Dong ThapInvesting 3 billion VND to build a row of rooms in a mango garden for tourists to stay, Ho Thi Thu Thuy, 36 years old, was discouraged by many people, but she was still determined to do it.
One day in late August, Thuy, owner of The Mango Trail Farmstay and tour guide for a group of young people, visited the mango road in My Xuong commune, Cao Lanh district – a famous mango growing area of Dong Thap. The group’s itinerary also included a visit to Thu Ngoc Hau Temple, learning about the ancestral mango tree and enjoying yogurt made from mango.
Along the way, Thuy shared the process of mango farming, the life and lifestyle of the villagers, not forgetting to help tourists choose traditional Southern Vietnamese costumes so they could transform into “Mekong Ladies” with nostalgic photos. Returning to the farmstay, Thuy chopped fresh coconuts for guests to enjoy while waiting for dinner to be served.
Tourists in traditional Vietnamese clothes in an old space. Photo: Ngoc Tai
After a tiring day, the girl from Da Nang could not hide her joy, because working at the farmstay helped her find her own value. “Thuy is no longer the wife who only followed her husband around a few years ago,” she said. After 5 years of steadfastly pursuing her passion, Thuy’s rooms are often full, with a revenue of 80-100 million VND per month.
Graduated from the media department in 2011, Thuy worked at a corporation as a film appraiser in Ho Chi Minh City. The job suited her interests and allowed her to travel to many places. Four years later, her husband persuaded Thuy to return to Dong Thap to help him manage the family business. To take care of their small family, she agreed and became a daughter-in-law from the West.
Her family runs a seafood store, along with a chain of fish ponds and a mango garden. She also reluctantly took on the job of selling fish, tending the garden, and doing a bunch of other unnamed menial jobs. “For four years, Thuy was lost, unable to find her own value, and many times wanted to return to the city,” she said.
The idea of starting a business with a mango garden flashed when the bride from the West witnessed the beautiful sunset, the gentle wind, and the peaceful sound of fish flapping their tails. At the end of 2019, she invested 3 billion VND to renovate the one-hectare mango garden, taking care of each flower bush, path, and building a row of rooms that can accommodate nearly 20 guests.
Thuy next to her family’s mango garden, where she started her business and achieved initial success. Photo: Ngoc Tai
When Thuy started construction, many acquaintances were skeptical, even saying bluntly: “If we build it, who will hire us?”. She ignored them, encouraging herself to do her best, and if she failed, it would be like having another place to “heal” herself. “Only thinking about it without daring to start is a complete failure,” she said.
Apart from the initial construction costs, Thuy is not under too much financial pressure because the mango garden and fish pond of over one hectare still provide a steady income. The income from tourism is only secondary and the staff are uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters in the neighborhood who have accompanied the family’s work for many years.
At the same time, she built promotional channels on social networks, regularly updating information every day. With its simplicity and ordinary images, Thuy’s channel received its first “follows”.
Over time, Thuy’s channel attracted potential customers who came to book rooms. Her customers were those who liked peaceful spaces and wanted to learn about local culture. From a few hundred views, Thuy’s social network had many million-view videos. The number of rooms was also often full.
Thuy’s farmstay is located in the mango growing area of Cao Lanh district. Photo: Tran Thanh
Sharing the secret to attracting tourists, Thuy said that she always carefully consults the surrounding environment and facilities so that customers can think carefully before booking a room. She does not cause misunderstandings or bring about unsatisfactory experiences for the sake of sales.
Currently, in addition to selling through social media channels, The Mango Trail also has a steady source of foreign customers through third-party connections. With her own foreign language skills, Thuy also works as a tour guide.
In addition to her own garden, the farmstay owner connects with surrounding gardens so that visitors can experience picking mangoes and enjoy them right in the garden. Local authorities also suggest stops with cultural features such as the shrine and the water hyacinth weaving village.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of Cao Lanh District People’s Committee, said that The Mango Trail Farmstay is one of four attractions in My Xuong Agricultural Tourism Village. The model contributes to promoting the local image, changing the awareness of mango farmers, moving towards multi-value farming, increasing income from tourism.
“Thuy has a persistent entrepreneurial spirit, constantly striving to improve, from many initial difficulties, the model has now become an attractive tourist destination, attracting visitors,” said Mr. Tuan, adding that the locality is orienting and mobilizing more people around to do tourism together, increasing the experience for visitors.
Ngoc Tai