Shine Muscat boosts green tourism in Quang Ngai

These days, the approximately 1,000-square-meter vineyard owned by Ho Xe in Phong Nien Ha Village, Tho Phong Commune, Quang Ngai Province is entering its first harvest season of Shine Muscat grapes. Beneath the lush green trellises, hundreds of plump, uniformly ripened grape clusters hang heavily, filling the air with their distinctive aroma and delighting visitors seeing them in person for the first time.

Few would imagine that the owner of this vineyard originally worked in the furniture business. Driven by a desire to pursue modern agriculture, he began researching and cultivating Shine Muscat grapes about three years ago. This premium grape variety is highly valued for its economic potential and is renowned for its crisp texture, delicate sweetness, and distinctive fragrance.

"After seeing many growers succeed with this variety, I believed that if I was willing to learn and persevere, I could do it too. Difficulties are inevitable, but persistence will eventually help you find the right approach," Ho Xe said.

His journey to cultivate this grape variety, widely regarded as demanding and difficult to grow, was far from smooth. The region's characteristic hot climate led to repeated setbacks, with the vines growing vigorously but either failing to set fruit or suffering damage from pests and diseases.

Undeterred, he devoted considerable time to studying technical materials, learning from experienced grape growers both in Viet Nam and abroad, and experimenting with various cultivation methods. To create optimal growing conditions, he invested in a rain-protected greenhouse system, improved the soil using organic practices, built an effective drainage system, and adopted cultivation techniques tailored to local conditions.

Thanks to his persistence, nearly 200 Shine Muscat vines planted a year ago have grown steadily and are now producing high-quality grape clusters. Ho Xe has gradually mastered every stage of cultivation, from nurturing young vines to managing flowering, fruit set, and nutrient regulation.

According to him, fruit thinning is one of the most critical steps in producing attractive, uniformly sized grape clusters. After the fruit has set, each bunch is carefully selected and pruned. Typically, only five to seven clusters are retained on each vine, while particularly vigorous vines are allowed to carry eight to ten clusters to ensure nutrients are concentrated on developing premium-quality fruit.

Organic cultivation has not only improved the quality of the grapes but also created an attractive ecological setting. Even during its first harvest season, Ho Xe's vineyard has drawn numerous visitors eager to tour the farm, take photographs, and experience grape picking firsthand.

Many first-time visitors are surprised to see Shine Muscat grapes successfully cultivated in Quang Ngai. "It's remarkable that these grapes thrive in the hot climate of central Viet Nam. The vines are healthy, the fruit is beautiful, and the taste is excellent. This is an innovative farming model with strong development potential," said Thanh Phuong, a visitor to the vineyard.

According to Ho Xe, each cluster of Shine Muscat grapes requires approximately five months of meticulous care from flowering to harvest. Although the grapes are sold at around USD 11.40/kg, current production is still insufficient to meet market demand. Within just over a week of the first harvest going on sale, more than 50 grape clusters had been purchased, while the remaining nearly 100 clusters had already been reserved by customers.

Beyond its economic value, the vineyard also presents opportunities for developing agritourism in the locality. An increasing number of visitors, farmers, and agricultural entrepreneurs have come to tour the vineyard, learn about its cultivation techniques, and explore opportunities to collaborate on experiential tourism products.

"The Shine Muscat vineyard has great potential to become an attractive ecotourism destination, where visitors can experience sustainable farming practices, learn about clean agricultural production, and enjoy freshly harvested grapes right in the vineyard," said Vo Tien Hung, a resident of Cam Thanh Ward, Quang Ngai Province.

Building on his initial success, Ho Xe is continuing to expand production while remaining committed to biological farming practices to produce premium-quality grapes for both visitors and the broader market.

The success of this Shine Muscat vineyard demonstrates not only the adaptability of high-value crop varieties to the climatic conditions of Quang Ngai Province, but also their potential to become distinctive agritourism attractions. The model is widely regarded as a promising approach to rural economic development, combining clean agriculture with green tourism and immersive ecotourism experiences.