Rural infrastructure construction is key to fostering the sustainable development of agricultural eco-tourism in Hanoi and benefiting local people, officials said.

Children enjoy their visit to the Ba Vi Homestead at Van Hoa Commune of Ba Vi District, Hanoi. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Farm ecotourism revenue comes not only from the value of farm products but also from services, Hong Van Commune Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Hai Dang said at a meeting with residents on Sept. 21.

Tourists should be able to enjoy safe organic farm produce and experience the local culture during their accommodation while each farm should preserve a clean and healthy environment, Dang said.

“Rural infrastructure construction should be the top priority for agricultural eco-tourism development. Infrastructure development would boost farm production,” Dang said.

“However, the resources for rural infrastructure construction are still limited,” he said.

“In addition to issues of capital and administration, the shortage of human resources is also a big obstacle to expanding the farms,” said Mai Van Tam, owner of a farm at Hong Van Commune of Thuong Tin District.

"It takes us a long time to turn a simple farmer into a professional tour guide, which requires maximum effort in training courses," he said.

To eliminate barriers to development, local authorities and residents must complete the planning of their rural areas, Ngo Van Ngon, vice office chief of the Office for New-Style Rural Development Program under the Hanoi People’s Committee, said.

They must ensure other infrastructure development plans would not damage the ecological conditions and affect the effective ongoing models, he said.

The Hanoi Department of Tourism has supported and connected tourist companies with residents to bring more visitors to agricultural eco-tourism sites, the department’s deputy director Tran Trung Hieu said.

In 2022, the department has launched more training courses to improve the capabilities of people and officials in districts, communes, and towns, he said, adding communication activities on agricultural eco-tourism have also been enhanced.

Vu Thi Huong, Director of the Hanoi Agricultural Extension Center (HAEC), said that the city will pilot some sustainable touristic activities such as agricultural and rural tourism, community tourism, and craft village tourism in the districts of Thuong Tin, Dan Phuong, Thanh Tri, My Duc and Thach That as well as Son Tay Town.

In recent years, the HAEC has provided financial and technical support for farmers to develop and advertise their businesses effectively as agricultural eco-tourism is an important factor to develop worth-living countryside areas, she said.

The suburban and rural areas are the “green lung” of the urban area and they need improvements to facilitate a better life for residents, Huong added.

According to the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, there are now 15 farms that explore agricultural eco-tourism activities, improving the living conditions of local people and infrastructures. Of the total, 11 farms are households and four are cooperatives.

Some well-known farms are the craft village at Hong Van Commune of Thuong Tin District, and the Ba Vi Homestead at Van Hoa Commune of Ba Vi District.