Experts from Hanoi have provided some recommendations to help Quang Nam Province build a more effective rural tourism model, heard a conference on rural and tourism development last week.

Located about 60 kilometers from downtown Hanoi, Ba Vi District is one of the highlight destinations in Hanoi's suburbs, capable of stimulating travel demand to the capital. Photo: Melia Retreat Ba Vi

Quang Nam should improve the connectivity between local communes and travel companies, said Ngo Van Ngon, Deputy Chief of the New Rural Coordination Office of Hanoi.

Through these connections, the central coastal province may promote its tourism products to both domestic and international visitors, he said.

Phung Quang Thang, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Travel Association, emphasized that the province should create tourism routes that link unique products to local destinations, and provide valuable experiences for visitors.

While designing tours and routes, management agencies need to study tourists to learn their demands and help businesses develop appropriate offerings, he said.

"There should be several tour samples for travel companies and localities to build on," Thang said.

Strengthening connections with OCOP (One Commune One Product) production areas is another way to boost tourism, said Tran Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism.

Authorities should encourage OCOP producers to mix cultural, community, ecological, and historical values with their outputs, he said.

The conference between Hanoi City and Quang Nam Province to exchange experiences in developing rural and agro-tourism in 2024, held in Hanoi. Photo: Hoang Lan/ Hanoimoi

“This makes tourism itineraries more appealing, and boosts income for the locals, therefore facilitating a sustainable rural tourism sector,” Hieu said.

He also emphasized the need for distinctive, high-value rural tourism products that offer travelers unique, immersive experiences.

The Hanoi official suggested that local authorities of Quang Nam help farms, cooperatives, and local households reach for travel businesses to grow agrotourism.

With a wide variety of traditional handicrafts and craft villages that are valuable for tourism, Hanoi aims to develop agro-rural tourism in the direction of green, responsible and sustainable tourism, Hieu said.

Hanoi, in cooperation with cities and provinces nationwide, has developed a series of tourist routes to utilize the values of craft villages, the tourism department’s director added.

Hanoi now has 42 officially recognized city-level tourist attractions, half of which capitalize on the values of rural and agricultural resources. In seven districts - Thanh Tri, Thuong Tin, Phuc Tho, Ba Vi, Chuong My, Long Bien and Ha Dong - eleven farms are running on agrotourism and ecological experiences.

Some typical examples of agrotourism products in Hanoi include the "South Thang Long Heritage Road" tourist route through central Hanoi and the suburban districts of Thanh Oai, Ung Hoa and My Duc, and the community-based tourism site of Mien Village to help the Dao ethnic minority in Hop Son Hamlet, Ba Vi District develop tourism through the making of traditional medicine.

Difficulties and future acts

Talking about difficulties, Hieu said that the translation of the advantages of agrotourism and rural tourism into key products is still limited, with relatively low competitiveness.

The delegation from Quang Nam's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism inspects the model of agro-rural tourism of Hong Van Flower, Bonsai and Service Cooperative in Hong Van Commune, Thuong Tin District, Hanoi. Photo: Thanh Tung

The lack of criteria for such tourist destinations is also a challenge for the city in developing relevant models, he said.

On top of this, the process of converting agricultural land into land for tourism services is still cumbersome, the director added.

Spatial planning for rural and agrotourism projects is non-existent, while human resources for these tourism activities are not yet professional, among other obstacles, Hieu said.

In 2024 and 2025, the Department of Tourism will complete the second tourist route that runs through central Hanoi and Thanh Tri, Thuong Tin and Phu Xuyen districts, he said.

The city will also design a new community-based tourism destination in Muong Village to preserve the culture and promote the traditional craft values of the Muong people in An Phu Commune, My Duc District, Hieu said.

Another product is related to the heritage values, relics and handicraft villages of Ha Mo tourist site in Ha Mo Commune, Dan Phuong District, he added.

On the Quang Nam side, Van Ba Son, Deputy Director of the Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the province has learned from Hanoi and many other localities in agro-rural tourism development.

Various models in localities have provided Quang Nam with useful lessons, typically the community-based tourism model in Moc Chau and Van Ho (Son La Province) or Quang Phu Cau craft village in Ung Hoa District (Hanoi), he said.

At present, Quang Nam is encouraging the development of agro-rural tourism with numerous models of garden houses and river tourism, the official said.

"Quang Nam also encountered the same difficulties as Hanoi when developing rural and agrotourism, notably land use mechanisms, infrastructure, and human resource development," Son said.

As part of the conference, the delegation from Quang Nam Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism visited Quang Phu Cau Incense Making Village and Hong Van Flower, Bonsai and Service Cooperative in Hong Van Commune, Hanoi’s Thuong Tin District to study the agro-rural tourism models.