Vietnam’s Mekong Delta farmers embrace digital skills to promote local tourism on social media

The fish-catching activity, held in Cao Lanh Ward, was part of a training program organized by the provincial Farmers' Association to boost community-based tourism linked to the Mekong Delta's annual flood season.

The program runs through September this year across several communes and wards, including Tan Thanh, Phu Tho, My Hiep, Hong Ngu, Thuong Lac, and An Binh.

Farmers not only demonstrated traditional fishing methods to local students and visitors but also learned new skills such as photography, filming, and promoting their activities on social media.

Le Phuoc Tanh, head of Thuan Tan Farmers’ Club, said his family has been involved in community-based tourism for years and that local farmers regularly join training programs to improve their tourism skills.

"The club’s farmers have traditionally focused on growing mangoes and sharing experience in efficient farming," he said.

"When authorities encouraged us to jointly develop local tourism, we learned how to welcome visitors and introduce them to activities associated with river life.

"Daily activities like catching fish, swimming in the river, or picking fruit are things visitors find fascinating."

According to the provincial Farmers' Association, the training program is part of a broader project to strengthen community management, protect aquatic resources, and create livelihoods through tourism.

Support has included fishing gear, boats, life jackets, and fish stock for flood-season aquaculture.

So far, the project has harvested about 11.5 metric tons of fish and attracted over 1,000 visitors to river-based cultural experiences such as net fishing and fish trapping, alongside enjoying local specialties.

The initiative also helps restore fish populations, preserve biodiversity, create local jobs, and raise community awareness about ecosystem protection.