From its roots in traditional vegetable farming, Thuận Nghĩa Vegetable Village (Tây Sơn Commune, Gia Lai Province) is gradually transforming into a community-based tourism destination, opening up new livelihoods for local residents.
With the collective effort of villagers, the support of local authorities, and the cooperative, the community tourism model in Thuận Nghĩa not only helps preserve the brand of safe vegetables but also serves as a driving force for sustainable economic development in the countryside.
Amidst lush green vegetable beds, Nguyễn Thị Kim Vương (Thuận Nghĩa Hamlet) and other women take advantage of their time to weed and tend to their gardens. Having spent many years in vegetable farming, Ms. Vương shared that since joining the Thuận Nghĩa Safe Vegetable Cooperative, her family's life, as well as that of many other households, has become increasingly stable.
“My family has five sào (about 1,800 square meters) of vegetables, mainly growing chrysanthemum greens, mustard greens, cucumbers, and Malabar spinach. Thanks to safe vegetable production, we can sell at higher prices and have a stable market. I use organic fertilizers and biological pesticides, ensuring proper isolation periods as regulated, so the village's vegetable production can develop sustainably.
With the development of community-based tourism, locals now have more opportunities to increase their income, and everyone is excited,” Ms. Vương said.
According to Ms. Vương, what excites the villagers most about community-based tourism is that each resident can directly introduce visitors to the safe vegetable production process, the local way of life, and the stories of Thuận Nghĩa Vegetable Village—familiar things that nonetheless create a unique appeal.
Sharing the same view, Huỳnh Thị Quá—another local resident—believes that community-based tourism is an opportunity to further promote the Thuận Nghĩa vegetable brand. However, she emphasizes that product quality remains the core foundation for maintaining credibility and building trust with consumers and tourists alike.
“All the villagers have received thorough training on cultivation techniques and safe vegetable production, and we constantly remind each other to strictly follow the regulations. Only when every household does things right can the whole village maintain its brand. When each person is aware and does their part well, the community tourism model can develop sustainably, creating long-term livelihoods for everyone,” Ms. Quá said.
According to Huỳnh Bá Ngọc, Standing Vice Chairman of the Tây Sơn Commune People's Committee, leveraging the advantages of traditional agricultural production and rural landscapes, the locality has identified tourism development as a suitable direction.
In particular, the community-based tourism model in Thuận Nghĩa Vegetable Village has been approved by the provincial People's Committee and incorporated into the commune's socio-economic development plan.
Mr. Ngọc said that in recent times, the Tây Sơn Commune People's Committee has proactively developed plans and implemented various measures to develop Thuận Nghĩa Vegetable Village by linking agricultural production with experiential tourism.
It is expected that on December 25, the launch ceremony for the Thuận Nghĩa vegetable-growing village community-based tourism model will be held, opening up new opportunities for locals to increase their income.
According to Mr. Ngọc, community-based tourism not only helps promote the Thuận Nghĩa vegetable brand but also enables locals to directly participate in service activities, gradually diversifying livelihoods and increasing the value of agricultural production.
Additionally, Thuận Nghĩa Vegetable Village enjoys convenient connections to tourist attractions such as the Quang Trung Museum, Dương Long Tower, and Hầm Hô Ecotourism Area, making it easy to develop experiential tours and routes.
“In recent times, the Tây Sơn Commune People's Committee has invested in infrastructure, gradually improving the transportation system, parking lots, and rural landscaping, laying the foundation for sustainable community-based tourism development,” Mr. Ngọc emphasized.
From the perspective of the production unit, Quách Văn Cầu, Director of Thuận Nghĩa Agricultural Cooperative, said that throughout its operation, cooperative members have continuously received training in safe vegetable production techniques and rural livelihoods, gradually perfecting processes and maintaining the local vegetable brand. This is an important foundation for the village to develop community-based tourism in a systematic way.
According to Mr. Cầu, the idea of developing community-based tourism in Thuận Nghĩa Vegetable Village was surveyed by the tourism sector between 2019 and 2021. With advantages in terrain, concentrated production areas, lush fields, and long-standing farming traditions, the community-based tourism model linked to agriculture is considered to have great potential and aligns with the trend of experiential tourism.
“Before officially launching the community-based tourism product, Thuận Nghĩa Vegetable Village has already welcomed several groups of visitors to experience the safe vegetable production process and local lifestyle. This is a positive sign, indicating that the community-based tourism model can become a sustainable direction, creating long-term livelihoods for local people,” Mr. Cầu shared.
With the involvement of local authorities, cooperatives, and residents, the community-based tourism model in Thuận Nghĩa Vegetable Village not only helps preserve the safe vegetable brand but also opens up new development pathways for the countryside, enabling locals to increase their income and maintain a lasting connection to their traditional vegetable farming profession.
