Quoi An in the
Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre is a unique place as it has facilities
that are made entirely of parts of the coconut tree
A
12-seat boat belonging to Ben Tre Tourism Joint Stock Company left the
quayside at the Phong Phu tourism center and traveled in the Mieu Canal
in the shade of trees and bushes. After about 100 meters, the Tien
River appeared, a vast body of water with wind-blown waves and cruise
boats traveling to and fro taking visitors to the coconut land.
As the boat moved toward the East Sea, the tourists
could view the beauty of My Tho City on the left. The gusts of wild
wind disappeared when the boat turned right, entering the Xep Canal.
One after another, ban trees, a type of wild trees common in the Mekong
Delta, appeared on the two sides of the canal, but the two lines of ban
were broken at intervals with bushes of water-based coconut palms,
whose bunches of round fruits were swaying in the wind. Ban trees
spread their branches close to the water, so there was the rustle as
the top of the boat hit while it was moving past. Their flowers, violet
in part, were blown in the wind.
After a while, the boat docked at Quoi An Eco-Tourist Area in Chau
Thanh District of Ben Tre Province. Tourists began a walk on a sealed
road under a dense cover from longan trees, which have been planted in
rows to line the road. After a look at the charming orchard, the
visitors were welcomed at the pleasant houses at Quoi An.
Tran Thi Thu, aged 40, said she had had 20 years of working in the
tourism sector. Two years ago, she had been delighted to be appointed
as head of the management board of the 2,000-square-meter tourist area.
Quoi An, a unique place as the houses are made entirely of parts of the
coconut tree, is the pride of Ben Tre people. The roofs are weaved of
branches of water-based coconut palms, the walls, rafters, doors and
windows are made of coconut parts, and the hosupports are coconut
trunks. Even the gutters look quaint as three planks of coconut wood
are used. Coconut wood, in the hands of skilled carpenters, is turned
into products of luxury with a shiny appearance.
A souvenir shop at Quoi An is built in an octagonal shape. Its unique
look entices tourists to spend money on souvenirs with pleasure. To
provide typical souvenirs featuring this land of the coconut, Quoi An
has a 100-square-meter workshop, equipped with eight machines and
employing six craftsmen who produce a wide range of handicrafts.
In the air mixed with coconut-wood chips and the sound of roaring
sawing, Thu said: “In Ben Tre there is nowhere else with a workshop for
coconut handicraft production,” Thu said. In the 300-square-meter
showroom, tourists were surprised when they were introduced to “the
world of the coconut,” including a description of coconut varieties.
There are many strange names, so tourists felt eager to turn to tasting
various types of sweet and pure juices from the coconuts.
In addition, tools used in picking and processing the fruit also
interest visitors: cutting sickles, forks to thrust in the fruits’
shells if, for example, the coconuts fall into a ditch, bars for
peeling the shell, knives for prying coconut flesh off the shells,
devices for cutting the shells, grinding coconut flesh, squeezing
coconut juice, and making yarns from the shells’ fiber.
There are more than 200 handicraft items made from coconut that grab
tourists’ attention. All are on display in a hocalled nha bat dan.
Built with 40 coconut trunks of 30 years old, the hois one of
traditional types of the southern region. Surrounded with wide veranda,
nha bat dan is often divided into three compartments. The middle
compartment is for an altar and living room, and bedrooms are on the
left and right or at the back of the altar.
Next to nha bat dan is a 120-square-meter showroom displaying
embroidery products. This is built in a half-cross shape, comprising a
main and a subordinate house. The main hois used for common living
activities, including bedrooms separated by partitions. In the front,
there is a porch with many columns made of coconut trunks. The hois
made of at least 20 coconut trunks. Like nha bat dan, people used
30-year-old coconut trunks to build this hosince the trunks are
straight and less scarred.
Two embroiderers worked in the showroom. While continuing with her
needlework,Nguyen Thi Mai, aged 20, said she earned VND600,000 a month,
a small income but enough for rural living. Embroidery products vary in
types and prices: an embroidered net of 1.7m x 3m is VND1.5 million, an
embroidered picture is VND300,000, pullovers embroidered with a dragon
are VND90,000 each, napkins are between VND20,000 and VND45,000 each, a
knitted bags are VND60,000 to VND250,000.
A big hoserving drinks attracted groups of Europeans, Japanese and
Koreans. They ate fruits and enjoy honey tea. The tea can be served
cold or hot with lime and coconut wine. Tourists seemed delighted.
In a longan orchard, bees are bred to yield honey. In this season,
longan trees have not yet bloomed, so the bees are moved to Lach Market
where orchards of a variety of fruit can feed them. Most tourists
bought handicrafts, honey and embroidery.
Thu said: “During the low tourist season, Quoi An has about 100 visitors a day. At the peak time, so many visitors come here that existing facilities cannot handle the crowd. Therefore, we are building one more hoto serve drinks. Foreigners love this peaceful, tranquil place, so we will also build a guesthoand other facilities.”
Ben Tre – homeland of the coconut tree | |
Going completely nuts in Ben Tre | |
Deep In The Land Of The Coconut | |
Ben Tre (Bến Tre) Coconut Candy |
The real Vietnam's Mekong delta tour
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