Quang Nam (VNS/VNA) - Sitting on the banks of the Thu BonRiver, Dai Binh village used to be known for its bumper fruit harvests in thecentral province of Quang Nam, but now it has been transformed into asustainable community-based farm tourism destination.

Just 20km from the My Son Sanctuary, the villagewith a population of 1,200 earned a living for three centuries from growingfruits, but now it's day-trippers who are bringing in the cash. 

The village was established in 1778 during thecountry’s southward border expansion journey under Lord Nguyen Hoang. Theemigration settled the village on the banks of the Thu Bon River, and the firstvillagers began growing fruits to make a living.

Fruit zone

In 1920, local herbalist Huynh Chau broughtseeds of fruit species from affluent farms in the south of Vietnam.

Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, Director of the Dai BinhCooperative, said around 100 tropical fruit species such as jackfruit, citrus,grapefruit and langsat were cultivated for centuries before various southernspecies such as durian, mangosteen, grapes, star apple, rambutan and sapodillawere added in the early 20th century.

“Fruit was the main produce and source of incomefor most villagers, but now we have developed farming-based tourism, and thefirst co-operative was formed to promote both gardening and tourism,” Tuyensaid.

He said villagers offer visitors the chance topick their own fruit for a fixed price of 25,000 VND (1.08 USD) per kilo.

He said 28ha of fruit farms (a quarter area ofthe village) produce more than 200 tonnes of fruit with revenue of 2.3 millionUSD each year, and welcomed around 100,000 tourists in 2018.

Heavenlygifts 

Tran Kim Hung, 61, said the village is naturallyfertilised by annual tides of alluvium, while the cool climate helps producebumper harvests each year.

“The village is the only place in centralVietnam where fruit from north and south grow well due to the naturalconditions,” Hung said.

His family welcomes 3,000 visitors each year,earning 4,300 USD from fruit sales.



He said the village has been building a brandfor Dai Binh Pomelos product – an OCOP (One Commune-One Product) - to serverfarm-based tourism.

Huynh Thi Thu Ha, 58, who owns the Ong Namfarm, said fruits are available all year round.

“The harvest begins from lunar March to Aprilwith watermelons, while tropical fruits are mass harvested from June to lateSeptember. Tourists can relax in the gardens during the hot summer,” Ha said.

She said a vegetable farm for rural workexperience has been built in the village as another choice for visitors.

Tran Hung, 82, still lives in a 165 year-oldhouse that has sheltered four generations of his family, and its 3,000sq.mgarden.

Hung said villagers do not use chemicalfertilisers because the gardens are very close to their living area.

“The village’s garden economy is based onnatural conditions, including soil, rainfall, the cool climate and rivertides,” he explained.

“Annual tides help pile up alluvium for farmproductivity,” he said.

Hung, however, complains that climate change inrecent decades has badly impacted fruit farms.

Limittraffic

Just 20 minutes from the My Son Sanctuary – apopular world heritage site – Dai Binh has yet to attract foreign tourists dueto poor traffic infrastructure.

The Nong Son Bridge that connects the villagewith Trung Phuoc town is not strong enough to allow light trucks and cars,while a plan for community-based and farming tour services has been slow toemerge.

Vice Director of the provincial Department ofCulture, Sports and Tourism Le Ngoc Tuong said transport infrastructure lacksinvestment, while a tour linking Hoi An, My Son and the village is not on themap.

He said the village is building its OCOP forsustainable tourism.

Bao Tri, a biker, says the village is an idealsite for escaping the crowds and a stressful urban life, but it needs moreopportunities to explore rather than expensive accommodation.

Rural home-stays, farm tours, bike tracks andpedestrian paths will offer a traditional cultural experience for tourists.

Tri said a primary forest will be developed as ajungle trek or camp site for adventurers.

Nguyen Chi Tung, Vice Chairman of the Nong SonDistrict People’s Committee, said fruit farming and the rural lifestyle in thevillage has huge potential for eco-tour development, but needs convenientconnections with the provincial capital, Tam Ky, Hoi An and Da Nang via publicbuses.

Currently, bus routes only link Da Nang and TamKy to Dai Loc commune and Que Son district, about 40km away.

Tuyen, from the Dai Binh Cooperative,emphasised: “The village started off as a fruit farm, so of course farmers needtraining in hospitality skills to welcome tourists.”

“We are very open and friendly. The tranquilscenery, fruit picking and rural life experience will make our village a secondhome for everyone.”/.