Admiring the beautiful Melaleuca forest in Vietnam

A water and green paradise

A Giang province has a total area of forests and forestry land of 16,868 ha, of which forest land area is 13,860 ha. An Giang's forests and forest land are not large compared to other provinces and cities in the country, but they are very different in types, including flooded melaleuca forests, forests in mountainous areas and forests on rocky mountains. An Giangforests play a very important role in protecting the ecological environment, promoting socio-economic development, associating with tourism development, protecting biodiversity, as well as serving border security and defence.

In particular, in An Giang province, there are currently 9 wetlands with melaleuca forests with a total area of 4,311 ha, accounting for more than 35% of the existing forest area in the entire province. At the same time, Tra Su Melaleuca forest (Van Giao commune, Tinh Bien district) has an area of 845 ha, is known as "The flooded green paradise" and is a famous forest eco-tourism destination of An Giang province.

Habitat characteristics of Melaleuca forests include the natural landscape of wetland ecosystems, flooded melaleuca forests, canals, ditches and lotus, water lily, water hyacinth plants, grassland habitats, seasonally flooded marshes, waterfowl, fisheries and wetland wildlife.

Mr Truong Minh Hung, Deputy Director of the Forest Protection Department of An Giang province said that the Tra Su Melaleuca forest is a special-use forest with a full range of biological systems and rich landscapes, creating a mild microclimate and fresh air. These are favourable advantages to exploit and develop ecotourism.

In order for the forest to develop sustainably and at the same time exploit the tourism potential of this place, An Giang Forest Protection Department and Forest Management Board have developed a sustainable forest management plan for the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest Landscape Protection Area for the period 2019 - 2030. At the same time, they built a resort and entertainment eco-tourism project in the Tra Su Melaleuca forest landscape protection area for the period 2021 - 2030, approved and implemented by the Provincial People's Committee.

An Giang Tourism Joint Stock Company is a unit decided by the Provincial People's Committee to lease forest environment for eco-tourism business in the administrative service subdivision of the Tra Su Melaleuca forest landscape protection area. With the Company's strong investment from outside the forest and bamboo bridges inside the forest, along with wild natural scenery and diverse ecosystems, more and more tourists come to visit.

Besides, in 2020 Tra Su tourist area is proud to receive 2 records. That is the record "The most beautiful Melaleuca forest in Vietnam during flood season" and the record "Longest bamboo bridge through the forest in Vietnam". That is a positive sign for attracting tourists to the Tra Su Melaleuca forest. This has confirmed that: Currently, the tourist trend is to seek out wild nature and live in harmony with nature.

Creating livelihoods for local people

With the beauty and potential of wild nature, the Tra Su Melaleuca forest tourist area has used local labour resources to serve tourists, imbued with the friendly and gentle personality of the people of the Mekong Delta. The participation of the local community in tourism activities here not only benefits them but also improves the quality of tourism. Local people, with their environment, lifestyle, production methods and indigenous cultural traditions, also bring tourism products that have great appeal to tourists.

The products sold at the sightseeing area of Tra Su Melaleuca forest are local products. Most products have been and are currently registered as OCOP products, ensuring quality and reputation such as Tra Su Melaleuca forest honey and products in Tinh Bien district such as Ca na wine, and palm wine...

With the initial success of Tra Su ecotourism, An Giang province has a policy to attract investment in ecotourism in protective and special-use forests for sustainable development associated with nature conservation and biodiversity, contributing to local socio-economic development.