From family garden to tourist attraction: Buiding ecotourism site

Driven by a passion for gardening, the family of Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Hanh in Tan Hoa Commune, Can Tho City, has transformed their orchard into an ecotourism destination, attracting visitors to explore and enjoy hands-on experiences.

Driven by a desire to create a green garden where her family could grow vegetables and raise fish for their own needs, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Hanh, owner of Cuong Thinh Ecotourism Garden, never imagined that it would one day become a popular destination for visitors. As friends visited, fell in love with the orchard's peaceful atmosphere, and recommended it to others, the family gradually developed the garden into an ecotourism destination.

According to Ms. Hanh, the garden was initially designed as a self-sufficient space with a wide variety of vegetables, fruit trees, and fish ponds. Its lush greenery and dishes prepared from fresh, homegrown ingredients quickly impressed friends and visitors alike.

What sets Cuong Thinh Ecotourism Garden apart is not large-scale infrastructure but the opportunity to enjoy authentic, nature-based experiences. Visitors can pick seasonal fruits such as golden star apple, purple longan, rambutan, ruby guava, Thai ambarella, sapodilla, and durian; paddle a sampan, fish, harvest vegetables, and savor dishes prepared from produce grown right in the garden.

Country-style cuisine is another highlight of the garden. Rustic dishes such as salt-roasted snakehead fish, chicken cooked with lemon and chili, and battered fried freshwater shrimp served with fresh vegetables grown by the family capture the authentic flavors of the Mekong Delta countryside and are especially popular with visitors. Guests also have the opportunity to sample fruit-infused wines made by the family from ruby guava, red-fleshed jackfruit, Otaheite gooseberry, and other locally grown fruits, adding a distinctive touch to the destination.

To keep the garden lush and ready to welcome visitors, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Hanh and her family devote themselves each day to caring for fruit trees, planting seasonal vegetables, pruning branches, and maintaining the grounds, fish ponds, and visitor experience areas.

Every task is carried out with great care, from nurturing each tree to preparing fresh ingredients for the meals served to guests. Their dedication has enabled the garden to maintain its clean, verdant landscape and a steady supply of seasonal fruits, offering visitors an authentic and immersive experience of life in the orchards of southern Viet Nam.

According to Ms. Hanh, the garden is designed to offer a natural and relaxing experience. Visitors are free to explore the orchard, pick and enjoy fruit on-site at no charge, and pay only for the fruit they take home. This approach creates a welcoming atmosphere, making many guests feel as though they are spending time in their own family garden.

In addition to attracting domestic visitors, the garden also welcomes many international tourists eager to experience the orchard culture of the Mekong Delta. Beyond seasonal fruits, value-added products such as fruit cocktails and fruit-infused wines have become favorites among visitors, helping promote the region's distinctive agricultural specialties.

Mr. Trieu Tan Tai, a visitor from Tan Hoa Commune, Can Tho City, said he was particularly impressed by the garden's unique collection of fruit trees, including golden star apple, purple longan, and durian, as well as its nature-inspired landscape features, which provide an enjoyable and memorable experience for visitors.

Meanwhile, Mr. Doan Duy Mong, a visitor from Cai Doi Vam Commune, Ca Mau Province, said that this is an effective model combining agricultural production with tourism. According to him, this approach not only helps increase local people's incomes but also creates an additional destination for sightseeing and experiential activities, with potential for replication in other localities.

From a garden initially developed to serve the family's daily needs, Cuong Thinh Ecotourism Garden has gradually become an experiential destination attracting visitors from both within and outside the locality. In addition to generating income for the family, the model also contributes to promoting the image of rural areas, introducing local agricultural products, countryside cuisine, and the distinctive cultural values of Tan Hoa to visitors.

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Hanh said that in the coming time, her family will continue investing in expanding experience areas and adding more services to better serve visitors. However, to realize these plans, the family hopes to receive support in accessing funding sources, receiving tourism skills training, and promoting the destination to attract more visitors.

The entrepreneurial journey of Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Hanh demonstrates that by capitalizing on existing strengths and integrating agricultural production with ecotourism and experiential tourism, farmers can create greater value from their own orchards. This approach also aligns with the development of rural tourism, helping increase incomes, diversify livelihoods, and unlock the full potential of agriculture and rural areas in a green and sustainable manner.