Riding to Tra Que Vegetable Village with Sweethearts

Hoi An is a very famous destination for many tourists from over the world. Therefore, I had to stay there for work couples of days a week while my family were in Hue. They often traveled about 3 hours to visit me when my wife had a day off. I always appreciate the time with them then.
My wife and my daughter got a shuttle bus from Hue to Hoi An to stay one night with me. I rented a room monthly in Hoi An so we had enough space for our a family.

My wife visited the ancient town of Hoi An a few times so she wanted to go to the countryside. Happy wife, happy life! I took them on my rented motorbike to go to Tra Que Vegetable Village nearby. It is very close to where I lived so it took us only 10 mins to get there. However, I did not use the main road but the road on fields. I often take my clients on cycling tour through this beautiful countryside. We passed by paddy fields and vegetable fields and met a long part of reed both side.

We stopped for my daughter had a run around and had some photos here before continue to Tra Que Village. It was fun that I take people on tour many times and then I had 2 VIP clients on this day. Haha.

When we arrived Tra Que, we parked our bike in the farmer house where I often take people there. The owners and I had a fun conversation about my family. I said I was free in the morning so I got two special tourists. I and my family had time to walk around the village where all green vegetable welcome us.

Tra Que vegetable village is located in Cam Ha commune, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam. There are about 30 different kinds of vegetable which are grown on area of 20 hectares in Tra Que Village. Since tourism came to Hoi An, Tra Que became a great destination where we can see a good cooperation of local farmers and tour management agencies.

Walking around the vegie fields are so relaxed when we can smell the new soil and fresh herbs. Here is mint, there is coriander. Here is lemongrass, there is basil. They are so green and fresh.
During the tour I did with my clients, we often grow some basil with instruction from local farmers.

The soil is prepared by digging about 20 cemtimeters and some river weed from De Vong river is put in it. Then it will be covered by soft soil. Soil here is so good for vegetable because it is sandy, not much clay. That is the reason why the vegetable village have existed for 400 years.

Even nowadays, farmers are farming their vegetable organically. The vegetable will be watered and covered by nets of palm leaves. They will protect vegie from butterflies and insects. Different kinds of vegetable are grown next to each other because insects love this kind but do not like the one next to. As a result, the damage from insects would be lower. This technique has been using for years in Tra Que Village.

After working on the fields, we can relax by foot massage or foot bath in the farmer house. It is optional in different type of tour.

Beside growing, we could pick some vegetable for cooking in the farmer house. Food and spice are prepared by chef and people in the house. Surely after cooking, we would have what we cook. Pan cakes, "three-friends" (shrimps, pork and mint), papaya salad are normally on our cooking list.

The experience to take family to working place was very different. It was a good time together but my daughter could see what her father doing for job. Tra Que always welcome us with their smiles and green of fields. Standing in middle of it was a great time. Live green, live better!

Photo credit to me and my friends
@tungphong
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