LÝ SƠN — Quảng Ngãi Province’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department will introduce community-based tourism services at destinations around the province beginning next year.

Vice director of the department Huỳnh Thị Phương Hoa told Việt Nam News that the island of Lý Sơn, mountainous Ba Tơ District, the mural village of Thanh Thủy in Bình Sơn District, Mỹ Thiện pottery village and the rural gardens of Nghĩa Hành District have been selected to host visitors in the first quarter of next year.

She said the province has prepared accommodations, tour services and connections among travel agencies and locals to boost tourism in a way that will benefit local communities.

She said Lý Sơn Island is regarded as the first location in the province promoting home-stay services with 56 households.

According to island authorities, 18 hotels, guest houses and home-stays provide accommodation for 1,000 tourists at present. Visitors can explore farming experiences and rural life in the villages of Nghĩa Hành District and encounter the culture of the H’Re ethnic group living in Ba Tơ District.

Ba Tơ District, 40km south of the provincial capital Quảng Ngãi City, preserves traditional brocade weaving, gong play and dance and a museum of artifacts and history.

The islanders of Lý Sơn will offer local cuisine and garlic and onion farming for tourists during a sea trip from Sa Kỳ port in summer.

An Bình Islet, three miles away from Lý Sơn Island, was decorated with a street art project by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last year. Boat services linking Lý Sơn Island with the Chàm and Tam Hải islands in Quảng Nam Province and the Hàn River Port in Đà Nẵng City have been planned to boost tourism next year. — VNS