Illustrative image (Source: baocantho) Muoi Cuong home-stayservice run by Lam The Cuong in My Ai village, My Khanh commune, Phong Diendistrict, is a favorite destination for tourists to Can Tho. Boasting 1.2 hectares of farm with about 2,000cocoa trees and other fruit trees, Cuong’s home has four rooms for visitors.
Each year, hishome welcomes about 600 visitors, mostly foreigners, with the peak season from September-Decemberwhen the facility serves about five people per day, said Cuong, adding that hehas coordinated with about 50 travel agents to promote the site.
Previously, thetraditional occupation of Cuong’s family was planting cocoa trees andprocessing cocoa products. His family was the first to begin producing cocoa inthe country in the 1960s.
In 2012, when MyKhanh commune launched the new-style rural area building programme in tandem withtourism development, Cuong’s family became a pioneer in implementing communitytourism.
Thanks to freetraining courses, including those organised by the EU-funded Environmentallyand Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Project (EU-ESRT), Cuonghas been equipped with basic skills to serve tourists and practice sustainabletourism by taking advantage of his locality and family’s conditions.
The model has helpedCuong’s family increase their income significantly, while boosting sales oftheir cocoa products.
Another attractivehome-stay venue in Can Tho is Vang Xang fruit garden of Tran Van Lien, alsoknown as Nam Lien, in Nhon Loc 1 village, Phong Dien town, which was opened totourists three years ago.
Nam Lien’s gardencovers over four hectares with 30-40 kinds of fruit and ornamental trees. It wasdeveloped to become a modern ecotourism site but is a typical green space ofthe southwest region. With hard work, Lien has ensured every corner of thegarden is beautiful.
Along withvisiting the garden with Lien who introduces each kind of tree, visitors canalso enjoy fresh fruits and join farming activities.
Cuong, Nam Lienand other local households also use social networks such as Facebook to promotetheir products.
According to VoThanh Giup, Director of the Trade and Tourism Promotion Agency of Phong Diendistrict, the province has 42 tourist sites, including six community tourismfacilities, mostly in My Khanh commune.
Community tourism,which was launched in the locality in 2013, has created jobs for locals andincreased their incomes.
Giup attributedthe fruitful results to support from the EU-ESRT project, which has givenlocals two training courses, helping improve their service skills.
The EU-ESRT is thelargest tourism technical support programme in Vietnam, aiming to populariseresponsible tourism in Vietnam, contributing to enhancing the competitivenessof the sector.
In 2013-2015, theproject was implemented in the Mekong Delta localities of An Giang, Can Tho andKien Giang.-VNA
VNA
