Da Nang considers green agriculture new pillar for tourism and rural economy

Unlocking the value of green agriculture

One morning in Go Noi, Thu Bon commune, the scent of lemongrass and tea tree essential oils drifts gently through the air, blending with the light fragrance of roots and fresh grass. Few would imagine that essential oils extracted from lemongrass, ginger, tea tree, and cinnamon by the Go Noi Green Agriculture Cooperative have inspired an experiential tourism journey.

Nguyen Thi Kieu Anh, Director of the cooperative, recalls that when the cooperative’s products began gaining recognition in the market, more and more customers started visiting, not only to buy, but also to see firsthand how a bottle of “clean” essential oil is produced.

At first, these were only short visits and spontaneous trips by curious customers. Gradually, word spread, and the number of visitors kept rising. Catching those early signals, she began nurturing a new idea: transforming the herbal production space into an experiential destination where visitors could connect with the value of green agriculture.

“If we simply produce essential oils, it would be difficult to spread the core values we pursue - green living, chemical-free farming, and harmony with nature. Experiential tourism helps customers not only use the products but also understand the journey behind them,” Kieu Anh said.

From that idea, the tour “Experience tourism with Go Noi Green” was created. Without fanfare or elaborate arrangements, the tour guides visitors through each stage, from planting and harvesting to preliminary processing and essential oil distillation. Every step is open for participants to experience directly, using their own hands and senses. At that point, a bottle of essential oil is no longer just a product but the culmination of labor, local knowledge, and perseverance in pursuing clean agriculture.

The story of tourism linked with clean agriculture is not limited to Go Noi. Farmers at the Thanh Dong Organic Vegetable and Tourism Cooperative in Hoi An Dong ward have also steadily built and promoted their model over many years.

Among lush vegetable beds, international visitors eagerly bend down to till the soil, weed, and water the crops - tasks that may seem simple but provide a unique experience. Le Nhuong, Director of the cooperative, said, “In 2025, the organic vegetable village welcomed more than 1,000 international visitors. Many of them love the experience because they can farm directly and live like real farmers.”

What impresses visitors most about Thanh Dong is not only the experience but also its nature-friendly farming methods. Instead of chemicals, farmers use mixtures of ginger, garlic, and chili soaked in alcohol as natural pesticides. Fertilizers come from organic agricultural by-products, while irrigation water is filtered before entering the gardens.

“We practice truly clean agriculture, so those who come have complete faith in us. They eat in the garden, buy products to take home, and recommend the place to friends. That is the most valuable thing,” Nhuong said.

Great fiscal space for broader development

Following administrative restructuring, Da Nang now has a larger agricultural land fund, creating more opportunities to develop agriculture along green, organic, and circular models. In recent years, the shift from traditional agricultural production thinking to an agricultural economy approach has also shown positive signs.

More integrated models are emerging, combining clean agricultural production with experiential tourism, organized through supply chains and linked to ecosystem protection. This approach is considered a way to efficiently utilize agricultural resources while generating new added value for tourism and opening sustainable development space for rural areas.

In recent years, many tourism products highlighting agricultural and ecological cultural values across the city have been systematically developed with a clear orientation. Rather than simple sightseeing, these products focus on diverse experiences suitable for different visitor groups, from relaxation and exploration to learning about local lifestyles.

The impact of this approach has been recognized through several international awards. Tra Que vegetable village was honored by the World Tourism Organization as the “Best Tourism Village” in 2024. Meanwhile, Toom Sara village and the Co Tu Community Tourism Cooperative in Nam Giang won the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Award in 2025. Cam Thanh village was listed by Forbes among the 50 most beautiful villages in the world, while Thanh Ha pottery village received the award for Best Community Tourism Destination in Vietnam in 2025.

Tran Nam Hung, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, believes agriculture and tourism should be more closely integrated to maximize effectiveness. “Sustainable agriculture should not stop at producing clean products for sale. Those values should be developed into distinctive tourism products capable of retaining visitors. At the same time, agricultural stakeholders need to be more proactive in building brands and promoting their products to create momentum for this model,” he said.

The UN World Tourism Organization predicts that agricultural and rural tourism will be among the fastest-growing segments in the near future. By 2030, global visitors in this sector could account for around 10% of total tourism, generating an estimated USD 30 billion in revenue with annual growth rates of 10 - 30%, significantly higher than the average 4% growth of traditional tourism segments.

With its existing foundation, integrating clean agriculture with tourism is not only a trend but also a new driver of socio-economic development for Da Nang in the coming period. Representatives from the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Environment said authorities will continue advising the municipal government on policies and mechanisms to support the sustainable development of this model, contributing to the formation of a distinctive green tourism ecosystem for the locality.