Cultivating agricultural tourism model in Hanoi

The concept follows an agricultural tourism model that the company decided to adopt at the end of last year.

Foreign visitors on the agricultural tour in Giang Bien ward, Hanoi

"Although I have experienced agricultural tourism in a number of places, this is the first time I have discovered farming work in a green space so close to a capital city. The farmers are extremely friendly, and the vegetables are so clean you can eat them straight from the garden. There is great potential for this tour, and I think other international visitors will find it interesting like I have,” said Suzanne Siskel, an American tourist who was exploring a farm in Giang Bien ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi.

During the half-day tour, international tourists can try their hands at sowing seeds, tending plants, harvesting vegetables, and cooking local dishes. They can also learn about the traditional craft of weaving ropes and hammocks, before ending their journeys with a delicious meal.

With the help of tour guides, guests can interact directly with local people, giving them a better understanding of life as a farmer in Giang Bien.

Vu Van Truong, a farmer in Giang Bien said, "Since joining the project, farmers like us who were only familiar with traditional farming work have received additional training on communication skills and product promotion to serve tourists. We already knew how to grow clean vegetables without using chemicals, but now we're following the lead of agricultural tourism models in other provinces. I hope more and more tourists will visit us in Giang Bien."

VietHarvest AgriTour project director To Hue said that since the tour in Giang Bien was launched, groups of domestic tourists have also been booking tours to experience life there, and international delegations have visited to learn about the model. Giang Bien is close to the centre of Hanoi, so tour agencies are looking to incorporate it into their itineraries to bring international visitors on a regular basis.

This month, Giang Bien will welcome four groups of about 100 guests, including 60 international tourists.

Visitor numbers are expected to increase in the near future, so project workers are standardising the reception process to improve the professionalism of farming households; investing in additional facilities; and strengthening connections with surrounding farming groups to expand the model.

“We are also designing gift sets such as seeds and seedlings with QR codes attached for visitors to take home. When they check these codes, they will see information about the destination and a message about Giang Bien green tourism, thereby leaving an impression and forming a deeper connection between tourists and Giang Bien," Hue said.

The model was developed under a community project implemented by VietED with sponsorship from the Asia Foundation and GSRD Fund, aiming to increase the value of local agricultural products and create a new source of income from tourism for farmers in Giang Bien.

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