Homestay services are bringing a good income for farmers in Ca Mau Province, who are promoting the flora and fauna of the region's wetland ecosystem.
Visitors enjoy water scenery
Visitors can experience life in stilt houses amid watery scenery and local food including fried mud skippers or len snail fried with coconut juice. They learn to catch fish in the daytime, and listen to traditional music in a hammock at night.
Stilt houses for holiday stay
Eco-tourism has helped improve life for the local farmers.
Nguyen Van Nhuan, a retired soldier turned farmer in the Lower U Minh National Park of Vietnam's southernmost Ca Mau Province, earns an annual profit of VND300m, which he shares with other farmers who help him.
In 2013, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency selected five households and offered each VND54m to develop eco-tourism. Nhuan now hosts 50 to 70 visitors a day.
In the north, Mai Chau Family Homestay, developed by Pham Thanh Binh, now has four stilt houses.
Pham Thanh Binh leads a group of tourist into the mountains
Binh often leads visitors through Pu Mat National Park, crossing rivers or climbing waterfalls, to experience the natural beauty, and learn about ethnic minority life and culture. The cost is USD20 a night, including three meals.
Two visitors admire Ma River
Tran Xuan Truong, an official from Ca Mau Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said there was more than enough capacity -- one million tourists visit each year -- but high travel costs and limited infrastructure were constraints.
Binh said he relies on referrals from tour agencies in Hanoi.
No comments:
Post a Comment