Taking photos at grape vineyards is a popular thing with tourists in Ninh Thuan Province. — nld.com.vn
HANOI (Vietnam News/Asia News Network): Thai An is one of numerous vineyards in Ninh Thuan Province that have opened up to visitors, offering them delicious freshly picked grapes and generally a wonderful travel experience.
The south-central province of Ninh Thuan has around 1,060ha under grapes across several districts and its capital city of Phan Rang – Thap Cham.
Though vineyards only account of 3.5 per cent of the province’s agricultural area, grapes account for 20 per cent of the value, making it arguably the most important crop.
According to local farmers, a very wet climate is not suitable for growing grapes, and Ninh Thuan’s weather is thus ideal since it is relatively light on rain, which usually falls only for a few months, and mostly dry and sunny.
For Ninh Thuan, grape is much more than just a high-value agricultural product; it is also a way to attract tourists from all over Việt Nam.
Nguyen Khac Phong, director of the Thai An General Agriculture Service Cooperative and owner of the Thai An Grape Vineyard, told Vietnam News that some vineyards are able to take in tourists and make sure they have a good time.
“Not all vineyards can do this, but those that can see their incomes increase by 20 per cent. This also creates more jobs for locals.”
Many tourists also enjoy tasting and buying products made from grapes at the vineyeards, such as wines, raisin and syrups.
Ninh Thuan’s grape wines especially make for great souvenirs, with its light sweet and sour flavour.
Ninh Thuan’s ongoing 2023 Grape and Wine Festival from June 13 to 18 is a great opportunity for the province to further promote one of its biggest tourism advantages.
The annual festival features a culinary event, vineyard tours, a fair for products from provinces across southern and central Vietnam, and its first ever grape trellis competition to promote outstanding grape vineyards.
Phong said: “When people think of grape, many think of Ninh Thuan. And this Grape and Wine Festival is a great chance to raise the profile of Ninh Thuan’s grapes and other tourism advantages.”
Local farmers are excited about the festival, especially the competition, and have spent the past few weeks meticulously caring for their wide variety of grapes and touching up their vineyards’ sceneries, all to welcome tourists.
The Thai An General Agriculture Service Cooperative is helping local farming households make high-quality, certified grape products, and adopt clean, organic farming practices to improve their grapes, which in turn makes for a better tourism experience.
Ninh Thuan has much more to offer than just tasty grapes; it is also well-known for its long beautiful beaches and places like Bau Truc Pottery Village in Ninh Phuoc District, where visitors can experience the beauty and intricacy of pottery made by the Chăm people.
But the fruit is unquestionably one of its defining characteristics, and so tourists looking for a great time should definitely pay a visit to one of its beautiful vineyards.
