Organic agriculture serves as foundation for green tourism

Tourism potential from organic agriculture

The former Quang Nam region, now a vast part of Da Nang, is blessed with a diverse ecosystem stretching from plains and coastal areas to midlands and mountainous regions. On this foundation, spaces for organic agriculture, community-based tourism, and "healing tourism" are gradually taking shape. These are becoming important drivers of the city's unique identity and steering local tourism toward green and sustainable development.

Nestled along the Thu Bon River, the Go Noi Ecotourism Area of the Go Noi Green Agriculture Cooperative has gradually become a serene and familiar destination for tourists. The green agricultural tourism model here not only connects tourists with the medicinal herb production space but also fully recreates the indigenous cultural life.

Within the two-hectare medicinal herb garden, lush lemongrass fields sway gently in the wind, rows of mint release a refreshing fragrance, and tea trees stretch toward the sunlight. All crops are cultivated entirely according to organic methods, without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, nourished only by healthy soil, clean water, and the diligent hands of local gardeners.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Anh, Director of Go Noi Green Agriculture Cooperative, shared that as essential oil products extracted from lemongrass, mint, and tea trees gained a foothold in the market, many customers wished to witness the farming and processing process firsthand and to experience the cultivation space at the Go Noi medicinal herb area. That inspired her to develop a green agricultural tourism tour to connect tourists with the medicinal herb production space and indigenous culture.

"If we only focused on producing essential oils, it would be difficult to spread our core values of a green, chemical-free, and nature-friendly lifestyle. Therefore, expanding into experience tourism allows tourists both to use clean products and to fully feel the journey of creating them," shared Ms. Kieu Anh.

From this idea, the Go Noi Green Agriculture Cooperative launched its first tours featuring stops such as visiting the medicinal herb garden, where tourists can touch the leaves, enjoy the aromas, pick herbs, and hear stories about traditional herbal plants; observing the manual essential oil extraction process using traditional steam distillation; experiencing herbal foot baths; and exploring various herbal teas and functional foods made from indigenous medicinal plants.

Creating livelihoods, keeping professions, protecting the land

Beyond Go Noi, many other agricultural models associated with experiential tourism are also enriching Da Nang’s agricultural tourism landscape. In Thanh Dong Vegetable Village, the "A Day as a Farmer" tour, combining basket boat rowing, vegetable picking, and cooking with local residents, increasingly attracts tourists.

On average, the vegetable village welcomes 6,000–7,000 domestic and international tourists each month. Tourists not only admire the lush green vegetable beds but also listen to local farmers' life stories, handpick pests, plant vegetables, learn farming skills, and enjoy rustic dishes prepared from the produce they just harvested. This model offers an authentic experience of rural life while helping farmers increase their income and strengthen their commitment to organic agriculture.

Similarly, at the Thang Binh High-Tech Agriculture Cooperative, the integration of agriculture with experience tourism is opening up new opportunities. Its organic hydroponic model for growing vegetables and fruits regularly welcomes groups of tourists, especially pupils and students who come to learn and explore. Beyond sightseeing, the lessons amid the green gardens serve as a journey to nurture green life awareness and appreciation for agricultural labor among younger generations.

In the face of climate change and development pressures, green tourism on the foundation of organic agricultural production is considered an optimal solution. This model not only helps preserve valuable natural resources but also turns environmental challenges into growth drivers, effectively leveraging Da Nang’s existing resources and completely aligning with its vision of becoming an "Environmental City."

According to Mr. Pham Nam Son, Director of the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Environment, the city has been orienting its development toward a green, clean, and organic urban agriculture model integrated with tourism, culture, and community. This approach not only expands the role of agriculture within the urban landscape but also contributes to shaping a sustainable lifestyle, promoting green consumption, and raising public awareness of environmental protection.