Binh Lieu was well-known for its spectacular natural landscapes and unique cultural characteristics of ethnic minorities. Recently, it is using step by step its available potentials to develop agricultural tourism. Binh Lieu’s agricultural tourism has many advantages because of the extraordinary and heavenly beauty of nature and local’s hard working labour by many generations. Each forest and field are also the outcome of a long time cultivated custom, which is associated with simple and rich-characteristic agricultural life that gradually creates its own attractiveness for Binh Lieu’s agriculture tourism.
Perched atop Cao Son Mountain, hundreds of meters above sea level, Binh Lieu farmstay makes a striking impression with its poetic scenery, vibrant flower gardens, diverse plant nurseries, and exceptionally fresh, peaceful atmosphere. Visitors here can directly participate in agricultural activities such as tending vegetable gardens, picking fruits, harvesting produce, and especially enjoying rustic meals rich in the flavors of the mountains and forests. These meals are prepared from local ingredients, including fresh garden vegetables, free-range hill chickens, stream fish, and more.
In addition, special seasonal festivals are distinguished and typical highlights of Binh Lieu’s agricultural tourism. In the last October, Tay, Dao and San Chi ethnic people’s villages become vibrant as visitors arrive to take part in the Yellow Season Festival at the terraced fields of Luc Hon commune, which is recognized as a provincial monument. The activity and Binh Lieu tourism and culture week was hosted from 2020 and truly turned into an appealing travel product of the border land.
When winter arrives, Binh Lieu is draped in the pure white beauty of the camellia forest. The Camellia Flower Festival is held in December, and features a variety of rich cultural activities that reflect the local identity. Visitors are not only enchanted by the pristine, delicate white blooms of the camellia but also have the opportunity to learn about the process of cultivating and harvesting camellia seeds. They can watch locals produce camellia oil — a distinctive OCOP product of Binh Lieu, renowned for its purity, cosmetic benefits, and sustainable economic value.
In conclusion, Binh Lieu agricultural tourism evidently is a remarkable travel product, which is considered as a bridge connecting the past with the present, between traditional labor and sustainable growth trends. In the contest of people finding many ways to return to nature or experience traditional travel products, the effective development combination of agricultural tourism with community and ecological travel will make up opportunities to breakthrough for Binh Lieu tourism, as well as come to be a model of highland tourism. Thereby, it not only helps preserve and promote traditional cultural values and protect the natural landscape, but also fosters sustainable economic development and improves the livelihoods of local people.
Quang Ninh Center of Culture, Information and Tourism Promotion
