Previously, people often think about the grandiosity and picturesqueness of Ha Long Bay – a UNESCO-recognized world heritage site and a world natural wonder – or the sacredness of the Complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscape. But now they cannot but talk about tours of Viet villages – a new “breath of air” that is attracting crowds of visitors.
“Strange breath of air” named tours of Yen Duc village
Few people think that the daily work of farmers such as rice harvesting, vegetable growing, rice husking, rice pounding and fish catching will become unique tourism products. When visiting Yen Duc commune of Dong Trieu township, a new and interesting space full of features of a Red River Delta village will be certainly an unforgettable memory, impression for tourists.
Located near highway 18 connecting Ha Long city and the capital city of Hanoi, Yen Duc is a pristine, simple village for a long time with picturesque natural scenery and features of a Viet village. Visiting Yen Duc, tourists will have a chance to work as a real farmer with different exploring and experiencing forms such as harvesting rice on large fields, husking rice or pounding rice with a stone mortar or growing vegetables on fields and catching fish with a fishing basket. Holidaymakers are also enabled to watch and study the traditional water puppetry, make betel quid themselves, or learn about the customs and habits of local residents. The simplest things of local farmers become first-time attractive and unforgettable experiences for tourists, especially foreign visitors.
Ms Alicia Green, a tourist from the United Kingdom, enthusiastically shared her feeling: “I worked as a real farmer. Even, I caught two big fish in the bond. Those are actually very interesting experiences I have never had anywhere in the world.”
Orientations for community-based tourism development
The tourism model in Yen Duc has to date been multiplied in many other localities in Quang Ninh province. In Quang Yen district, visitors can explore the landscape of villages and fields as well as the daily life of local people. They can also learn about the values of architecture, sculpture, folk culture and countryside cuisine. In Binh Lieu, tourists will have a chance to learn about and experience the cultural space of the Dao ethnic minority group; visit villages of the Dao ethnic minority people to explore unique features in their cultural and spiritual lives; or explore the borderline, border markers and local markets. Community-based tourism has initially brought in good results, contributing to the expansion of tourism space, attracting large numbers of holidaymakers and opening up new opportunities for local people to join hands with the State and businesses in developing tourism.
Quang Ninh, which is considered as a miniature Vietnam and is favored by nature with mountains, forests, sea and islands, together with a diversity of culture, history and people, will surely have various opportunities to strongly and rapidly develop different forms of tourism. Quang Ninh’s tourism planning scheme has focused on green, sustainable tourism development by harmoniously combining natural and human factors, tourism development and preservation, making the best of natural advantages, and conserving the scenery and environment, thereby helping to build Quang Ninh into a safe, friendly destination.
Article by Minh Ha
