Western tourists learn to plant and plow
Recently returning to Hoi An, we had the opportunity to join a rice paddy tour organized by Khoa Tran Hoi An Eco-tour International Travel Company. The unique thing about this tour is that it allows Western tourists to learn how to farm on our own fields, and this experience has left a great impression on Western tourists who want to learn about Vietnam’s rice paddy civilization.
Foreign tourists plowing the fields
When the West plowed our fields
In front of us was a field of about 2 sao, next to it was a small hut where all the farming tools and drinking water were prepared to welcome the Westerners. From farmer's clothes to plows, harrows, hoes, seeds, rice seedlings... everything was ready. Next to the field, 2 buffaloes were waiting for the orders of the old farmers. At exactly 9 o'clock, a group of 20 Western tourists appeared on bicycles, they were immediately warmly welcomed by the simple, kind farmers and invited into the hut to sit and drink water. According to our observations, the Western tourists had a good impression of the farming scene from the first sight, because they smiled happily and seemed interested. After resting for about 15 minutes, the farmers began to guide the Western tourists to put on farmer's clothes to look... "Vietnamese". Then the Western "farmers" were taken down to the field one by one to the cheers and shouts of the Western tourists and the "Vietnamese" farmers on the shore.
First, the tourists are instructed on how to plow and harrow. At first, the farmers follow them with the plows and then let them do it themselves. The tourists are initially clumsy but gradually get used to it. They hold the plows and walk, even though mud splashes all over them, but their faces are always bright and cheerful. Because they are not used to wading in the fields, the tourists quickly get tired, sweat profusely and are sent to the shore to replace other tourists. There are times when funny and sad situations happen in the fields. To increase the enthusiasm, the tour organizer arranges 2 buffaloes for the Western tourists to plow comfortably and arranges each buffalo far apart, plowing in separate rows. Occasionally, the farmers shout "di hoan" (go left) and "tha hoan" (go right) so that the 2 buffaloes do not collide with each other. However, they forget that they are mates. So the male buffalo keeps following the female buffalo and dragging both the Vietnamese farmer and the Western tourists in the fields. The guide kept shouting "stop, stop" (stop), and the Western tourists kept saying "stop, stop" but the buffaloes still walked quickly together! When the Western tourists understood the reason, the Western men and women laughed out loud.
While plowing the field, the Western tourists held the buffalo's tail tightly. Seeing the buffalo pulling the harrow too fast, Mr. Nhien - a farmer whose buffalo served this tour - shouted "do, do" but the Western tourists still grabbed the buffalo's tail and jerked it repeatedly, so the buffalo continued to pull the harrow and ran away. On the bank and in the field, everyone burst into laughter. When bailing water with the Giai bucket, even though they were given careful instructions, the Western men and women bailing water together, the ropes got tangled together continuously and sometimes one person pulled the other person and they fell down into the field. On this tour, the Western tourists were also instructed on how to sow and plant rice. The most enjoyable part was when the Western men and women bent their heads down to the field, struggling with each bundle of rice seedlings, but after struggling for a long time, they were able to plant a piece of rice field, but the seedlings were submerged in mud, submerged in water, and tilted...
Western tourists were very excited and happy, because not only were they guided in plowing, but they were also guided in pounding rice and making fire to cook rice.
Foreign tourists sow rice in the field
What a meaningful experience!
We believe that these are their sincere words. Because according to our observations from the beginning to the end of this farming scene, the Western tourists really felt interested and happy with each job. They attentively learned and were enthusiastic in each job. Many Western tourists also said that this was the first job they participated in, through which they learned a part of the meaningful and difficult work of farmers, helping them love our rice civilization even more.
Foreign tourists are excited to plow their own fields
When asked, where did he get the idea and successfully organize this rice paddy tour? Mr. Tran Van Khoa - Director of Khoa Tran Hoi An Eco-toue International Travel Company said: "Since the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the People's Committee of Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province launched the Hoi An eco-urban development pilot project. I think to contribute to the success of the project, we must open rice paddy tours, so that foreign tourists can experience the work of farmers, and people can combine rice farming with tourism to generate high profits and keep their jobs. If tourism wants to improve, it must innovate. We must continue to find new tourism products and models that combine environmental protection, ecology, and community involvement!"
Before saying goodbye, Khoa had great confidence in this new tour and we also wished Khoa more and more success with his unique rice tour.
According to Daidoanket