Turning an islet into a tourism advantage

Preserving rural soul with technology

An Binh commune (Vinh Long), formed from the merger of four former communes - An Binh, Hoa Ninh, Dong Phu, and Binh Hoa Phuoc covers about 61 km2 with nearly 51,400 residents. The entire area lies on an islet, often referred to as a "green gem" in the middle of the Co Chien river. 

The islet setting is both an advantage and a challenge. Its fertile soil suits fruit orchards, the abundant river water supports cage aquaculture, and the poetic riverine scenery fosters tourism. Yet, transportation depends on ferries, farm produce carries high shipping costs, and waste management is more difficult. Even so, with local government guidance and the people’s diligence and ingenuity, limitations have been turned into opportunities.

According to Mr. Ho The Nhu, Vice Chairman of An Binh Commune People’s Committee: besides river tours and orchard visits, the commune also has nearly 1,700 fish cages run by about 200 households. Beyond livelihoods, this model has been integrated into experiential tourism. Visitors can take a boat to the cages, feed fish using automatic machines, then enjoy a fresh lunch featuring red tilapia just harvested from the river.

In the past, farmers relied on experience and visual observation to feed fish, leading at times to underfeeding that slowed growth, or overfeeding that polluted the water. Today, technology has solved this. Tourists can witness “River-based Agriculture 4.0,” an activity both novel and engaging.

Fish farmer Le Van Muoi demonstrates while using his smartphone: “Every day I collect data on fish weight, input it into software, and let AI calculate the ration. The automatic feeder, set through an app, distributes evenly across the cages. The fish eat it all, leaving no waste. This saves labor, cuts costs, and boosts profits.”

Alongside automatic feeding, farmers have also innovated in cage construction. Instead of costly and perishable wooden frames, they now use steel structures with recycled barrels, which are more durable and affordable. Each 200 m² cage yields 5–6 tons of fish per cycle. Traders come directly to purchase, so farmers simply weigh and record sales.

If fishing provides livelihoods, community-based tourism opens a new doorway. In recent years, An Binh has become a familiar stop on journeys exploring the Mekong Delta. Visitors come to enjoy fruit orchards, paddle along canals in small sampan boats, and listen to traditional đờn ca tài tử music by the river.

Duong Dieu Hien, owner of a small homestay on the islet, shares: “Foreign guests love staying with local families, going to the market, cooking, and picking fruit with their hosts. Some groups even asked to help me make bánh xèo pancakes, and we all laughed while eating together. At first, locals were shy about hosting tourists, but now we’re used to it, finding tourism enjoyable and a good way to earn extra income."

Among the most distinctive attractions is the “Coconut House” of Vo Ngoc Giac. Built with 1,700 old coconut trees, the three-compartment house uses every part of the tree: stumps carved into statues, trunks used as beams and pillars, shells pressed into floor tiles, and fibers and leaves crafted into decorative items.

More than just a home, the project has become a tourist site recognized as a 4-star OCOP provincial product under the name COCO HOUSE. Each year, thousands of visitors, including many from abroad, come to admire and learn from this model of green architecture.

"I wanted to create something different,” Giac says, “something that preserves traditional values while sending a message about protecting the environment. People usually think coconuts are only for water or flesh, but with creativity, every fiber and shell can be turned into a work of art."

According to the owner of the Coconut House, the islet’s separation from the mainland has become an advantage for An Binh in developing tourism. Boat tours winding through canals take visitors to explore orchard landscapes, stop by floating fish cages, and visit riverside homestays, creating a slow, intimate experience that is hard to find on the mainland. What was once a transportation difficulty has now turned into a distinctive feature, adding charm to journeys in An Binh.

Achieving 14 out of 19 new rural development criteria

Vice Chairman of An Binh Commune People’s Committee, Ho The Nhu, said that from floating fish cages and fruit-laden orchards to homestays and the unique Coconut House, An Bình is showcasing a vibrant new face. Moving forward, the commune will link fish farming and orchards with eco-tourism, creating more livelihoods for residents while preserving the riverine identity of the delta.

However, the path toward meeting new rural standards and eventually advancing to higher-level criteria still faces challenges. Transport infrastructure remains incomplete, with narrow roads and agricultural goods relying on ferries, raising costs. Climate change brings harsher tidal floods, sometimes inundating orchards and fish ponds. Meanwhile, waste and wastewater treatment lag behind tourism growth, and young workers tend to migrate to cities, leaving rural areas short of skilled labor.

To address these issues, Vinh Long province has introduced supportive policies such as promoting digital transformation in aquaculture, training cooperative labor, and marketing products through e-commerce. Beyond fresh fish, the locality also encourages processed products to boost value and income.

By the end of June, An Binh had completed 14 out of 19 new rural development criteria. The five remaining include planning, transportation, schools, income, and environment–food safety. Notably, the inter-hamlet road network has been mostly completed, with 100% paved or concreted; 96.4% of households use clean water; and nearly 93% of waste is collected. Local authorities are seeking increased infrastructure investment while mobilizing community resources to quickly fulfill the remaining criteria.

“In the future, as the new rural development criteria are fully met, An Binh will not only be a highlight of Vinh Long but could also become a model for many other islet regions where agriculture, technology, and tourism are interconnected and mutually supportive. Local people will both preserve the soul of riverine rural life and keep pace with the country’s development,” said Ho The Nhu, Vice Chairman of An Binh Commune People’s Committee.