HÀ NỘI – Farm experience is currently one of the tourism products attracting many foreign visitors to the ancient village of Đường Lâm in Hà Nội's outskirt district of Sơn Tây, where many ancient features are still preserved.
Foreign tourists experience farm work. VNA/VNS Photo
In addition to walking around this village, visitors have a chance to learn about agricultural practices, enjoy local cuisine, and explore cultural heritage values.
Nguyễn Đăng Thạo, head of the Đường Lâm Ancient Village Relics Management Board, said that boasting typical features of a rural village with an agricultural lifestyle, Đường Lâm is a popular destination among both domestic and foreign visitors.
To sustainably develop tourism, the management board has designed a variety of products which travellers can try such as making candy, cakes, and "tương" (a salty paste made from fermented soybean), engaging in agricultural activities, and experiencing creative spaces. Of which, farm experiences are suitable for international visitors and students of international schools in Hà Nội and have left a good impression on them, Thạo continued.
He said foreign visitors are very interested in exploring the agricultural life in Đường Lâm. They want to see with their own eyes and experience ploughing and cultivating rice, so local farmers are arranged to give a demonstration and then tourists are invited to join in the activities with farmers serving as their instructors.
A foreign visitor is very interested in exploring the agricultural life in Đường Lâm. VNA/VNS Photo
After touring the ancient village in the morning and getting experience of farmwork in the afternoon, tourists are introduced to traditional dishes. In the evening, they can participate in cultural and musical activities. Next morning, they can go to experience the local market. The two-day tour helps enhance the experience for visitors and encourage them to stay here longer.
According to Thạo, in the past, the farm experience tour in Đường Lâm was mainly chosen by international schools for their students, but now it is favoured by foreign visitors. Therefore, instead of providing services at tourists' request, the management board has proactively developed products to offer to travel firms and schools.
Since the beginning of this year, the management board has organised more than 30 delegations to experience farming activities in the village, he said, adding that the number of visitors booking tours of the village is expected to increase in the coming time.
Just 44km away from Hà Nội’s centre, Đường Lâm boasts typical features of a rural village in the Red River Delta with giant banyan trees, fresh water wells, a communal house, along with 956 antique houses dating back 100 - 400 years.
In 2006, it became the first ancient village in Việt Nam to be recognised as a national historical and cultural relic site.
Last year, the village welcomed about 650,000 visitors - the highest so far. In 2018 - 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, it attracted only 50,000 - 60,000 tourists a year, Thạo noted. VNA/VNS
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