VIETNAM is often heralded for its allure as a bustling tourism mecca, however, the future appeal of the country’s tourism industry could well be throttled up a few gears as the recent spike in agritourism continues to demonstrate strong economic promise.
With more than 70% of its population still living in rural areas, Vietnam is home to a plethora of ancient rice farms and fruit orchards, creating fertile ground for continued tourism development in the country’s vast agricultural regions.
In the north of the country, many agritourism adventures have been created that allow visitors to explore the life of rural villages in the Ninh Binh and Hai Duong provinces. Some of these attractions include learning about how traditional pottery is made, or taking in the unique folk painting styles crafted in the village of Dong Ho.
Rural adventures in Vietnam’s central region focus on the sheer volume and variety of produce farmed, with tours available to either trek through the Tra Que vegetable village in Hoi An city, the flower meadows in Da Lat city, or the sprawling coffee plantations in the central highland provinces.
The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program recently implemented by Vietnam’s National Administration of Tourism will likely provide an improved access to funds, enhanced rural infrastructure, and cultivating more fusions between the local agricultural and tourism sectors. Now that’s a grassroots tourism strategy!
