LOTUS TOURISM - The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Đồng Tháp will promote tours to lotus fields as part of its project to boost agritourism by 2025. VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Văn Trí

ĐỒNG THÁP — The Cửu Long Delta province of Đồng Tháp has kicked off a project to boost agritourism to promote its tourism and develop its local economy by 2025.

The project will focus on upgrading and investing in the infrastructure of tourist attractions, and developing new products related to agritourism.

It will emphasise green and sustainable agritourism according to OCOP (one commune one product) standards.

The province will promote specific tourism products, including tours to experience farming activities, share in local people’s daily lives, and explore its traditional culture.

In addition, Đồng Tháp will concentrate on raising local people’s awareness of preserving traditional and cultural values and protecting the environment for tourism development.

It will create more jobs in tourism and services for local people to improve the quality of life in the community.

The province will promote tourism via media channels and social networks to attract more domestic and international tourists.

Đồng Tháp, also known as “the land of pink lotus”, is popular for its vast fields of lotus flowers.

The province has around 1,800ha of lotus farms, mostly in Tháp Mười District, and produces diversified kinds of products from lotus such as tea, dried lotus, cakes, and even cosmetics.

Visiting lotus farms, tourists can join local farmers in collecting lotus flowers, pods, leaves, and stems, and going fishing at lotus ponds.

They can also learn to make different dishes from lotus such as steamed lotus rice, and lotus stem salad.

Apart from lotus fields, Đồng Tháp has numerous orchards in Cao Lãnh City and Châu Thành District where visitors can learn how to take care of fruit trees, and enjoy different kinds of fruits such as mangosteen, mango, rambutan, strawberry, and tangerine.

BOAT HERITAGE: The Long Hậu boat making village in Lai Vung District’s Long Hậu Commune has lasted over a century. It was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2014. VNA/VNS Photo Nhựt An

The province is also home to 39 craft villages that produce food, handicraft products, household utensils and other products.

Many of the craft villages have lasted for a century such as the Định Yên mat weaving village and the Long Khánh A scarf weaving village in Hồng Ngự District’s Long Khánh Commune, the Sa Đéc flour making village in Sa Đéc City, and the Long Hậu boat making village in Lai Vung District’s Long Hậu Commune.

The province urges relevant agencies and tourism businesses to promote more tours to the villages to preserve and develop local traditional crafts. — VNS