Taking photos at grape vineyards is a popular thing with tourists in Ninh Thuận Province. — Photo nld.com.vn

NINH THUẬN — Grape has always been a key strength of Ninh Thuận Province, and its vineyards have become a hot tourism destination.

Nguyễn Thu Trang of HCM City, a tourist visiting the Thái An Grape Vineyard in Ninh Hải District, her first trip to a grape farm, was impressed by the beautiful sights of the plump, colourful bundles of grapes and lush green grape vines.

“My family and I had a great time taking photos to post on social media, handpicking fresh and tasty grapes, and generally being surrounded by beautiful greenery,” she told the Việt Nam News.

“My kid too liked seeing the bright colourful grapes in various shapes.”

The grapes in Ninh Thuận Province come in many different shapes and colours. — VNA/VNS Photo

Thái An is one of numerous vineyards in Ninh Thuận Province that have opened up to visitors, offering them delicious freshly picked grapes and generally a wonderful travel experience.

The south-central province of Ninh Thuận has around 1,060ha under grapes across several districts and its capital city of Phan Rang – Tháp Chàm.

Though vineyards only account of 3.5 per cent of the province’s agricultural area, grapes account for 20 per cent of the value, making it arguably the most important crop.

According to local farmers, a very wet climate is not suitable for growing grapes, and Ninh Thuận’s weather is thus ideal since it is relatively light on rain, which usually falls only for a few months, and mostly dry and sunny.

For Ninh Thuận, grape is much more than just a high-value agricultural product; it is also a way to attract tourists from all over Việt Nam.

Nguyễn Khắc Phòng, director of the Thái An General Agriculture Service Cooperative and owner of the Thái An Grape Vineyard, told Việt Nam News that some vineyards are able to take in tourists and make sure they have a good time.

“Not all vineyards can do this, but those that can see their incomes increase by 20 per cent. This also creates more jobs for locals.”

Many tourists also enjoy tasting and buying products made from grapes at the vineyeards, such as wines, raisin and syrups.

Ninh Thuận’s grape wines especially make for great souvenirs, with its light sweet and sour flavour.

Items such as raisins and grape wines make for great gifts. — VNA/VNS Photo

A festive opportunity

Ninh Thuận’s ongoing 2023 Grape and Wine Festival from June 13 to 18 is a great opportunity for the province to further promote one of its biggest tourism advantages.

The annual festival features a culinary event, vineyard tours, a fair for products from provinces across southern and central Việt Nam, and its first ever grape trellis competition to promote outstanding grape vineyards.

Phòng said: “When people think of grape, many think of Ninh Thuận. And this Grape and Wine Festival is a great chance to raise the profile of Ninh Thuận’s grapes and other tourism advantages.”

Local grape farmers spend a lot of time meticulously caring for their pretty-looking and tasty grapes in preparation for the Grape and Wine Festival. — VNA/VNS Photo

Local farmers are excited about the festival, especially the competition, and have spent the past few weeks meticulously caring for their wide variety of grapes and touching up their vineyards’ sceneries, all to welcome tourists.

The Thái An General Agriculture Service Cooperative is helping local farming households make high-quality, certified grape products, and adopt clean, organic farming practices to improve their grapes, which in turn makes for a better tourism experience.

Ninh Thuận has much more to offer than just tasty grapes; it is also well-known for its long beautiful beaches and places like Bàu Trúc Pottery Village in Ninh Phước District, where visitors can experience the beauty and intricacy of pottery made by the Chăm people.

But the fruit is unquestionably one of its defining characteristics, and so tourists looking for a great time should definitely pay a visit to one of its beautiful vineyards. VNS