Travel

Popular farms offering strawberry picking leisure

Published

2 months ago

March 22, 2023

Thu Hiền

March is the best month to visit Mộc Châu District in northern province of Sơn La, when visitors can pick up red ripe strawberries right at farms.

Locals said strawberry season start from October to May. From the end of October and November, strawberry gets mature yet not in mass number. From December to March, strawberry reaches harvest season, when strawberry gets ripe in mass number, the fruits reach the biggest size.

Locals have brought strawberry seeds or seedlings from central city of Đà Lạt or Japan since 2010. There are now more and more farms of strawberry all over Mộc Châu District.

Climate in Mộc Châu is suitable for raising strawberry. — Photo courtesy of Mộc Miên Homestay

Strawberry farms usually have careful preparations from choosing seedlings to enriching the soil and care for the plants.

“The seedlings should be ready in May and June, and in August, local farmers make the soil and start to plant in September,” Lường Thị Hồng Tươi, owner of Mộc Miên Homestay told Việt Nam News.

Locals cover the soil with a layer of nylon to avoid worms and keep the strawberry clean from dust so that customers can pick and eat strawberry right at the farm.

The big difference in temperature in daytime and nighttime nurtures the strawberry plants so the fruits here are sweeter than in plain areas.

The most popular ones include Hoa Mộc Châu Farm, Chimi Farm and Mộc Miên Homestay with sweet big strawberries and chill corners for taking photos.

Organic strawberry

Hoa Mộc Châu Farm is located in Hoàng Quốc Việt Road, Mộc Châu Farm Town.

Hoa Mộc Châu Farm offers strawberry of VietGap standard. — Photo courtesy of Hoa Mộc Châu Farm

There are two areas for planting: inside and outside a greenhouse.

“I have visited many local farms, I think this farm is fairly large with big path between soil beds so that visitors can move easily and pick strawberries as well as taking photos,” said Nguyễn Hằng Nga, a visitor from Hà Nội.

There are some decoration corners for taking photos as well.

“My children like picking strawberries between lush plants,” she said.

The farm follows VietGap standard, so visitors can eat strawberries right away, even not cleaning, Hằng said.

Farm with good view

Chimi Farm Mộc Châu is among the most popular farm planting strawberry and opens to visitors.

Guests can enjoy other fruits at Chimi Farm, not only strawberry. — Photo from Chimi Farm Facebook

The farm is located in Áng Village, Mộc Châu Town, near popular pine forest destination.

From total area of 0.3ha in 2015, the farm has been enlarged to 6ha now.

“This farm looks like strawberry gardens in Đà Lạt, which are bordered with lush pine trees,” noted visitor Nguyễn Hữu Phú from Hà Nội.

There are tomatos, pumpkin and other vegetables and roots planted in accordance with clean agricultural produces standard.

The farm offers various processed food from fresh strawberry like strawberry smoothies, yoghurt with strawberry and strawberry jam.

Homestay service

A popular overnight rest place for visitors in Vặt Village, Mường Sang Commune, Mộc Châu District, Mộc Miên Homestay has over 3,000sq.m of land for planting strawberry.

“We pick some 1,000kg of strawberry each day in harvest season,” Tươi said. “We send the most to Hà Nội while visitors can buy right in the farm.”

French guests at Mộc Miên Homestay. — Photo courtesy of Mộc Miên Homestay

Visitors can order meals at the homestay and even stay here over night. The homestay offers sleeping places for up to 40 guests per night.

A special thing in Vặt Village is that guests can enjoy a folk music show by local Thái ethnic group at nights, after dinners.

“In strawberry harvest season, the dessert for meals at our homestay is fresh strawberry,” Tươi said.

Tươi said the homestay has planted Japanese Hana strawberry genre since 2013.

Tươi harvests some 1,000kg of strawbery a day during peak harvest season. — Photo courtesy of Mộc Miên Homestay

“We don’t use any fertiliser but do not have any certificate for our strawberry product,” she said honestly.

Let’s come to Mộc Châu in this month to taste fresh strawberry and much sweeter memories of a beautiful land with warm people. — VNS

Source: http://ovietnam.vn/travel/popular-farms-offering-strawberry-picking-leisure_342285.html

Travel

International summer festivals help Da Nang draw in tourism

Published

5 hours ago

June 3, 2023

TienphongNews

A series of international festivals have been being organised at Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist site in Da Nang to attract the attention of new holidaymakers visiting the central beach city in this summer.

International summer festivals help Da Nang draw in tourism hinh anh 1

Tourists at Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist area (Photo: VNA)

Da Nang –
A series of international festivals have been being organised at Sun World Ba
Na Hills tourist site in Da Nang to attract the attention of new holidaymakers visiting the
central beach city in this summer.

According to Deputy General Director of Sun
World and Director of Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist site Nguyen Lam An, festivals of many countries such as
Germany, the Republic of Korea, and France have brought new and impressive
experiences for visitors of all ages.

A food and beer festival
named B’estival – a new brand name owned by Sun World Ba Na Hills, kicked off in May,
offering a chance for visitors to taste the flavour of German beer and famous
dishes from many countries around the world, immerse themselves in lively music
melodies and enjoy entertainment activities.

The festival will run
until late August.

