Tra Que Vegetable Village in Hoi An, Quang Nam, was recognized by UN Tourism as the perfect tourist village of 2024 at an event in Colombia on November 15. The village edged out 260 applicants from 60 countries because of its commitment to the three predominant pillars of sustainable tourism: social equity, economic development and environmental integrity. He can be the one representative of Vietnam to receive this prestigious award.
Founded within the sixteenth century, the vegetable village of Tra Que is situated three kilometers from Hoi An and is understood for its green tourism. The village, surrounded by the Co Co River and the Tra Que Lagoon, takes advantage of its fertile soil and favorable climate for organic farming. Numbering 202 families and 326 farmers managing 18 hectares, they produce vegetables and herbs for restaurants in Hoi An and Da Nang.
As an agritourism destination, the village preserves traditional farming practices while offering cultural experiences, cooking classes, homestays and farm tours. Tra Que also has 23 homestays and 16 restaurants, making it the right place for those searching for an authentic local lifestyle. In April 2022, Tra Que vegetable cultivation was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as national intangible cultural heritage within the category of folks knowledge and traditional crafts.
The UNWTO “Best Tourist Village” award recognizes villages that protect landscapes, traditions, biodiversity, culture and native activities resembling agriculture and cuisine. Selected villages will need to have strong natural and cultural resources and display a commitment to sustainable tourism in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals. To date, UNWTO has awarded this distinction to 130 villages around the globe.
Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, boasts a priceless cultural heritage. In addition to international recognition, Hoi An has won eight national awards for its tangible and intangible cultural properties, including traditional festivals resembling Nguyên Tiêu (full moon of the primary lunar month) and unique handicrafts resembling hanging baskets created from the Firmiana colorata bark tree.
