Tra Que - The best tourist village in the world.

The World Tourism Organization has just announced that Tra Que vegetable village (Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province) is the second village in Vietnam to be included in the list of "World's Best Tourist Villages". This is good news for the people of this vegetable village, which has been a familiar destination for nature-loving tourists for many years.

Tourists experience watering vegetables in Tra Que vegetable village. Photo: C. Dai.

Located along the Co Co River in Cam Ha Ward, Hoi An City, lies the lush green Tra Que vegetable village. Spanning 18 hectares, the village features over 20 different types of leafy vegetables and herbs cultivated through rotational and intercropping by local households. This provides a year-round source of fresh, organically grown vegetables and is a unique and unmissable destination for tourists visiting Hoi An.

According to elderly residents of Cam An ward, Tra Que vegetable village has a history of over 400 years. Initially, the village cultivated many kinds of aromatic herbs, including one called "Nhự Quế," which had a cinnamon-like aroma. In the 19th century, King Gia Long visited and was impressed by the flavor of the vegetables, so he named the village Tra Que. This name has been passed down and used to this day.

Visitors to Tra Que not only get to admire the peaceful, lush green countryside but also get to experience helping the locals with tasks like watering and harvesting vegetables. Additionally, they can cycle along the village roads to enjoy the fresh, cool air.

For over 30 years, Mr. Vo Anh's family (62 years old), residing in Cam An ward, has been involved in the Tra Que vegetable village, cultivating over 1,000 square meters of land specializing in growing clean vegetables. For decades, his family has earned an average of hundreds of millions of dong annually. Mr. Anh shared that in recent years, tourists, especially foreign visitors, have been visiting the village every day. Even more gratifying, they are very enthusiastic, asking to learn farming techniques, carrying water to irrigate the vegetables, and providing the farmers with an additional source of income from these tourism activities.

Mr. Nguyen Len (65 years old), a farmer with 45 years of experience in Tra Que vegetable village, enthusiastically guided a group of tourists, including Mr. Peter and Mrs. Catherine from Australia, on a "One Day as a Farmer" tour. They got to experience farming, from tilling the soil to fertilizing, sowing seeds, and watering.

After finishing sowing and watering the vegetable beds, Peter and his wife continued their experience by planting small basil seedlings. Following the host's instructions, they planted rows of basil in perfect straight lines, much to the admiration of the attentive guests. Taking a break, Catherine, with a cheerful smile, shared: "This is an indescribable feeling for me right now because I've just planted a green sprout of life in the soil. My hands are covered in dirt, and my clothes are dirty, but I've had a truly wonderful experience."

At the end of their "A Day as a Farmer" tour, Peter and his wife, along with their group of friends, didn't forget to capture memorable moments at the vegetable village with the farmers in Tra Que, as it was a beautiful and cherished memory from their trip to the peaceful and hospitable city of Hoi An.

Mr. Mai Thanh Hung, Vice Chairman of the Cam Ha Ward People's Committee, said: “Currently, the government is coordinating with the Hoi An City Cultural Center to sell tickets for visiting Tra Que vegetable village and showcasing traditional craft performances. In addition, the ward is advising the Hoi An City People's Committee to sign a contract with a unit to develop a community tourism project linked to organic agriculture and traditional craft villages. Currently, more than 200 households are involved in growing vegetables in Tra Que vegetable village, covering an area of ​​approximately 18 hectares. In the first 10 months of 2024, ticket sales revenue exceeded 800 million VND.”

According to Mr. Hung, since 2020, the Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Hoi An City People's Committee, has organized the opening of the Tra Que vegetable village experiential tourism site. With an entrance fee of 35,000 VND, visitors can experience the vegetable farming process of the people of Tra Que, visit historical sites within the village, etc. Every year, Tra Que vegetable village welcomes tens of thousands of visitors.

In 2022, the Tra Que vegetable farming profession was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, under the category of "Folk knowledge, traditional crafts".

Mr. Nguyen Van Lanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoi An City, said that the city government has prioritized the sustainable development of the Tra Que vegetable farming heritage. This includes developing a quality-focused stopover point in the vegetable village: visitors come to plant vegetables, then return to enjoy the fruits of their labor. In addition, the village will be connected to other destinations through bicycle tours and eco-tourism, expanding the tourism space of Tra Que vegetable village.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/tra-que-lang-du-lich-tot-nhat-the-gioi-10294474.html