The waterways and orchards of An Binh district captivate tourists.

An Binh Island is situated between the Tien River and the Co Chien River. The climate here is pleasant and cool, the land is enriched by alluvial soil, and it boasts abundant fruit trees. With convenient road and waterway transportation, it is one of the attractive destinations in Vinh Long, offering visitors unforgettable experiences of a quintessential Southwestern Vietnam riverine region.

An Binh Island is located between the Tien River and the Co Chien River. The climate here is fresh and cool, the land is enriched by alluvial soil, and it boasts abundant fruit trees. With convenient road and waterway transportation, it is one of the attractive destinations in Vinh Long , offering visitors unforgettable experiences of a quintessential Southwestern Vietnam riverine region.

The climate on the island is fresh and cool, the land is enriched by alluvial deposits, and the trees are laden with fruit. Photo: PHUONG THAO

Advantages of ecotourism

An Binh commune was established by merging four communes: An Binh, Hoa Ninh, Dong Phu, and Binh Hoa Phuoc, which are geographically adjacent, have convenient transportation connections, and a dense population.

In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the island's roads are bustling with activity. The entire area boasts nearly 4,000 hectares of lush orchards, cultivating specialty fruit trees such as longan, rambutan, and durian. Three products have achieved OCOP (One Commune One Product) ratings (3-5 stars): freeze-dried durian, Binh Hoa Phuoc rambutan, and Hoa Ninh Ido longan. Furthermore, the communes have established organic and food-safe fruit growing areas, adhering to VietGAP/GlobalGAP standards, covering 81.3 hectares. They have also developed planting area codes for rambutan and longan trees covering 87.19 hectares in Binh Hoa Phuoc and Hoa Ninh; and developed Binh Hoa Phuoc rambutan as a product with geographical indication and a brand name, produced through a high-tech production-consumption chain.

One of the most popular tourist destinations is Phuoc Dinh yellow apricot blossom village, established over 70 years ago. As the chilly winds of late winter subside, the village comes alive after a year of diligent work. Along the small paths leading into the village, flower buds bloom, shimmering in the sunlight. The lively laughter and chatter of the artisans tending to each apricot tree create a unique symphony found only in this craft village during the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year). In 2009, the village was recognized by the province as a craft village, boasting approximately 550 ancient apricot trees, over 30,000 medium and small apricot trees, bonsai, and other ornamental plants, cultivated by 250 households.

Mr. Ho Van Kien, Secretary of the Party Committee of An Binh commune, said that with the advantage of being surrounded by a system of natural rivers and canals, lush green river landscapes, and year-round fruit orchards, An Binh commune has favorable conditions for garden tourism and river experiences, something that not many other localities in the province possess with the density and scale of An Binh commune. Regarding community tourism, An Binh is a leading locality in the model of branded garden homestays and has been honored in regional and ASEAN tourism awards (19 homestay establishments, including 9 homestays that won ASEAN tourism awards), 6 food and beverage establishments, and more than 20 garden houses welcoming guests. In addition, the culture and life of the people in An Binh still retain the distinctive traditional values ​​of Southern Vietnam, from ancient houses and craft villages to garden cuisine, creating a unique and different tourism experience compared to many localities in the province that mainly develop purely tourism or festival tourism.

According to Mr. Ho Van Kien, the tourism infrastructure and waterway-road transportation in An Binh have improved significantly compared to neighboring communes, making it convenient for visitors to explore homestays, orchards, and eco-tourism areas. Thanks to these potentials and advantages, An Binh is considered a bright spot for eco-tourism and community-based tourism in the province, capable of attracting diverse tourists, increasing income for local people, and creating a sustainable tourism brand for the province.

Develop unique and appealing features.

CocoHome, a tourist attraction featuring a house built from over 4,000 coconut trees, has been certified by the Vietnam Coconut Association for its use of coconut products in architecture and construction. This is the first and only unique record of its kind in the country.

Tourists experience making traditional cakes in the countryside on the island. Photo: PHUONG THAO

According to Ms. Duong Dieu Hien, owner of CocoHome Coconut House, the coconut house stands out with its traditional Southern Vietnamese architecture of three bays and two wings. CocoHome had to find old coconut trees, and through the hands of skilled craftsmen, after two years of construction, the coconut house officially opened at the end of 2019. Materials such as coconut leaves and coconut fiber are used to create beautiful and durable lanterns. Coconut fiber is used for mats and ceilings, coconut shells for bowls, and inlaid interior decorations, creating unique and novel accents. Besides sightseeing, visitors also have the opportunity to experience authentic Southern Vietnamese cuisine, with rustic and characteristic dishes of Vinh Long province such as: toadfish stewed in coconut milk, grilled rat, mangrove flower salad, and steamed banana blossom with crushed fish sauce…

After 20 years of operation, Mekong Travel has received many prestigious awards in the tourism industry in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. According to Ms. Pham Thi Ngoc Trinh, Deputy Director of Mekong Travel, Ut Trinh Homestay, built on An Binh islet, offers visitors the opportunity to experience the fruit orchards, vast rice fields, cruise along the romantic Mekong River, enjoy traditional folk music performances under oil lamps, light torches made from coconut leaves to watch traditional opera at village temples, cycle to admire life in the Mekong Delta, or visit traditional craft villages…

Mr. Ho Van Kien shared that An Binh commune is orienting its development towards sustainable ecotourism and community tourism, focusing on the people and using natural resources as a foundation. Emphasis is placed on preserving the riverine landscape and traditional cultural identity, while developing unique tourism products such as visiting fruit orchards, experiencing farming, rowing boats, and enjoying local cuisine.

Investment in tourism infrastructure continues to be prioritized, including upgrading roads, ferry terminals, signposts, and accommodation facilities. In addition, the commune is promoting communication skills training for residents in serving tourists, raising awareness of environmental protection, and building an image of a "green destination." Promotional efforts are also being strengthened through partnerships with travel agencies, digital media, and tourism promotion programs. With these policies and directions, An Binh commune strives to develop a distinctive ecotourism and community-based tourism model, creating sustainable livelihoods for residents and contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality.

PHUONG THAO

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/xa-hoi/du-lich/202602/song-nuoc-miet-vuon-an-binh-giu-chan-du-khach-c180357/