Eco-friendly food court in Nghi Khanh

(Baonghean) - Taking advantage of its strategic location as the "gateway" to Cua Lo coastal town, many farmers in Nghi Khanh commune (Nghi Loc district) have transformed a previously deserted aquaculture area into a year-round seafood specialty business zone, creating new jobs that bring high incomes to workers and contributing to the economic restructuring of the locality.

Not long ago, the aquaculture area in Khanh Dong hamlet, Nghi Khanh commune, was a desolate wasteland. When Provincial Road 536 (also known as Nam Cam Road) was opened, connecting to Cua Lo town, that barren land was "awakened," transformed, and invested in shrimp and crab farming. Then, in the shrimp and crab ponds, restaurants specializing in seasonal seafood dishes sprang up, forming a culinary service area with the colloquial name: "Shrimp Pond."

The restaurants here are often built right next to shrimp and crab farms. Anyone who has been here will find it hard to forget the tranquil atmosphere with the fresh, cool air emanating from the lagoon. Visitors are served attentively and thoughtfully with a variety of delicious and fresh seafood specialties to choose from. The restaurant owners here serve customers very professionally, even though they were previously farmers accustomed to rice farming and aquaculture. They approached this new profession as an experience in their search for higher-paying jobs.

The once deserted shrimp and crab farms have now been transformed into a system of restaurants specializing in seafood year-round.

The Dam Tom food court is now a familiar destination for many tourists. Visitors come from nearby localities in Nghi Loc district, and further afield from Vinh City, as well as from Hanoi, Hai Phong, and other northern provinces. Each group of visitors is impressed by the ambiance, service, and quality of the seafood, leading to word-of-mouth recommendations that effectively promote Dam Tom's cuisine.

Visitors come here primarily to enjoy delicious and affordable seafood specialties, and secondly to experience the unique and interesting atmosphere. Due to the growing demand for seafood, the Dam Tom area has grown from just a few initial establishments to 16 restaurants specializing in seafood. These restaurants have capitalized on their unique advantages, maintaining year-round service. Because the restaurants own their own business premises and source some of their own produce, the prices of seafood specialties here are typically 20 to 25% lower than in Cua Lo beach town.

The Dam Tom seafood restaurant complex has created jobs for many workers; even the smallest restaurants employ 3-4 people, while larger ones employ up to 18-20. During peak season, the number of workers is significantly higher. Depending on the job position, workers here earn between 4 and 8 million VND per month. The formation and development of the Dam Tom seafood specialty restaurant cluster has contributed to the transformation of the local economy.

Mr. Vo Thanh Ha, Vice Chairman of the Nghi Khanh Commune People's Committee, said: The commune government is planning to develop a food court. Currently, the Commune People's Committee has requested the District Department of Industry and Trade to cooperate with the Commune People's Committee and the businesses here to build a "Food Street" model named after Nghi Khanh Commune.

Taking advantage of its geographical location and transportation links, many farmers in Nghi Khanh have started businesses in the food service industry. The local Party committee and government have also developed new plans to further enhance this success. This is indeed a good model for other localities in Nghi Loc to learn from, effectively exploiting their potential and advantages, developing the service industry based on coastal conditions, increasing people's income, and contributing to the correct shift in the economic structure of each locality.

Nhat Tuan

(Nghi Loc Radio Station)