Spring trip to heritage vegetable village, Western tourists excitedly 'transform' into farmers

On the days leading up to the Lunar New Year 2025, many international tourist groups come to Tra Que vegetable village to enjoy spring.

Tra Que vegetable village (Cam Thanh commune, Hoi An city, Quang Nam) is peaceful on the Co Co river, 2.5 km northeast of Hoi An ancient town.

Coming to this most famous tourist village in the world , visitors can not only sightsee and watch people grow vegetables, but also interact with farmers to experience how to care for, water vegetables, harvest... Visitors can cycle on the roads around the vegetable village to enjoy the cool, peaceful atmosphere...

Over the years, Tra Que vegetable village has become a famous tourist destination. In April 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized Tra Que vegetable growing as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. At the end of 2024, the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) also recognized Tra Que vegetable village as the best tourist village in the world.

These titles are giving traditional craft villages the opportunity to enhance their brands and develop sustainable tourism.

A corner of Tra Que vegetable village seen from above

PHOTO: NAM THINH

This is a traditional vegetable growing village that was formed more than 400 years ago. According to the elders, the first name of the village was Nhu Que (meaning the aroma of the vegetables is like the scent of cinnamon trees), then changed to Tra Que (the vegetables have a spicy taste like cinnamon and a fragrance like camellia flowers).

Tra Que has more than 40 types of vegetables, of which the most prominent are herbs. It is still onions, Vietnamese coriander, perilla, basil, coriander... like in many other villages, but Tra Que vegetables are fragrant and have a unique flavor that cannot be mistaken.

International tourists enjoy "transforming into farmers" in a 400-year-old vegetable village

PHOTO: NAM THINH

Mr. Nguyen Len (65 years old), who has 46 years of experience growing vegetables in Tra Que vegetable village, said that in recent years, a relatively large number of tourists have come to Tra Que to visit, especially to experience farming work .

On average, every day he is responsible for "hand-holding" dozens of international tourists, from digging the soil, fertilizing to watering vegetables.

"On the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of At Ty 2025, international tourists flocked to Tra Que vegetable village. Coming to this vegetable village, most tourists wanted to "transform" into real farmers to plant, care for, and water vegetables. Since the vegetable village was recognized as the best tourist village in the world, the number of tourists coming here has increased every day, even at noon there were still visitors booking tours to experience being a farmer," said Mr. Len.

Near the Lunar New Year, Mr. Len's vegetable garden is rarely empty of visitors.

While excitedly carrying water to water the newly planted vegetable beds, Mrs. Siobhan (an Australian tourist) happily said that through the mass media, she and her husband learned that Tra Que vegetable village had just been recognized as the best tourist village in the world.

Ms. Siobhan (Australia) experiences taking care of vegetables

PHOTO: NAM THINH

Therefore, as soon as they arrived in Vietnam near Tet, the first place the couple wanted to visit was Tra Que vegetable village.

"It was so much fun to transform into a farmer and go through the steps of growing vegetables. This is definitely an unforgettable memory," Siobhan shared.

Below are some photos captured by Thanh Nien reporters of international tourists visiting the 400-year-old heritage vegetable village in Hoi An City:

A family of international tourists experience and visit Tra Que vegetable village

PHOTO: NAM THINH

Tra Que villagers still maintain the traditional way of growing vegetables left by their ancestors to create clean vegetable products with unique flavors.

PHOTO: NAM THINH

Tourists can take a walk around the vegetable fields, then experience the rich cuisine with many restaurants in Tra Que village, enjoy many delicious Hoi An dishes and the typical vegetable flavors of this tourist village.

PHOTO: NAM THINH

Many international delegations visit Tra Que vegetable village at the end of the year

PHOTO: NAM THINH

Tourists stroll around Tra Que vegetable village

PHOTO: NAM THINH

The first name of the village was Nhu Que (meaning the aroma of the vegetable is like the scent of cinnamon), later changed to Tra Que (the vegetable has a spicy taste like cinnamon and is fragrant like camellia).

PHOTO: NAM THINH

Coming to the world's best tourist village in 2024, visitors can not only sightsee and watch people grow vegetables, but also interact with farmers to experience how to care for, water vegetables, harvest...

PHOTO: NAM THINH