Tra Que Vegetable Village is Vietnam’s sole representative to receive the 2024 "World's Best Tourist Village" award by announced on Nov. 15.
Located 3 kilometers from Hoi An ancient town, Tra Que Village dates back to the 16th century and is bordered by the Co Co River and Tra Que Lagoon. Its river-island location near the sea provides a temperate climate and fertile soil, making it ideal for organic vegetable farming.
In the past, vegetable gardens were scattered between houses, and the fields were uneven due to the practice of digging ponds for irrigation.
Over 20 years ago, the government started developing eco-tourism model in Tra Que. As part of this effort, houses were relocated, ponds were filled to create square vegetable fields, and flat roads were constructed to improve accessibility.
Tra Que is home to 202 families who cultivate on an 18-hectare area. The villagers specialize in growing 20 types of crops and welcome thousands of tourists daily to explore and participate in farming activities.
In April 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism recognized Tra Que’s vegetable farming as a national intangible cultural heritage, categorized under traditional knowledge and craft.
Tra Que welcomes visitors daily with an entrance fee of VND35,000 (US$1.37) per person.
Tourists can explore the fields on foot or by bicycle. The best times to visit are early morning or late afternoon, when the weather is cooler, allowing visitors to avoid the heat and observe farmers working in the fields.
In the garden, visitors can participate in various stages of growing vegetable under the guidance of local farmers.
Beyond being a staple in daily family meals, Tra Que vegetables are essential ingredients that add distinctive flavors to local specialties such as ram cuon (fried spring rolls), mi Quang (Quang-style noodles), cao lau (Vietnamese thick noodles) and banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes).
Tony, an American tourist (L), and his wife plant Malabar spinach at Tra Que.
"This is my first time here. I really enjoy the fresh air and the experience of digging the soil and growing vegetables," he said.
In Tra Que, locals preserve indigenous vegetable varieties that have been cultivated for hundreds of years. These traditional varieties are known for their delicious flavor, compatibility with the local soil, resistance to pests, and stable yields.
A foreign man waters rows of vegetables from two buckets on a shoulder pole.
For each tourist participating in these activities, the garden owner receives VND5,000 from the ticket price.
An ancient Cham well in Tra Que vegetable village.
The village also has historical relics such as Tho Than (Earth God) Temple, Nguyen Van Dien's tomb, Cau Bong worship custom, along with customs, beliefs, and culinary culture that have been preserved for generations.
After experiencing how to grow vegetables, visitors visit a local restaurant that serves basil juice, squeezed from basil seeds grown by Tra Que residents.
