Ho Chi Minh City: Attracting community tourism in Thieng Lieng island hamlet

A corner of Thieng Lieng island seen from above.

In recent years, the community tourism model has contributed significantly to creating new vitality and a transformation in Thieng Lieng island hamlet, Thanh An island commune, Ho Chi Minh City. This model is attractive to tourists thanks to its association with the mangrove ecosystem, traditional occupations and indigenous culture here, especially its close connection with environmental protection.

In Thieng Lieng island hamlet, the air is fresh and cool with the wind blowing in from the sea; the landscape is poetic, both filled with the green of mangrove forests and still simple and wild with special experiences associated with people's lives.

In addition, when arriving on the island, tourists will be impressed by the vast salt fields. Tourists can sit on bicycles to ride on the only road around the island, about 4km long.

On both sides of this road are many houses with gates that are brightly colored with flowers or patches of pink grass that glow in the sunset, gently swaying in the afternoon breeze, creating an indescribable lyrical landscape.

The journey to explore the island begins with learning about the traditional salt making process, enjoying handmade syrup, learning how to make traditional cakes and making jelly in the peaceful atmosphere, the sound of birds chirping, the sound of rowing boats and friendly laughter makes the trip full of emotions.

Tourists explore community tourism spots on Thieng Lieng island hamlet.

Besides aquaculture and fishing, a unique traditional occupation of the island hamlet is salt making. In favorable times, the hamlet has nearly 400 hectares of salt fields, with an annual output of more than 20,000 tons.

In recent years, the locality has actively renovated, planned, and linked the salt industry to the national salt program. Since then, the sunlight on the salt fields has not only created salt for eating, but also created hope for community tourism.

Coming here, visitors can not only admire the vast salt fields, sparkling in the sunlight, but also directly witness and participate in the process of creating each salty grain of salt, from the time of pouring seawater into the mold to the time of raking up the pure white salt mounds with joyful eyes.

And when you feel hungry, the islanders will present you with a seafood menu with fresh ingredients, prepared on the spot, such as grilled oysters, clam soup, coconut-fried snails, boiled clams with lemongrass, steamed shrimp, seafood hotpot...

Tourists experience traditional salt making in Thieng Lieng island hamlet.

According to Mr. Do Tuan Anh, Director of VietMark Tourism Company, the advantage of choosing Thieng Lieng island tour is experiencing a unique means of transportation, participating in a slow-living space, learning about the local culture with rich identity, and saving time...

This is also a land separate from the city, where there is no dust, no car horns, no hustle and bustle..., Thieng Lieng is the priceless gem of the city.

Thieng Lieng quietly embraces Giong Chua Mountain, also known as Chua Mountain. This is a natural rock mountain with a modest height of just over 10 meters, and is the lowest mountain in Vietnam. Up to now, there have been several travel companies operating tours to Thieng Lieng by yacht or high-speed canoe following the route starting from Bach Dang Wharf, gliding past Kim Cuong Island, Phu My Bridge, Long Tau River, Soai Rap River...

Currently, Thieng Lieng island has more than 20 stops; many of which are named after each household owner on the path around the island, which are also unique and unique experiences for tourists.

Typical of which are: Salt house space, Nong Nang Thieng Lieng check-in point, Giong Chua mountain check-in point, Ngu Hanh Lady Temple - wishing space, Tu Huynh household - sentimental musician, Hai Loan household - folk cakes, Nam Tuyet household - relaxing foot bath, Muoi Gia household - cool water and homestay, Nam Doi household - salt field cuisine ...

According to statistics, Thieng Lieng has more than 240 households with nearly 1,000 people. From the potential, the community tourism model in Thieng Lieng has been formed and is increasingly developing. From being "strange in water and strange in land", many households are now aware that: To successfully develop community tourism and increase income, there is no other way but to "stick" to the advantages of the mangrove ecosystem, the estuary-sea ecosystem, islands and the life and culture of island residents.

This is a different "magnet" to "attract" tourists to the island in the condition that Thieng Lieng is isolated from the mainland and can only be traveled by water.

Tourists walk and explore the poetic beauty of Thieng Lieng island.

Along with that, to diversify and enrich, to increase the attractiveness, community tourism activities in Thieng Lieng also focus on exploiting the local culture more deeply, introducing in more detail the outstanding landscapes and specialties, so that visitors can see more clearly the unique features of this island hamlet.

At the recent 1st Party Congress of Thanh An commune (term 2025-2030), Thanh An island commune determined the goal of comprehensive development, associated with the socio-economic development strategy of the city and the southern key economic region.

The commune will strive to become an integrated space between eco-tourism, fisheries logistics, mangrove conservation and maintaining national security and defense in the sea area.

During this term, Thanh An commune will implement many breakthroughs in planning, connecting development spaces, converting livelihoods; building vocational training plans associated with labor needs in the fields of logistics, services, seaport engineering and tourism, in order to create stable jobs and improve the lives of islanders...

HOANG LIEM

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-hap-dan-du-lich-cong-dong-o-ap-dao-thieng-lieng-post920320.html