Workers wrap green-skinned pomelos at Huong Mien Tay Producer in southern Ben Tre province's Phuoc My Trung commune (Source: VNA) Cho Lach district, the largest fruit cultivation area in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, has created several tourism products after three years of implementing its tourism development plan in the 2012-15 period, according to the district's People's Committee.
Cho Lach now has various kinds of tourism services, including tours to visit fruit orchards, seedling nurseries, flower and ornamental tree gardens.
The district has also organised homestay services and bicycle tours for tourists to watch natural scenes in rural areas.
In the 2012 -15 period, the district welcomed about 131,700 tourists a year, including 11,700 foreign visitors, exceeding the district's target, said the People's Committee.
It has also earned annual tourism revenue of 90 billion VND (4.3 million USD) in recent years. Many farmers have offered tourism services.
Nguyen Cong Thanh in Son Dinh commune's Son Chau hamlet said he had begun offering tourism services at his fruit orchard and seedling nursery, which cover a total area of 2 ha since 2013.
Most farmers in Son Chau hamlet produce seedlings and grow flowers and ornamental trees.
Thang has also cooperated with other farmers in Son Chau hamlet to organise tours to watch how farmers sculpt ornamental trees and produce fruit seedlings.
One of the most popular ornamental tree gardens in Cho Lach is the ornamental tree garden of artisan Nam Cong in Hung Khanh Trung B commune.
Cong, who has more than 40 years of experience in producing ornamental trees, has created many trees in various shapes, such as teapots, wine gourds, houses and ornamental trees in the shape of the 12 zodiac animals.
Cho Lach also organises a fruit festival each year. The district has targeted to increase the number of tourists visiting the district by 15 percent a year and tourism revenue by 25 percent a year.
To meet the targets, Cho Lach will invest in tourism infrastructure and human resources, develop more tours and promote tourism information, according to the People's Committee.
Located between two large rivers, Co Chien and Ham Luong, and 40 km away from Ben Tre city, Cho Lach is famous for its delicious fruit varieties, including durian, Java rambutan, grapefruit and mangosteen.
Cho Lach also has many cultural and historical destinations like Cai Mon Church – one of the country's 10 largest – and the memorial house of Truong Vinh Ky (1837 – 1898), a famous scholar in the 19th century.-VNA
