Gio An develops homestay tourism

Local authorities are committed to developing the Gio An Commune into a hub for tourism and service, with the building of beautiful homestays as the first step to attracting visitors nationwide.

Homestay ofNguyen Tien Dung in Hao Son village, Gio An commune, Gio Linh district - Photo: TU LINH

Authorities in the central province of Quang Tri and its Gio Linh District plan to turn Gio An Commune into a tourism hub, marking an attractive destination with quality services to lure visitors nationwide, helping foster local socio-economic development.

Vo Dang Lap, a resident of An Nha Village, Gio An Commune, has just completed a homestay with an area of 200 m2. The house consists of three bedrooms with comfortable facilities, promising to bring a feeling of relaxation and convenience to tourists.

Lap said he expects tourists to enjoy a peaceful living space, with a 2-hectare farm containing local specialties such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, guavas, mangoes, longans, and a large aquarium. Located near the homestay, Gieng Dao is a beautiful destination for tourists to learn about the local people’s customs and rich cultural life.

Besides, a homestay owned by Nguyen Tien Dung in Hao Son Village is seen as a prominent one as it is located on the top of the hill overlooking the lotus pond and vegetable fields around Gieng Tep.

Thanks to its poetic scenery and harmonious layout, this homestay is expected to create a feeling of excitement for tourists when they experience daily work, such as harvesting vegetables, catching snails in the lotus pond, and partaking in many cultural activities of Gio An.

According to Vice Chairman of Gio An Commune’s People’s Committee Le Phuoc Hieu , tourists have more opportunities to experience the ancient GioAn irrigation system and enjoy unique home-grown cuisine when coming to these homestays.

Two years ago, the Provincial Trade Investment and Tourism Promotion Center sent 60 people to other provinces to participate in a training course on the community tourism model.

They were trained and experienced in managing tour guides, including welcoming tourists. After finishing the course, the center and Gio An Commune authorities granted permission to build homestays for 20 households in An Nha and Hao Son villages. Most homestays are located near ancient wells, restaurants, and beverage shops, creating favorable conditions for welcoming guests.Gio An is preparing to establish a tourism cooperative to manage and coordinate the activity of the homestay network in the area, connecting the ancient irrigation system with relics: Gieng Dia and banyan tree, Hill 82, Army Corps 559, Binh Do 41, Yen Nha Market, Con Tien... to exploit homestay tourism.

Chairman of Gio Linh District People’s Committee Vo Dac Hoa underscores the local interest in exploiting the value of the ancient Gio An irrigation system to serve community tourism.Hoa said the provincial People’s Committee has recently approved a plan to preserve, repair and restore this relic system, which covers 5,755 hectares and 14 ancient wells.

The plan aims to enrich tourism products, create conditions for conservation activities in the ancient Gio An irrigation system, and improve people’s lives.

Tu Linh - Tung Lam