Tourism and Craft Villages in Southern Tra Vinh Province

Tra Vinh is famous for peaceful and green environment. Even the urban area of Tra Vinh town is fully covered with the canopy of tall trees. The province has 141 Khmer pagodas including legendary pagodas of Hang and Ang, Lady Om pond, Ba Dong beach as well as traditional festivals of Nghinh Ong and Ok Om Bok. Besides, the province has also craft villages producing reed mats and other products.

 

In recent years, tourism has been developed in Tra Vinh with better infrastructure and services. However, it remains incompatible with the potentials and fails to be a spearheaded economic sector. The province, therefore, is making every effort to attract investments to meet the demand of tourists and develop cooperation with other provinces to improve tours and services.

 

The province is combining tourism with craft villages to improve the efficiency and income of both tourism and craft villages. Presently, Tra Vinh has three main groups of craft villages: Reed mats and carpets in Hung My (Thau Thanh), Ham Giang (Tra Cu), Duc My (Cang Long) with materials supply from 1,201 hectares of reed and output of 9,751 tonnes a year; bamboo lattice and beds in communes of Dai An and Ham Giang (Tra Cu) with local supply of 2.17 bamboo trees a year; coconut fiber and yarn in communes of Duc My and Nhi Long Phu (Cang Long). Except for coconut fiber and yarn, other products are mainly for home consumption and without export markets. In the first 9 months of 2006, 447,000 reed mats and carpets and 650 tonnes of coconut fiber and yarn were produced by craft villages, creating some 4.600 jobs with income of VND4.5 million/year (bamboo lattice) and VND7.2 million/year (coconut fiber). The province is also developing other traditional products such as rice pancake, dried shrimp and fish.

 

The shortages are planning, adequate investment and attractive products. The combination of tourism and craft villages requires the establishment of brands and standards. Craft villages must be introduced to local and foreign tourists and included in tourist tours. Capital and credits must be provided for the expansion of production and improvement of products ensuring a rich supply of gifts and souvenirs for tourists and export. Designers and workers must be trained to boost the business.

 

The province will encourage businesses to develop their brands and secure their credibility in business activities. Together with other provinces in the Mekong Delta, Tra Vinh will establish handicraft clubs and associations to share information and develop the production. In particular, craft villages will be included in tourist tours to make them more attractive and profitable.