Dong Thap (VNA) – Community-based tourism is a type of tourism bringing sustainable economic development benefits to Dong Thap province, which has been renowned for spectacular lush tropical orchards, gorgeous fields of lotus blossoms, and amazing dishes.

ꦡ Newly formed and developed in recent years, community-based tourism has contributed to diversifying and enriching products, increasing choices for visitors to learn, experience and explore the beauty of Dong Thap’s landscape, people and culture.

Rich potential for community-based tourism development

Dong Thap is considered as a land with abundant, diverse and attractive tourism potentials. It is  famous for the pink lotus, many valuable historical and cultural relics and unique culinary arts. Those are the advantages for Dong Thap to develop community-based eco-tourism. With the theme "Preserving history - Preserving the soul of the countryside”, Xeo Quyt relic area exploits traditional cultural values associated with the image of the ancient Dong Thap Muoi region, orienting to develop into a combined amusement park, education on tradition, introducing handicraft villages and folk games. Gao Giong Ecotourism Area is a picnic place for people to enjoy village cuisine, learn traditional culinary culture, organise cooking lessons, preserve and develop Melaleuca and bamboo trees. The Tram Chim National Park develops eco-tourism based on living experience in flooded areas; educating people’s awareness of environmental protection and nature. Go Thap-Dong Sen archaeological cultural and historical relic zone develops ecotourism products, cultural elements in the deserted time, spirituality and lotus, focusing on exploiting the mystery of Oc Eo culture. . Sa Dec ornamental flower village is oriented to become "the flower city of the Southern region", while the relic area of the grave of Nguyen Sinh Sac is a place to learn about Nguyen Sinh Sac's life and career.

Initial success

According to Vice Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ngo Quang Tuyen, community-based tourism model has created a highlight in the local tourism, making the province become the third most attractive locality in the Mekong Delta region.

𒊎 Also, it contributed greatly to the local tourism revenue, which stood at estimated 500 billion USD in the first half of 2019, up 25 percent year on year.

Deemed as the land of lotuses, visitors to Dong Thap province could not miss visiting the Dong Sen Thap Muoi eco tourist site in Thap Muoi district to take a boat trip around immense lotus ponds to enjoy the beauty of lotuses in full bloom. Besides, they will be certainly excited about going fishing in the middle of the vast lotus fields, and tasting local staples made from lotus.

Earlier, there were only five families offering tourism services at the site; and the number now nearly doubles, and their lotus fields greet average more than 10,000 visitors a month.

Meanwhile, Cao Lanh city has already developed culinary eco-tourism, education eco-tourism and resort tourism at Tan Thuan Dong tourism village. Two families in Tan Thuan Dong commune have spent more than 800 million VND improving infrastructure and landscapes over the past two years, making the village qualified to serve both domestic and foreign visitors. Since its opening, the village has hosted around 25,000 arrivals, including 3,000 foreigners.

Seeing the potential of community-based tourism, farmers in Lai Vung district have opened their citrus orchards for tourism. They have gained some 24 billion VND from greeting over 75,000 visitors so far.

However, Tuyen described Sa Dec city as the most successful developer of community-based tourism. The city is oriented to become the flower city of the southern region with pictresque flower gardens, and a flower museum with hundreds of flower kinds which are famous both inside and outside the country.

Such flower gardens as Hai Cao, Happy Land Hung Thy and Ngoc Lan, Hoa Ech Homestay and Bamboo House Homestay are attractive destinations, according to Tuyen.

🅷 Furthermore, feasting on various kinds of cake made from rice powder is a fantastic experience in Tan Phu Dong village.

❀ Tuyen said community-based tours lured a great number of visitors to Sa Dec. Last year, the city welcomed over 1 million arrivals in total.

Furthermore, several destinations have become popular among tourists like Homestay Tu Ca Linh in Tam Nong district, Tam Viet clean vegetable and organic paddy field cooperative in Hong Ngu district, and honeydew farm in Thanh Binh district.

⭕ The province has developed tourism in tandem with promoting local agriculture and cultural values./.