Tra Que Vegetable Village, Quang Nam
Tra Que Vegetable Village is the only representative of Vietnam to win the World's Best Tourism Village 2024 award by the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), on November 15.
Located 3 km from Hoi An ancient town, Tra Que ancient vegetable village dates back to the sixteenth century, surrounded by the Co Co River and Tra Que lagoon. Due to the geographical location of a river island near the sea, this place has a mild climate and good soil, creating conditions for people to create and develop vegetable cultivation in an organic way.
UN Tourism's "Best Tourism Village" award in 2024 is awarded to 55 villages around the world, aiming to enhance the role of tourism in protecting villages, including landscapes, knowledge systems, biodiversity, culture, local activities including agriculture, etc forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries and cuisine.
Photo: VnE
Tra Que is the latest representative of Vietnam to be on this list. Before being honored by UN Tourism, this was also a popular destination for international visitors when coming to Hoi An.
After evaluating more than 260 applications from 60 countries, UN Tourism recognized the rich and outstanding cultural and natural resources of Tra Que Vegetable Village, as well as its commitments and actions in compliance with the three main pillars of sustainable tourism development.
Currently, Tra Que village has 202 households holding vegetable cultivation with 326 workers on an area of 18 hectares, bringing a stable source of income.
Coming to Tra Que vegetable village, visitors walk or cycle to visit, work as farmers, process and enjoy vegetable dishes. The ticket price is 35,000 VND per person.
Photo: Dac Thanh
Tan Hoa Village, Quang Binh
On October 19, 2023, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, UN Tourism (then UNWTO - World Tourism Organization) announced Tan Hoa as the "World's Best Tourism Village 2023".
Last year, Vietnam had 4 tourist villages sending applications from the provinces of Quang Binh, Son La, Lai Chau and Hoa Binh, but Tan Hoa with the model of "weather-adapted tourism village" was the only place chosen.
According to the National Tourism Administration, UN Tourism recognizes the rich and outstanding cultural and natural resources of Tan Hoa village. In addition, the village's commitments and actions on sustainable tourism development are also factors that help Tan Hoa be honored.
Photo: Oxalis
Considered the "flood navel" area of Quang Binh, in 2010, Tan Hoa witnessed a historic flood with a water level rise of 12 m, submerging most of the houses. Villagers had to evacuate to caves and cliffs to shelter.
In 2011, Tan Hoa people built pontoon houses to live with the flood and improved it into a floating house model in 2012 so that people could live normally during the flood.
Currently, Tan Hoa has more than 600 floating houses built 100% from the support of "strong donors". Tan Hoa has also developed a model of tourism experience in the flood season.
Photo: Oxalis
Thai Hai Village, Thai Nguyen
On December 29, UNWTO announced the list of the 32 best tourist villages in the world 2022. Thai Hai Ecological Ethnic Stilt Village Conservation Area in Thai Nguyen is the only representative of Vietnam.
Thai Hai is located on an area of 25 hectares, with hills and mountains, large lakes, trees and 30 stilt houses that are hundreds of years old. These stilt houses are restored to the original for conservation. Around the stilt house is a hilly scenery, a quiet space.
Photo: Labor
This is a conservation area in the style of stilt houses with the cultural characteristics of the Tay ethnic group, specifically the Tay ethnic group in the Dinh Hoa Safety Zone (ATK).
Selected villages must be outstanding in terms of natural and cultural resources, and have innovative actions, committing to tourism development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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