Referring to the buffalo, people often think of the image of hardship, poverty, and hardship. The catchphrase “extreme like a buffalo” also partly tells the wrong fate of this animal attached to Vietnamese farmers.
A buffalo owner leisurely walks the buffalo to the field to “model” in the middle of rice paddies for tourists to take pictures – Photo: BD
But in the ancient town of Hoi An, buffaloes did not work hard, but on the contrary they were said to be “happy like a king”. There buffaloes do not have to pull plows, not shiver in the cold, but their job is … “must be beautiful”. The more beautiful, the more money!
People “change” for buffalo
One morning at the end of the year, a group of American citizens staying at a 5-star hotel in Hoi An booked a tour of the Jack Tran Tours Hoi An Company to participate in buffalo riding program to admire the field.
Having never been in contact with the buffalo, many people expressed hesitation. But after the tour ended, these guests were amazed at the friendliness, professionalism and especially the clean and fragrant scent of the buffalo.
Buffalo tourism in Hoi An – Photo: BD
Mr. Le Nhien – farmer in Thanh Tay block (Cam Chau, Hoi An) – led the buffalo to contact the guests, both the human and the buffalo face were happy to be served. Mr. Nhien said that to bring guests to visit the fields, from last afternoon, he used soap and perfume to clean the buffalo. Buffalo skin is polished black, buffalo eat full and round.
“The buffalo is round and fat, its skin is smooth and fragrant, the customers can enjoy it. I have worked as a buffalo guide for 15 years, thanks to this job, I can go to the field, my children eat well. With buffalo all day, but always fragrant, I’m happy because Western customers are very polite, sociable, pay high for the owner, “said Mr. Nhien.
What kind of photo! – Photo: BD
In order for the buffalo to become this rural tourism product in Hoi An, farmers and tour operators have had a long history of working together. Mr. Tran Van Khoa – director of Jack Tran Tours Hoi An Company – was the first person in Quang Nam to create this type of tourism and started to guide buffalo farmers to do tourism.
Mr. Khoa accepts foreigners on the system and brings them to the field, farmers will spend money to buy buffaloes, fatten them, teach them to get used to human steam, the smell of perfume and master the way of taking guests to walk in the fields. rice smells.
Buffaloes carry Western tourists to the fields – Photo: BD
Mr. Tran Van Khoa said that his network is currently cooperating with 30 farmers around Hoi An. People will invest in buffalo and receive recognition for care. When there are customers, the company will bring people and all the money will be paid directly to the buffalo owner.
When participating in leading the guests, the buffalo owners also underwent training classes to welcome, many buffalo owners now speak English fluently, possessing dozens of mature buffalo in the hands, the whole family lives completely in the job. This unique buffalo.
Buffalo “can laugh”
According to the People’s Committee of Hoi An city, buffalo riding tour to visit Hoi An field was started and started from 2005 on. At that time, realizing the potential of this type of tourism, Jack Tran Tours Hoi An Company cooperated with farmers to do business.
Instead of pulling the plow from morning to night, buffaloes in Hoi An just “do a few sample moves” and are cared for round fat axis – Photo: BD.
Initially, only one or two regions had tours, and over time many other businesses and farmers worked together. Up to now, the number of buffalo herds participating in tourism in Hoi An is up to dozens, the number of buffaloes is up to hundreds. The farmer’s job is to fatten buffalo, spray fragrant perfume and train the buffalo to get used to someone sitting on it, and the businesses will lead guests and take them to the field.
For each time riding a buffalo, tourists will pay the owner from 20,000 VND to hundreds of thousands of VND. Each buffalo every day at peak travel can earn its owner 500,000 – 700,000 VND, even million VND.
Mr. Nguyen Van Son – Chairman of Hoi An City People’s Committee – said that this is a sustainable tourism, based on existing values and very suitable for the tourism development orientation that Hoi An is aiming for.
A foreign guest participates in a farming tour in Hoi An – Photo: BD
Mrs. Rhonda Adams – American tourist – said she and her daughter were surprised when they were riding on buffalo back, leisurely through the carpeted concrete streets full of flowers and in the midst of the vast scenery of rice rice along the street. ancient Hoi An.
“I am willing to recommend this tour to many guests when coming to Hoi An, this is a tour where farmers use their buffalo to make a living from tourism. This is the year of buffalo, I wish everyone a new year of health. and do well, “Ms. Rhonda said.
Not only using buffalo for tourism, creating sustainable livelihoods, farmers in Hoi An also bring memorable experiences of Vietnam’s rural image. The buffalo from hard work and hardship has now passed another mission, which is to travel and create laughter, and the buffalo has also done more and created higher values to erase the sad image. back to poor rural areas for a while.
Tuoi Tre Online