Green future: A woman tending to buffaloes in Vietnam’s Dien Bien province. Sustainable rural tourism development will help the country harness its natural and cultural resources while improving rural communities’ quality of life. — AFP
HOA BINH: The development of agricultural tourism has become a significant focus for Vietnam, particularly in provinces like Hoa Binh, where the integration of agriculture and tourism can play a transformative role in fostering green growth and sustainable development.
Vietnam’s diverse landscapes make it perfect for agricultural tourism, aligning with the growing demand for eco-friendly travel.
According to a 2023 study by the Institute for Tourism Development Research, most regions across the country are interested in developing agricultural tourism, especially the farmstay model.
Many localities have implemented special mechanisms to facilitate the growth of this tourism type, attracting a large number of visitors and positively contributing to local economic and social development.
At the recent forum on linking agriculture with tourism and green growth hosted by theof Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry and Hoa Binh Province’s People’s Committee, Nguyen Thi Lan Huong from the Institute for Tourism Development Research highlighted that agricultural tourism seeks to maximise farming profits while meeting diverse customer needs.
This creates business opportunities for farmers and boosts tourism revenue and destination development.
However, there are still gaps in the legal framework regarding farmstay and agricultural tourism, including laws such as the Tourism Law, Land Law, Forestry Law, Construction Law and Environmental Protection Law, which have not been fully harmonised, limiting the business environment for local people to engage in tourism, Huong said.
According to the Institute for Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, rural tourism development requires a combination of economic, cultural and ecological values.
This means that beyond attracting tourists, tourism should contribute to local economic growth while preserving and promoting existing cultural and natural values. Sustainable rural tourism development will help Vietnam harness its natural and cultural resources while improving rural communities’ quality of life.
Key to this transformation are appropriate policies, better infrastructure and enhanced local capacity.
Bui Thi Nga from the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences noted that in some areas, the selection of agricultural tourism sites has not fully considered their potential and unique features, resulting in ineffective results.
Most agricultural tourism activities are small, uncoordinated, and repetitive, with unappealing products and no branding.
In some areas, rural tourism infrastructure is inadequate, with limited transportation, weak waste management, substandard toilets, no tourist signage and a lack of clean water.
Nga recommended that agricultural tourism sites be developed based on a proper evaluation of each region’s potential, to avoid fragmentation, improve appeal and build a strong brand for Vietnam’s agricultural tourism.
Hoa Binh, renowned for its natural beauty and unique cultural identity, rich in traditional festivals and majestic landscapes, including the Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Lake, often called ‘Ha Long Bay on land’, is committed to sustainable economic growth.
The province focuses on combining agriculture with tourism, creating a model that supports eco-friendly farming and biodiversity conservation.
Dinh Cong Su, vice-chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoa Binh Province, highlighted the province’s strong potential for developing a diverse, high-value agricultural sector and its focus on green and circular economies. — Viet Nam News/ANN
