Combining Circular Agriculture with Experiential Tourism

Starting as a high-tech cordyceps mushroom producer, Tam Dao Mushroom Cooperative is gradually developing a multi-value agricultural model in which experiential tourism serves as an effective channel for brand promotion. This approach not only enhances the value of agricultural products but also creates new opportunities for rural economic development, contributing to the province’s goal of building a modern, green, and sustainable agricultural sector.

Established in 2009, Tam Dao Mushroom Cooperative is recognized as one of Vietnam’s pioneering producers of Cordyceps militaris using advanced cultivation technology. The cooperative currently produces more than 15 tonnes of fresh cordyceps annually, making it one of the country’s largest producers in this field. Rather than focusing solely on increasing output, however, the cooperative has adopted a more sustainable strategy by developing a multi-value agricultural ecosystem, where each stage of production generates additional value and forms part of an integrated circular production chain.

Cultivating Cordyceps militaris in climate-controlled laboratories at Tam Dao Mushroom Cooperative.

To support this model, the cooperative established a mulberry cultivation and silkworm farming system, which has become the foundation of its circular production chain. Mulberry plantations at the foot of the Tam Dao Mountains provide a stable food source for silkworms while securing raw materials for the entire production network. Silk fibers are woven into premium silk scarves—one of the cooperative’s signature OCOP products. Silkworm pupae are then used as a nutrient source for cultivating cordyceps mushrooms, while silkworm manure and residues from the cultivation process are processed into organic fertilizer and returned to the mulberry fields and other crops.

By making full use of by-products at every production stage, the cooperative has created a system that generates virtually no waste. This approach reduces production costs, improves resource efficiency, and supports the development of environmentally friendly circular agriculture.

Beyond improving production methods, the cooperative has also transformed its business model by establishing a sustainable production network. Today, it cooperates with approximately 120 farming households engaged in mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing, creating a raw material zone of around 150 hectares, primarily in Phu Tho and Lao Cai provinces. Participating farmers receive breeding stock, technical training, guidance on safe production methods, and guaranteed purchase agreements for their products.

Tam Dao Mushroom Cooperative purchases mulberry and silkworm products from partner households in Phuc Khanh Commune, Lao Cai Province.

This close partnership not only provides farmers with confidence to invest over the long term but also ensures a stable supply of high-quality raw materials—an essential foundation for deep processing and brand development.

Nguyen Duc Quyet, a farmer from Tien Lu Commune, Phu Tho Province, who participates in the cooperative’s production network, shared: "Our family cultivates about one mau (approximately 3,600 square meters) of mulberry and has just completed our first silkworm production cycles. Since joining Tam Dao Mushroom Cooperative, we have received breeding stock, technical guidance, and guaranteed purchasing of all our products, giving us great confidence to continue investing in production."

Using raw materials generated within this integrated supply chain, the cooperative continues investing in research and technology to develop high-value processed products. In addition to fresh cordyceps mushrooms, it now produces freeze-dried cordyceps, nano cordyceps powder, cordyceps herbal tea, Au Co silk scarves, and a wide range of health-care and premium gift products.

Each product is enhanced not only through advanced technology but also through improved packaging, traceability systems, quality certification, and brand development. These efforts have strengthened the competitiveness of the cooperative’s products and enabled them to meet increasingly demanding market expectations.

To date, the cooperative has earned 13 OCOP certifications ranging from three to four stars. Each product reflects not only scientific research and technological innovation but also the cooperative’s strategy of product diversification, value addition, and the promotion of the Tam Dao agricultural brand.

In 2026, the cooperative expanded its development strategy by integrating experiential tourism into its value chain. A dedicated agricultural tourism area now allows visitors to participate directly in activities such as harvesting mulberries, feeding silkworms, learning about silk production, observing cordyceps cultivation, processing agricultural products, and enjoying the natural environment at the foot of the Tam Dao Mountains.

Here, local farmers personally introduce production techniques, share traditional knowledge, promote local crafts, and communicate the values of green agriculture. Every visitor experience also serves as an effective form of brand promotion, helping consumers better understand the origin, quality, and value of the cooperative’s products.

Visitors experience mulberry harvesting and silkworm farming activities during their visit.

Nguyen Phuong Anh, a visitor from Hanoi, commented: "What impressed me most was not only the cordyceps products or the silk scarves, but the opportunity to witness the entire production process firsthand. Understanding the effort and technology behind each product makes me trust the products even more and gives me greater confidence in choosing them."

According to Nguyen Quoc Huy, Director of Tam Dao Mushroom Cooperative, the cooperative’s long-term vision is to build a multi-value agricultural model, in which circular production forms the foundation, production linkages serve as the driving force, deep processing creates added value, and experiential tourism becomes the channel for brand promotion and market expansion.

He explained: "Our goal is not simply to produce more products, but to generate greater value from every unit of production. When farmers participate in production linkages, enterprises invest in deep processing, products develop strong brands, and visitors experience the entire process firsthand, the value of agriculture multiplies many times over. That is the path toward sustainable development."

Farm Tam Dao continues expanding its facilities to offer visitors more immersive agricultural experiences.

As Vietnam’s agricultural sector shifts from a production-oriented mindset to an economic development approach, models such as Tam Dao Mushroom Cooperative demonstrate that increasing rural incomes requires more than simply expanding output. Sustainable growth depends on building integrated value chains, strengthening brands, expanding partnerships, and effectively leveraging agricultural, cultural, ecological, and tourism resources. This development model aligns closely with the goal of building a modern, green, circular, and sustainable agricultural sector while creating new momentum for rural economic growth and the development of new-style rural communities.

Ha Giang