The UN Tourism “Best Tourism Village” award is designed to highlight the role of tourism in protecting rural villages, including landscapes, knowledge systems, biodiversity and culture, and local activities including agriculture, forestry, livestock, fisheries and gastronomy. Villages selected for the award must demonstrate outstanding natural and cultural resources, and demonstrate innovative actions and a commitment to tourism development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Tra Que vegetable village is also the only representative of Vietnam to win this award in 2024.
After evaluating more than 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 commitments and actions in compliance with the three main pillars of sustainable tourism development. At the recommendation of the Award Jury, UN Tourism officially recognized Tra Que Vegetable Village as one of the Best Tourist Villages of UN Tourism. To date, UN Tourism has awarded awards to 130 villages worldwide, including 03 villages in Vietnam recognized in 2022, 2023, 2024, including: 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 growing activities with 326 direct workers on an area of 18 hectares of cultivated land.
Formed in the 16th century and located 3km northeast of Hoi An Ancient Town, Tra Que Vegetable Village has the unique characteristics of a river island near the sea, surrounded by Co Co River and Tra Que Lagoon, providing a temperate climate and fertile soil, creating favorable conditions for local people to create and develop the traditional organic vegetable growing profession. Currently, Tra Que village has 202 households participating in vegetable growing activities with 326 direct workers on an area of 18 hectares of cultivated land, bringing in a stable source of income.
In April 2022, the vegetable growing profession in Tra Que was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage, belonging to the category of folk knowledge and traditional handicrafts. In Tra Que village, historical relics such as Cham stone wells, Tho Than Temple, Ngu Hanh Temple, Nguyen Van Dien's tomb, ... or Cau Bong worship ceremony along with customs, practices, beliefs, culinary culture are being preserved and promoted effectively, proving the long-standing development process of the village.
Fresh green Tra Que vegetables, very fragrant and characteristic
The lush green vegetable beds are carefully tended.
UN Tourism will award this certificate to Quang Nam province at the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Best Tourism Village Network of UN Tourism within the framework of the "International Conference on Rural Tourism" held in Quang Nam from December 7 to 12, 2024 with the participation and witness of Government Leaders, Deputy Secretary General of UN Tourism, Leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, representatives of UN Tourism member countries, representatives of Villages belonging to the Best Tourism Village Network of UN Tourism and representatives of leaders of People's Committees of provinces and cities...
In recent times, Quang Nam province has always considered green tourism development as a sustainable development strategy, aiming to position the local tourism brand. Since 2019, Quang Nam has begun to issue a consistent message on green tourism development and then became the first locality in the country to issue a set of provincial green tourism criteria. Over the past 5 years, Quang Nam has been making efforts to bring the provincial tourism industry in line with local and international green tourism standards. By the end of 2024, Quang Nam province had granted green tourism certificates to 32 units and businesses in the province.
Tourists are excited to experience being a farmer at Tra Que vegetable village.
The UN Tourism Best Tourist Village Award for Tra Que Vegetable Village, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam is a recognition of the efforts in preserving indigenous cultural values; traditional crafts; long-standing lifestyles; creativity and focus on developing sustainable, community-based tourism and services; demonstrating the kindness and hospitality of local people. This prestigious award is an opportunity for Tra Que to step out into the world and gradually become a bright spot of Quang Nam tourism in particular and Vietnam in general.
