SPREADING TOURIST'S IDEAS TO CON CHIM

In the spirit of spreading project TOURIST’s ideas on eco-tourism, on August 29^th, CVSEAS staff led by Professor Chung Hoang Chuong and Doctor Tran Dinh Lam, joined by many experts in the field tourism, visited Con Chim - Chau Thanh, Tra Vinh to exchange knowledge on sustainable development with the locals.

Con Chim is a modest islet located on Cu Chien river, Chau Thanh district, Tra Vinh province, 15 kilometers northeast from Tra Vinh City and 140 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City if one decides to take the National Route 60.

Since September of 2019, the eco-tourism model with the motto “Con Chim - Simply rustic values” has been bettering the community there; as a matter of fact, the people of Con Chim still follow their old way of living and traditional practices.

Everyday, this small community only welcomes 100 visitors so that the ecosystem can have some breathing space. Furthermore, elements which can cause pollution such as motorbikes and plastic cutlery are greatly cut down; the food prepared for visitors are taken directly from Con Chim’s own soil where no trace of agricultural chemicals can be found. Households there each provide some sort of service, for example, bicycle rental, folk games, or food such as, leaf rice cake with coconut cream, Vietnamese crepe.

After experiencing what Con Chim has to offer, the researchers and experts hosted a consulting session where they discussed eco-tourism with the locals, Dr. Ta Duy Linh - Director of Tra Vinh Institute for Tourism Development Research, and Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan - Director of Tra Vinh Center for Tourism Promotion.

Professor Chuong, the main speaker, mentioned the four building blocks of sustainable tourism including economy, environment, society and health. Using Con Chim as an example, the professor stressed that the harmony between man and nature is quintessential for tourist attraction and image building.

Prof. Chung Hoang Chuong - main speaker

Doctor Nguyen Van Chat analysed the “farm-to-table” eating experience where the ingredients are all local and organic. This model brings high-quality products to visitors and sustainability to the community.

Speaking on behalf of the local businesses in the Q&A session, Mr. Chien stated that farming remains people’s prime income; In addition, the tourism model, since its adoption, has not only helped increase their income but also allowed farming products to be served to visitors on-the-spot. Con Chim people commit to not using chemicals in order to sustain the quality of their products and keep the environment safe. The introduction of the model proved to also increase the bond among households on the islet; people help each other out when there are too many visitors to welcome. The locals who have just recently taken up tourism are pleased with the payoff  and gradually improving their services.

Dr. Ta Duy Linh - one of those who pioneered the establishment of Con Chim’s tourism model, talked about the challenges back when the model was introduced to locals; the most challenging task was to win trust and convince them to cooperate with consulting agencies.

In the beginning, there were doubts, but after learning about it and recognizing the profit the model brought, Con Chim people became more eager to help advance it. At present, homestays are being built to allow visitors, especially foreign ones, to stay overnight, in hope of creating another source of income and improving profit.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, representing Tra Vinh’s tourism, answered questions presented by the CVSEAS crew. He disclosed that the province’s Committee is on board with what the people of Con Chim are doing and promised to invest more in Hoa Minh commune’s transportation and clean water sources to help Con Chim welcome international visitors.

He also stated that Tra Vinh wishes to receive attention from USSH researchers to sustainably advance the province’s attractions and connect with neighbors like Vinh Long and Ben Tre to form a tourism chain, linking the regions around Ham Luong and Co Chien.

Dr. Lam wrapped up the session by thanking the locals, Tra Vinh’s representatives and those who lent their hand in establishing the model in Con Chim.

This field trip not only helped spread project TOURIST’s ideas to the general public of Tra Vinh and its tourism, but also allowed the students in the project to learn more about sustainable tourism and come up with possible solutions to revive the industry in post-COVID-19 time.

Second row, from left to right: Dr. Nguyen Van Chat (third), Prof. Chung Hoang Chuong (fourth), Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan (fifth), Dr. Tran Dinh Lam (sixth), & Dr. Ta Duy Linh (seventh)

(*) TOURIST, also known as "Development of Sustainable Tourism and Innovative Financial Management Strategies to increase the positive impact of local tourism in Thailand and Vietnam" in Vietnamese, is a three-year project spanning from 2017 to 2020. The project is funded by the EU’s Eramus+ and overseen by FH Joanneum (Austria); other associates including Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hue University, and Ho Chi Minh University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

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