Visitors to Thoi So islet. (Photo: tiengiangtourist.com)Tien Giang (VNA) - Endowed with the charming natural scenery, Thoi Son isle inthe Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang now becomes an ecotourism site. However,few people know that today’s Thoi Son is thanks to the endless efforts of localpeople to develop the isolated isle into one of the region’s go-to destinations.
Thoi Son isle, also called Lan or unicorn islet, covers more than 10 squarekilometres in My Tho city. Thisisland is not just a well-known attraction in the Mekong River Delta, but alsoa famous growing fruit area with the population of about 6,000 people. Theisland receives alluvial from Tien River. Here naturally beautiful scenery converges upon the culturalidentities of the southern region.
Thoi Son is now a must-see destination in the south, thanks to local residents’efforts to use the area’s natural features to develop tourism.
“When I moved toget married, this area was submerged under water,” Do Thi Tu, a boatwoman inThoi Son tourism site said, adding that water level even reached the houseceiling. “Since tourism has gained popularity, many people have come here to earna living through offering tourism services,” she said.
Thoi Son is considered a green tourism area and welcomes more than 400,000tourists every year, including 300,000 from abroad.
Nor Suriani Razak, a Malaysian tourist who was curious to explore Vietnam afterso many of his friends told him about the waterway tours around the country. “Sure enough, I’m impressed by thewaterway scenery and food here, especially the fruits,” he said.
Tourists can experience the waterway scenery of the Mekong Delta by taking a tripon a sampan, one of the typical vehicles in the southern region.
Raised by the silts of the Tien river, Thoi Son is able to grow groves of luxuriantfruit trees.
Visiting the gardens here means appreciating southern fruit specialties, sippinga cup of warm tea, and enjoying “Don ca tai tu”, or amateur singing, one ofVietnam’s intangible cultural heritage features recognised by UNESCO.
Le Van Son, a local farmer, said his fruit garden receives hundreds of visitorsboth from home and abroad. “To lure visitors, we have improved our servicequality, offered more fresh fruits as well as Don ca tai tu tunes,” accordingto Son.
Some traditional handicrafts associated with tourism are booming here. Particularly,bee-keeping always attracts the attention of tourists, tasting the special honeysweetness.
For Nguyen Anh Tuan, a tourist from Hanoi, a tour to Thoi Son left deepimpression on him. “It is unforgettable. Despite stopping for a while, I feel howconsiderate the local people are, they’re not too focused on the profits fromoffering services,” Tuan said.
Traditional coconut candy-making also intrigues visitors who cannot resist thefragrant aroma of freshly-made candy.
Tourism has been further boosted on the isle since Rach Mieu bridge opened, connectingTien Giang with Ben Tre province.
Tourism here has generated more jobs for local people. Dozens of stopovers andsouvenir shops have been opened, helping improve locals’ income and livingstandards. Thanks to tourism, many of the previously poor islanders have jobsand have gradually stabilised their life.
It takes about one hour to get here from Ho Chi Minh City. Its closeproximity to the southern hub offers high potentials for Thoi Son to become amajor tourism site in the Mekong Delta.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has proposed the Governmentrecognise Thoi Son and Tan Long isles as national tourism areas.
Overall, what has most impressed visitors is the hospitality of locals alongwith fresh fruits and Don ca tai tu tunes.-VNA
Thoi Son isle, also called Lan or unicorn islet, covers more than 10 squarekilometres in My Tho city. Thisisland is not just a well-known attraction in the Mekong River Delta, but alsoa famous growing fruit area with the population of about 6,000 people. Theisland receives alluvial from Tien River. Here naturally beautiful scenery converges upon the culturalidentities of the southern region.
Thoi Son is now a must-see destination in the south, thanks to local residents’efforts to use the area’s natural features to develop tourism.
“When I moved toget married, this area was submerged under water,” Do Thi Tu, a boatwoman inThoi Son tourism site said, adding that water level even reached the houseceiling. “Since tourism has gained popularity, many people have come here to earna living through offering tourism services,” she said.
Thoi Son is considered a green tourism area and welcomes more than 400,000tourists every year, including 300,000 from abroad.
Nor Suriani Razak, a Malaysian tourist who was curious to explore Vietnam afterso many of his friends told him about the waterway tours around the country. “Sure enough, I’m impressed by thewaterway scenery and food here, especially the fruits,” he said.
Tourists can experience the waterway scenery of the Mekong Delta by taking a tripon a sampan, one of the typical vehicles in the southern region.
Raised by the silts of the Tien river, Thoi Son is able to grow groves of luxuriantfruit trees.
Visiting the gardens here means appreciating southern fruit specialties, sippinga cup of warm tea, and enjoying “Don ca tai tu”, or amateur singing, one ofVietnam’s intangible cultural heritage features recognised by UNESCO.
Le Van Son, a local farmer, said his fruit garden receives hundreds of visitorsboth from home and abroad. “To lure visitors, we have improved our servicequality, offered more fresh fruits as well as Don ca tai tu tunes,” accordingto Son.
Some traditional handicrafts associated with tourism are booming here. Particularly,bee-keeping always attracts the attention of tourists, tasting the special honeysweetness.
For Nguyen Anh Tuan, a tourist from Hanoi, a tour to Thoi Son left deepimpression on him. “It is unforgettable. Despite stopping for a while, I feel howconsiderate the local people are, they’re not too focused on the profits fromoffering services,” Tuan said.
Traditional coconut candy-making also intrigues visitors who cannot resist thefragrant aroma of freshly-made candy.
Tourism has been further boosted on the isle since Rach Mieu bridge opened, connectingTien Giang with Ben Tre province.
Tourism here has generated more jobs for local people. Dozens of stopovers andsouvenir shops have been opened, helping improve locals’ income and livingstandards. Thanks to tourism, many of the previously poor islanders have jobsand have gradually stabilised their life.
It takes about one hour to get here from Ho Chi Minh City. Its closeproximity to the southern hub offers high potentials for Thoi Son to become amajor tourism site in the Mekong Delta.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has proposed the Governmentrecognise Thoi Son and Tan Long isles as national tourism areas.
Overall, what has most impressed visitors is the hospitality of locals alongwith fresh fruits and Don ca tai tu tunes.-VNA
VNA
