Bac LieuLuu Kieu Diem, 31 years old, quit her job in the city to join her husband Bui Quoc Duong in the mangrove forest to start a green tourism project.
The production farm combined with tourism in Vinh Hau A commune, Hoa Binh district of the 9X couple is an ideal place for tourists who are eager to explore and experience. This is also the ambition that Mr. Duong, 32 years old, and his wife have cherished and built for many years.
Luu Kieu Diem and her husband. Image: Anh Minh
Nine years ago, when he was only a few months away from graduating with a degree in Chemical Technology from Can Tho University, Duong realized that he was not interested in this major. His mind at that time was full of projects to develop agricultural economy and spent a lot of time learning about good models and creative ways to increase the value of agricultural products.
After many nights of thinking, he decided to give up his studies to return to his hometown in U Minh Thuong district, Kien Giang province to start a business. He embarked on renovating the family's rice-shrimp model in the direction of clean production, selling safe products. Since then, the family's income has increased significantly.
Not stopping there, the young man cherished the idea of making ecotourism using the existing model, but was prevented by his family because it was too new. Duong decided to leave home to find a new land to develop the idea of green tourism. His greatest luck is the companionship of Ms. Diem (now a lover). At that time, she had a good and stable job in Vi Thanh City (Hau Giang), but she quit her job to go to Bac Lieu to start a business.
Guests have fun and experience on floating rafts built by Mr. Duong himself. Image: Anh Minh
Their luggage is more than 100 million VND borrowed from friends, relatives and youthful enthusiasm. Thanks to an acquaintance, Mr. Duong and his wife rented a plot of land of more than four hectares in Vinh Hau A commune for 60 million VND per year to raise shrimp and crabs and build a tourism model. The two people gave up the house of more than 15 m2 available for guests to stay, and then went out to temporarily stay in a hut less than 4 m2.
"Many people say that my wife and I are crazy when we leave the city to go to an attractive place, but we always believe we are right," Duong said.
After more than three years of farming, he and his wife decided to move to another forested land with an area of more than three hectares to build a more complete model. Here, the idea of doing tourism to exploit the advantages of mangrove forests for shade, under the water to raise fish and shrimp for tourists to experience has been more clearly defined.
Due to low capital, Duong spent months building floating rafts, tables and chairs to serve guests. Under the square, you raise shrimp, fish and crab in a natural organic way, without using chemical drugs. Ms. Diem actively builds an online seafood sales channel to earn income and promote tourism products. A year later, the young couple welcomed their first guests with compliments on the service.
However, when the number of visitors gradually stabilized, the garden owner wanted to take back the land for rent. Once again, he and his wife had to rebuild from scratch in a new location. This time, they have expanded the area to 6 hectares, about a kilometer from the old place. Mr. Duong built an eco-tourism area under the forest canopy, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors every year. This place becomes an ecotourism destination combining experiences for visitors.
Visitors experience at the eco-tourism area under the forest canopy. Image: Anh Minh
Although he has a well-known tourist destination in his hand, Duong still worries about how to retain tourists. He realized that there were not many resorts in Bac Lieu, so he decided to rent a new land to build a tourist destination combined with homestay. “I want guests not only to come and experience a few hours and then leave, but also to stay as an ideal resting place,” said Mr. Duong, adding that he has invested more than 700 million VND in the project so far.
At the new location of more than 3 hectares, Mr. Duong and his wife still do everything themselves to save costs and adjust to their liking. He described, the new tourist area will recreate the pure rural life, the cottages where guests can fish and camp. The vacant land was improved by him to grow vegetables and fruit trees. Ms. Diem will go to the kitchen to prepare rustic dishes from the specialties of shrimp and crab that are naturally raised.
Anh Minh
