Potentials gathered to promote eco-tourism

Surrounded and accreted by Dong Nai river of heavy alluvium, Tan Uyen land has a green and cool natural landscape. In the process of urbanization, Tan Uyen still retains the beauty that nature has bestowed on the land of green rice fields, fruit-laden orchards among others, which is also the potential for Tan Uyen to exploit, linking with other tourism products to promote the development of ecotourism in the area, and to attract tourists.

The pomelo orchard in Bach Dang commune have attracted many domestic and foreign tourists

Ecotourism highlights

One of the typical products bearing the diverse flavor of Tan Uyen that is known by many people is Bach Dang pomelo. In the past, if you wanted to go to Bach Dang, you had to go on a ferry or a boat, so it was quite a distance. In recent years, when the bridge connecting the happy banks of Bach Dang was built and put into use, the people of Bach Dang commune wanted to bring their products to the market as well as tourists everywhere. It is very convenient to visit Bach Dang islet which is only a few kilometers from the center of Tan Uyen town.

Referring to Bach Dang, people immediately think of green pomelo orchards laden with branches when in season. Another special thing is that the pomelo of Bach Dang is very delicious and healthy; one only eat once to remember the taste forever. Therefore, in the past time, Bach Dang pomelo has been invested and developed by the locality, both to help people develop the economy and to create quality pomelo orchards that can be exploited for tourism development.

Nguyen Huu Tam - Director of Bach Dang Pomelo Cooperative said that the cooperative currently has 11 members with about 9.2 hectares of pomelos. “Bringing pomelo orchards into exploitation and development of local-oriented eco-tourism is something that members are very interested in and support. In addition to caring for quality pomelos, in recent years, the members have also invested in renovating the orchards to meet the needs of visitors. Currently, all member orchards meet VietGAP. In the past time, the cooperative has welcomed many tourist groups who experienced as well as learned from experience.

The local pomelo orchards with green and quiet space, friendly and enthusiastic people are the highlights that attract tourists including Duong Van Minh's pomelo orchard at Dieu Hoa hamlet of Bach Dang commune of about 2,300 square meters. In addition to serving pomelos, in the past time, from pomelos, Minh also researched and produced more grapefruit essential oil, grapefruit wine, pomelo jam, etc. which have been well received and appreciated by customers. For the time, his pomelo orchard has welcomed many delegations inside and outside the province. Many delegations have become close, every time they come to the locality, they visit Minh's pomelo orchard to relax in the green space where he is also ready to offer visitors food, drink and a playground right at the cool house in his garden.

“Tourists in addition to sightseeing and experiencing, they also need to buy specialty products as gifts. When many people come to the pomelo orchard, the products we make will be sold at a higher price than directly to traders. To serve tourism, our farmers only stop at investing in renovating the orchard by making more small paths within for visitors get around or building a camp or planting more flowers to offer space to tourists. In order to develop tourism, it is necessary to have the support of localities, functional sectors, and travel agencies  regarding the introducing, promoting, and organizing other services to attract visitors," said Minh.

Not far from Bach Dang, Thanh Hoi commune is also a locality with potentials to develop eco-tourism. In addition to the famous national-level archaeological site of Turtle Island at Thanh Hoi commune, Nhut Thanh communal house that has been ranked as a provincial-level relic is also listed. Along with that is the road map coordinated by Mai Song Be – the former Director of Dong Nai Radio and Television Station, creating more unique cultural beauty for local people as well as attracting more delegations from inside and outside the province.

The peaceful and green space of the rice fields and pomelo orchards along with the simple and peaceful lifestyle of the people on the island are the highlights and potentials to link with other available advantages of the locality exploiting and developing ecotourism activities in Tan Uyen town.

Currently, Tan Uyen Town is promoting a tourism development project to 2025 with a vision to 2030, which is the premise of the survey to build and form tours, routes and links to develop tourism including ecotourism.

Link to develop

Ecotourism development is one of the planned orientations to implement the strategy of developing Vietnam's tourism to 2030 in the area of ​​Tan Uyen town, which was issued by the town People's Committee at the end of 2021. According to Nguyen Tan Phat - Head of Culture and Information Division of Tan Uyen town, the implementation of the plan is to manage, exploit and promote the value of available resources for tourism development.

The road map made by Mai Song Be has created a unique cultural feature for the land of Tan Uyen town

According to the plan, the development of garden eco-tourism, riverside tourism, community tourism, and rural tourism associated with typical products is one of the contents to improve the quality of tourism products. Accordingly, in the coming time, Tan Uyen town will form riverside eco-tourism products, mobilize resources of the society to invest in river tourism products, build waterways in service of tourist transport; at the same time, link with Dong Nai province and Ho Chi Minh city to develop tourism on Dong Nai river. Along with that, the town will also urge investors to effectively implement the eco-urban project of Mekong Golf Villa in Bach Dang. The development of OCOP products associated with tourism activities, and the creation of products to serve the sightseeing and shopping needs of people and tourists is also focused by the town. For localities with conditions and potentials to develop community-based and rural tourism, priority should be given to the development of infrastructure and auxiliary facilities to attract tourists and increase the spending of tourists. Also according to the plan, the development of homestay tourism, farmstay, and eco-tourism associated with visiting historical and cultural relics is also interested in implementation by the locality in the near future.

Sharing more about the tourism potentials of Tan Uyen town, Nguyen Tan Phat said that referring to ecotourism in Tan Uyen town, it is impossible not to mention famous islet areas associated with cultural values. Traditional culture is soon formed on this land such as Bach Dang island, Turtle island of Thanh Hoi commune. Besides, the system of historical and cultural relics of Tan Uyen town is also quite rich from revolutionary bases to communal houses, pagodas, temples and ancient houses. Tan Uyen town has long had agricultural products and handicrafts known to many people such as bamboo, knitting, pottery, etc. Another advantage is that in the area of ​​Tan Uyen town, Dong Nai river is flowing through important economic centers of the province such as Thu Dau Mot city and Thuan An city.

Coming to Tan Uyen town, visitors will enjoy the fresh space of juicy fruit orchards, take a boat trip on the river, experience craft villages, enjoy local cuisine, and learn about the peaceful life of people in rural areas. The new tourism development plan along with the proposed solutions and efforts has prompted the involvement of the local authorities and the functional sector in the area of ​​​​Tan Uyen town to soon initiate tours and tourist routes, contributing to the development of Tan Uyen Town in the coming time.

Reported by Hong Thuan – Translated by Vi Bao