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The UN Tourism “Best Village” award aims to highlight the role of tourism in protecting rural villages, encompassing landscapes, knowledge systems, biodiversity and culture, and local activities including agriculture, forestry, livestock, fisheries, and cuisine. Selected villages must excel in natural and cultural resources and demonstrate innovative actions and a commitment to tourism development aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Tra Que vegetable village is also the only representative from Vietnam to win this award in 2024.
After evaluating over 260 applications from 60 countries, UN Tourism recognized the rich and outstanding cultural and natural resources of Tra Que Vegetable Village (Quang Nam province), along with the village's commitment and actions in adhering to the three main pillars of sustainable tourism development. Following the recommendation of the award jury, UN Tourism officially recognized Tra Que Vegetable Village as one of UN Tourism's Best Tourist Villages. To date, UN Tourism has awarded prizes to 130 villages worldwide, including three Vietnamese villages recognized in 2022, 2023, and 2024: Thai Hai Village (Thai Nguyen), Tan Hoa Village (Quang Binh), and Tra Que Vegetable Village (Quang Nam).
Currently, Tra Que village has 202 households participating in vegetable farming with 326 direct laborers on an area of 18 hectares of cultivated land.
Established in the 16th century and located 3km northeast of Hoi An Ancient Town, Tra Que Vegetable Village possesses the unique characteristics of a river island near the sea. Surrounded by the Co Co River and Tra Que Lagoon, it enjoys a mild climate and fertile soil, creating favorable conditions for the locals to innovate and develop the traditional organic vegetable farming method. Currently, Tra Que Village has 202 households engaged in vegetable farming with 326 direct laborers on 18 hectares of cultivated land, providing a stable source of income.
In April 2022, vegetable farming in Tra Que village was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, under the category of folk knowledge and traditional crafts. In Tra Que village, historical relics such as the Cham stone well, the Earth God Shrine, the Five Elements Shrine, the tomb of Mr. Nguyen Van Dien, etc., as well as the Cau Bong ceremony and customs, traditions, beliefs, and culinary culture are being effectively preserved and promoted, serving as evidence of the village's long-standing development.
Fresh, green, and fragrant Tra Que vegetables have a very distinctive aroma.
The lush green vegetable beds are meticulously cared for.
UN Tourism will present this certification to Quang Nam province at the 2nd Annual Meeting of the UN Tourism Best Villages Network, within the framework of the “International Conference on Rural Tourism” held in Quang Nam from December 7-12, 2024. The event will be attended and witnessed by Government leaders, the Deputy Secretary-General of UN Tourism, leaders from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, representatives from UN Tourism member states, representatives from villages belonging to the UN Tourism Best Villages Network, and representatives from the People's Committees of provinces and cities.
Over the years, Quang Nam province has consistently viewed the development of green tourism as a sustainable development strategy, aiming to establish the province's tourism brand. Since 2019, Quang Nam has consistently promoted green tourism development and subsequently became the first province in the country to issue a set of provincial-level green tourism criteria. For more than five years, Quang Nam has been striving to bring its tourism industry up to both local and international green tourism standards. By the end of 2024, Quang Nam province had granted green tourism certification to 32 units and businesses within the province.
Tourists enthusiastically experience being a farmer at Tra Que vegetable village.
The UN Tourism Best Village award for Tra Que Vegetable Village in Quang Nam province, Vietnam, recognizes the village's efforts in preserving local cultural values; traditional crafts; long-standing lifestyles and customs; creativity and focus on developing sustainable, community-based tourism and services; and the genuine hospitality of the local people. This prestigious award is an opportunity for Tra Que to confidently step onto the world stage and gradually become a shining example of tourism in Quang Nam province in particular and Vietnam in general.