International summer festivals help Da Nang draw in tourism hinh anh 2

Dance performance at the food and beer festival in Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist site (Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, a festival spotlighting
the culture of the Republic of Korea (RoK) will be held in June with a wide
range of attractive activities, such as a contest to eat chicken and drink
beer, a Kpop Dance Kontest on Tiktok, a Minishow Kpop, and unique games imbued
with the culture of the RoK and Vietnam.

A light festival will also take place from June 13 to late September, which is
expected to captivate visitors with stunning 3D mapping light shows on the
backdrop of ancient castles.

In July, visitors to
Ba Na will have a chance to join a French cultural festival on the occasion of the
100th commemoration of the Debay Wine Cellar in Ba Na. The event will
take visitors back to the Ba Na of a century ago, allowing them to indulge in French
cultural experiences, savour culinary delights, immerse themselves in street
art performances, and join luxurious banquets.

An said Sun World Ba
Na Hills is planning a series of exciting attractions for visitors to enjoy the
four seasons throughout the year at the tourism site.

The municipal
authorities will also host a summer festival “Wow Da Nang” from July 27 –
August 1 at the Bien Dong Park in Son Tra
peninsular, and beaches along coastal routes in the city, and the Han
River. It is hoped to attract more domestic and foreign visitors, contributing
to positioning Da Nang as a top destination for festivals and
events in Asia./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/international-summer-festivals-help-da-nang-draw-in-tourism/253950.vnp

Travel

Quang Nam moves to boost tourism development

Published

10 hours ago

June 3, 2023

TienphongNews

Quang Nam province has developed green, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly tourism offerings in a bid to attract visitors. However, experts believe, for a breakthrough to be seen in its tourism development, the province’s tourism sector should improve product quality and meet the increasing demands of tourists.

Quang Nam is a popular spot on Vietnam’s tourist map, with two world cultural heritage sites – Hoi An ancient town and My Son Sanctuary – as well as the Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An Biosphere Reserve.

In 2022, its Bai Choi folk singing was recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Tra Que vegetable farming, meanwhile, has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Agritourism, sea tourism, culinary tourism, and ecotourism are typical Quang Nam products attracting tourists, especially foreign visitors.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, many local businesses in the sector have faced difficulties in reinvesting to improve the quality of their offerings.

The Quang Nam Tourism Association said Quang Nam province should further improve its tourism environment, boost training and capacity building and make ethic codes readily available for workers in the sector.

Quang Nam’s tourism sector has made an impressive recovery post-pandemic. The total number of visitors in the first five months of this year is estimated at nearly 3.5 million, including more than 1.6 million foreign visitors, an increase of 30-fold over the same period last year.

Experts say local government, local people and businesses should work closely to post a strong breakthrough in tourism./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/quang-nam-moves-to-boost-tourism-development/253938.vnp

Travel

HCM City moves to apply ASEAN Tourism Standards

Published

15 hours ago

June 3, 2023

TienphongNews

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism held a conference on May 31 to discuss the application of the ASEAN Tourism Standards and launch the ASEAN Tourism Awards among businesses in the sector.

HCM City moves to apply ASEAN Tourism Standards hinh anh 1

HCM City is known as one of the most dynamic trade, service, and tourism hubs in Vietnam. (Source: dangcongsan.vn)

HCM City – The Ho Chi
Minh City Department of Tourism held a conference on May 31 to discuss the
application of the ASEAN Tourism Standards and launch the ASEAN Tourism Awards
among businesses in the sector.

Deputy Director of the department Bui
Thi Ngoc Hieu said the application of the ASEAN Tourism Standards will help
guarantee higher product and service quality as well as safety so that
travellers can have better experience. It will create a quality tourism environment
and promote HCM City as a trustworthy tourist destination.

The ASEAN Tourism Standards include criteria
for energy use management and reduction, sustainable use of natural resources,
and efficient waste treatment. By complying with these standards, HCM City can
maintain the harmonious balance between tourism development and environmental
protection, climate change response, she went on.

Experts said the city, one of the
most dynamic trade, service, and tourism hubs in Vietnam, has attracted
millions of visitors from around the world and established itself as a diverse
and charming destination.

However, to adapt to common trends in
the region and the world, the local tourism sector should standardise tourism
services, which is critical to its development. Given this, learning and
applying the ASEAN Tourism Standards is an urgent need, they added.

HCM City moves to apply ASEAN Tourism Standards hinh anh 2

Nguyen Thanh Binh, Deputy Director of the Hotel Department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, speaks at the conference on May 31. (Photo: VNA)

Nguyen Thanh Binh, Deputy Director of
the Hotel Department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said
that aiming to turn tourism into a key economic sector by 2030, Vietnam is
working to develop sustainable, inclusive, and responsible tourism based on
green growth, and maximise the sector’s contribution to the realisation of the
Sustainable Development Goals.

To do that, she said, the sector will
step up applying the ASEAN Tourism Standards, which also include standards on
hotels, community-based tourism, venues for MICE tourism, public restrooms, and
spa services. The standards also target sustainable and environmentally
friendly development, along with energy efficiency at accommodation facilities.

Besides, the tourism sector will also
enhance its participation in the annual ASEAN Tourism Awards, which honour the
localities and units with high-quality tourism products and services to help
with the sustainable development of tourist destinations in ASEAN, according to
Binh./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/hcm-city-moves-to-apply-asean-tourism-standards/253934.vnp