growing flowers and ornamental plants; and an area for experiencing traditional folk games with a strong rural culture such as boating, walking on a monkey bridge, and riding a balance bike."

"At the same time, we've designed several scenic areas for taking souvenir photos; a food court; and stalls showcasing and selling Dong Thap specialties…," Mr. Hung said.

Mr. Tran Thanh Hung, on the other hand, was originally a farmer who was involved in growing flowers and ornamental plants, and raising frogs.

Currently, he is the head of the "Together We Do Tourism" club in Sa Dec Flower Village and the owner of the Frog Flower House Homestay, one of the accommodation destinations with a refreshing atmosphere, showcasing many types of flowers and ornamental plants to tourists, with a frog breeding area and a restaurant serving local specialties.

Mr. Tran Thanh Hung said: "Previously, the members of the association were farmers who only knew how to grow and sell flowers and ornamental plants. Now, they have learned to combine the production and business of flowers and ornamental plants with tourism development, aiming to increase income for their families and the community."

Through tourism activities and welcoming visitors, many flower and ornamental plant products from Sa Dec have become more widely known, the market for consumption has expanded, contributing to enhancing the brand of flowers and ornamental plants…”.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tam, Chairman of the People's Committee of Sa Dec Ward, in the coming time, the locality will focus on linking the development of flowers and ornamental plants with improving the efficiency of collective economic activities, linking production along the value chain; developing community tourism in a professional direction; and investing in tourism infrastructure through the development of accommodation areas and unique festivals.

At the same time, digital technology will be applied in promoting and operating tours; supporting tourism businesses and households in digital transformation and e-commerce development…

NAM PHONG

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/sa-dec-phat-develop-flower-village-close-to-tourism-a234635.html