Nghe An aims for "shopping tourism".

(Baonghean) - The concept of "shopping tourism" is not new to many countries in the region, but it is still quite unfamiliar and novel to Vietnam in general and Nghe An in particular.

According to recent statistics from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, on average, tourists spend only 10-15% of their travel expenses on shopping during a trip to Vietnam, while that figure exceeds 51% for tourists in Thailand and many other countries in the region. In Nghe An province, it's very difficult for tourists visiting Cua Lo or Nam Dan to find a unique product. Although the province has many agricultural, seafood, and handicraft products, few have the "made in Nghe An" brand. Let's take the seashell souvenirs from the Cua Hoi Youth Enterprise as an example. While seashell souvenirs have become quite diverse and attractive in recent years, proving what truly represents the unique character of Cua Lo or Cua Hoi is challenging. Furthermore, these souvenirs often lack proper labeling and packaging, making them fragile and requiring careful handling for long-distance transport. The price of the product may increase, but tourists are still willing to accept it and feel more secure. The labels and packaging contribute to increasing the product's value and leave a lasting impression on tourists, becoming the product's brand.

Souvenir products made from seashells by the Cua Hoi Youth Enterprise.
Photo: Truong Sinh

On the other hand, not only is there a lack of product display and presentation, but product promotion and marketing through various channels is also very weak, despite the diverse and abundant potential of Nghe An's products. Agricultural products include many specialty fruits such as Xa Doai oranges, Phuc Trach pomelos, Nam Anh persimmons, Tuong Duong mangoes, etc.; various types of cakes and candies like cu do, Nam Dan soy sauce, and Nghi An wine are quite famous. Seafood includes fish sauce from Phuong Can, Van Phan, Cua Hoi, etc. Handicrafts such as rattan and bamboo weaving, sedge mats, wood carvings, stone carvings, silk, and brocade are abundant in both the lowlands and mountainous areas. In recent years, Nghe An has also introduced many new crafts such as crochet, embroidery, ornamental plants, and seashell carving. However, finding a product that guarantees both quality and large quantities is difficult.

The main reason is that people are not yet fully aware of the products. To capture the market, especially to serve tourism, it is necessary to focus on improving skills, investing in product design, and ensuring quality. Despite more than 10 years of government support and encouragement policies, traditional crafts and craft villages still struggle to develop due to capital constraints and a lack of orders – meaning difficulties from raw materials to finished products. In addition, difficulties in transportation, product marketing, and the volatile market prices also pose significant challenges.

Mai Ho Minh