Potential and challenges

One of the well-known destinations in Thot Not in recent years is Tan Loc islet (Tan Loc Ward, Thot Not District). Tan Loc islet has an area of approximately 3,268 hectares, the majority of which is occupied by fruit orchards, famous for specialties such as rose apples, guavas, and mangoes. There are many tourist orchards located here, including Tan Loc coconut garden, Ms. Diep's guava garden, Ut Trac rambutan garden, Sau Tia rose apple garden, Thay Thong's vineyard, and Tan Loc ecological tourism garden.

Tan Loc islet is considered to have great potential for ecotourism development. Therefore, in the comprehensive tourism development master plan for Can Tho City until 2020, with a vision towards 2030, Tan Loc Islet is designated as a community-based waterway ecotourism destination in the western tourism space of the city. However, the tourism development in this area has not been truly effective. In reality, the orchard spots on Tan Loc islet are still relatively self-developed, and small-scale, and their tourism products and services overlap, lacking distinct characteristics. The activities mainly revolve around visiting orchards, karaoke singing, fishing, and rowing boats. Meanwhile, the tourism infrastructure in this area is still weak, particularly in terms of transportation. Bringing tourists to Tan Loc islet still relies on the schedule of the Thot Not - Tan Loc passenger ferry, and the ferry here also has limitations in terms of load capacity and quantity.

As the owner of one of the long-standing tourist orchards on Tan Loc islet, Mrs. Le Hong Diep, owner of Co Diep's guava garden, stated: "Every year, my garden attracts thousands of visitors, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of guests has decreased by 50%. In addition, the ongoing road construction has made it inconvenient for tourists. Currently, the garden receives very few visitors, only 400-500 guests per year." Meanwhile, Mr. Huynh Cong Thong, owner of Teacher Thong's vineyard, emphasized: "Tan Loc islet has advantages with its fruit gardens, clean environment, and friendly locals, making it suitable for ecotourism and community-based tourism. However, for tourism to develop, it cannot rely solely on individual efforts. There needs to be investment and collaboration to create products together. We must create distinctive, unique products and offer diverse experiences to attract tourists."

Not only Tan Loc islet but Thot Not also has unique tourism resources such as Bang Lang stork garden and Thuan Hung rice paper village (recently recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage). However, these sites also face challenges in tourism development. Mr. Nguyen Khong Lo, owner of Bang Lang stork garden, explained: "After the pandemic, the number of visitors returned is very low, only a few dozen per week. Currently, we are facing difficulties in maintaining the stork garden. The alarming issue is that the water environment is polluted, which will affect the storks' habitat. Moreover, the access roads to the destination are also challenging, resulting in fewer visitors." Ms. Ha Thi Sau, a long-standing rice paper maker in Thuan Hung, said: "Visitors know about us thanks to the local support for promotion and showcasing at traditional cake festivals and cultural tourism events. However, there are very few tourists who come to our place because of the difficult access roads, and mostly it is travel companies that bring guests, mainly international tourists. But in the past few years, due to the pandemic, it has been very difficult without any guests."

Orientation for sustainable development

Thot Not is oriented towards developing two main types of tourism: waterway tourism and agricultural tourism. In particular, Tan Loc islet has a specific orientation with the Tan Loc Tourism Development Project. According to the project, the development of tourism in Tan Loc is based on the exploitation of the advantages of agricultural ecological landscapes and the cultural life of the local people living by the rivers, in order to create unique tourism products and make Tan Loc one of the attractive destinations for ecotourism, community-based tourism, and resort experiences in Can Tho. The development space for tourism in Tan Loc is specifically defined as follows: the establishment of a tourism service center for reception and information provision about island tourism; experiential homestay destinations on floating fish farms, ancient houses, and local farming households; eco-friendly and high-end resort areas in the northern and southern ends of the island. In particular, the northern area of the island will be developed in an ecological and rustic model representing the countryside's river life, while the southern area will be developed in a high-end, modern, and luxurious model to serve customers with high spending power. Therefore, Thot Not is calling for investment in various infrastructure projects, such as wharves, transfer stations, and the construction of distinctive products.

Bang Lang stork garden

Mr. Huynh Cong Thong, the owner of Teacher Thong's vineyard, expressed: "Each household must create its own product and then form a chain of distinctive products for Tan Loc islet. In the near future, I will also expand the cultivation of new and exotic plant varieties to create highlights for the vineyard." Mrs. Le Hong Diep, the owner of Co Diep's guava garden, said: "Currently, I am planting more golden star apples to provide additional fruit for visitors to experience. I also have plans to borrow capital to invest in additional services. In terms of promotion, we need more support from the local authorities to reach the tourist market." Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Khong Lo, the owner of Bang Lang stork garden, said: "Preserving the environment for storks to stay in the garden is a pressing issue, so I suggest that the local authorities provide timely support measures. We also hope to have access to loan capital to invest in more services for visitors' experiences."

In reality, the Can Tho City Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2050, includes the planning of an inland port on the Hau River, located approximately 3km from Tan Loc islet, to serve the development of local tourism, especially waterway tourism. The City's Tourism Department has also planned the construction of the Ninh Kieu - Tan Loc islet route as one of the two main waterway tourism routes in the locality. In line with this, the Department of Transportation is coordinating with the Department of Planning and Investment to advise the People's Committee on developing a list of transportation projects to attract investment during the 2021-2025 period, including the Ninh Kieu - Con Au - Con Son - Tan Loc islet waterway bus project. Regarding investment, Tan Loc islet is also one of the tourism projects that the city is calling for investment in.

Ms. Dao Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Can Tho City, stated: "We, together with relevant departments and agencies, have conducted surveys to assess the current situation and find solutions to overcome difficulties in tourism development investment. This includes particularly the mechanisms and policies related to agricultural tourism and waterway tourism. Currently, the department is advising the People's Committee to submit a resolution to the City People’s Council on these policy mechanisms, with the goal of enabling localities to leverage their tourism potential and develop distinctive products”.