Lai Dong Develops Commodity Agriculture Integrated with Community-Based Tourism

The Resolution of the 1st Congress of the Lai Dong Communal Party Committee for the 2025–2030 term has officially issued a thematic resolution on developing commodity agriculture in tandem with community-based tourism. This strategic direction aims to effectively leverage local potential, creating sustainable livelihoods for residents, particularly ethnic minority groups.

Lai Dong is a mountainous commune with a natural area of over 108 km2. It boasts diverse ecological conditions and a climate suitable for high-value crops and livestock. The area has significant potential for expanding concentrated production zones and large-scale forests, facilitating sustainable forestry development.

Abundant stream water provides ideal conditions for specialty aquaculture, such as sturgeon and stream fish. Furthermore, Lai Dong holds a cultural advantage, with ethnic minorities making up over 93% of the population, preserving unique folk songs, traditional dances, festivals, and distinctive cuisine.

The pristine and attractive natural landscape is perfectly suited for community-based tourism, agritourism, and ecotourism. These factors are crucial for combining commodity agriculture with services to enhance the overall value of the local economy.

Converting inefficient acacia and cassava hills to Red King Banana cultivation is a new direction promising to raise local incomes.

In recent years, agricultural and forestry production in Lai Dong has seen positive results. The average agricultural production value has reached over 45 million VND/ha/year, with forest coverage at nearly 62%. Some signature products, such as Muong Kit tangerines, are being branded under 3-star OCOP standards. The commune currently maintains 15 hectares of oranges and tangerines and 28 hectares of Red King Bananas.

However, current results have not yet matched the locality’s full potential. Production remains fragmented, and value chain linkages are limited. Strong products like oranges, tangerines, stream ducks, and multi-spurred chickens are mostly sold as raw materials with low added value. Community-based tourism is still in its infancy and has not yet formed distinct products closely linked to agriculture and cultural preservation.

Ms. Dinh Thi Tuyet Mai, Secretary of the Communal Party Committee, stated: "Issuing the Resolution for the 2025–2030 period is an urgent requirement to create a breakthrough in exploiting land, forest, and water resources, as well as cultural identity."

The orange and tangerine groves of Mr. Kieu Van Tai’s family in Chieng Lon area yield approximately 80 tons per year.

While leading us through his 7-hectare hilltop farm—where 4 hectares of various oranges and limes are in peak harvest—Mr. Kieu Van Tai shared: "This is the 7th year for my groves, so the yield is stable. This season, I sold about 80 tons, mostly to large-scale traders. After expenses, the profit is over 1 billion VND. If these orchards could be developed alongside experiential tourism to attract visitors, it would open up ’dual opportunities' for farmers."

"This season, my family sold approximately 80 tons of oranges and tangerines, primarily to large-scale wholesalers. After deducting costs, we earned a net profit of over 1 billion VND."

"If our local fruit orchards were developed in tandem with experiential tourism to attract visitors for on-site tours, it would unlock ’dual opportunities' for farmers."

For the 2025–2030 period, the commune will focus on developing commodity agriculture integrated with community-based tourism and the preservation of ethnic cultural identity. The goal by 2030 is to expand the orange and tangerine cultivation area to over 40 hectares while improving product quality; and to establish a production-consumption linkage chain for approximately 100 hectares of Red King Bananas to ensure stable market outlets.

Additionally, the commune aims to form a production and consumption chain for FSC-certified timber associated with large-timber forest development, and to build a linked sturgeon farming model integrated with community tourism in the Ben Than area.

Simultaneously, the locality will promote agricultural restructuring, apply advanced science and technology, expand medicinal plant cultivation, and develop specialized livestock models such as stream ducks, multi-spurred chickens, bamboo rats, and civets.

Developing commodity agriculture integrated with community-based tourism is not only a strategic choice but also the most suitable path for Lai Dong to promote its internal strength, effectively exploit its potential, and move toward rapid, sustainable development in the future.

Hong Nhung