Scientific workshop on the rural tourism value chain.

Attending the workshop were Dr. Nguyen Minh Tien (Chief of the Central Office for New Rural Development Coordination), Mr. Nguyen Van Chi Pho (Chief of the Hanoi Office for New Rural Development Coordination), Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City), along with managers, scientists, and tourism researchers.

Rural tourism, linked to Vietnam's major agricultural production regions, is a type of tourism that is increasingly attracting the attention of both domestic and international tourists. Developing rural tourism not only contributes significantly to socio-economic development and the restructuring of the rural economy, but also helps alleviate poverty by engaging local people in the tourism value chain. This creates job opportunities, increases income for residents, and promotes the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation in rural villages.

To make rural tourism more effective and bring practical benefits to farmers, practical investment is needed to diversify products and experiential activities for tourists; especially to comprehensively promote the advantageous value chains of rural Vietnam. To contribute to realizing these goals, the scientific workshop "Rural Tourism Value Chains Associated with the National Target Program for Building New Rural Areas in Vietnam: From Theory to Practice" was organized to identify and discuss issues related to rural value chains in practice.

In their opening remarks, representatives from the organizing units all emphasized the significance and importance of this scientific conference.

Associate Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan mentioned Resolution 08/NQ-TW, which sets the goal of making tourism a key economic sector in Vietnam by 2020. Given Vietnam's agricultural characteristics, the topic of rural tourism is of great interest to many institutions, including educational establishments. For the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, this scientific conference is part of an important task related to developing solutions for the rural tourism value chain linked to the New Rural Development program in Vietnam, in which the University participates.

Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan delivered a speech at the conference.

Associate Professor Tran Thi Minh Hoa emphasized that the role of educational institutions in the development of rural tourism is indispensable. At the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the field of tourism has received attention for nearly 30 years with the implementation of training programs in Tourism Studies, Tourism Service Management, and Travel at the Faculty of Tourism. The Faculty has organized many workshops and conferences on tourism topics. Participating in this workshop, scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, hope to contribute advisory opinions to managers, agencies, and businesses operating in the tourism sector.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa delivered a speech at the conference.

Furthermore, this conference is being held within the framework of cooperation between the two Universities of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, this is also an opportunity for the two universities to promote future cooperation in various research and training fields.

From the perspective of state management agencies, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tien shared that the workshop will create opportunities for scientists to discuss and find ways to promote the value of rural tourism, effectively serving the cause of building new rural areas. He hopes that the opinions, ideas, and recommendations from the workshop will be applied to create practical changes in the localities where tourism is implemented.

Dr. Nguyen Minh Tien speaking at the conference.

Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tien, and Associate Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan chaired the discussion session.

Following the opening session and introductory report, the workshop heard five presentations from the speakers:

"Some fundamental issues concerning rural tourism and the rural tourism value chain" by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Trung Luong (Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development)

“Some opinions on exploiting outstanding intangible cultural heritage in the rural tourism value chain: The case of Quan Ho, Then singing and Xoan singing” by Dr. Trinh Le Anh – Eng. Ngo Quang Minh (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi)

“World experiences and development orientations for rural tourism in the Mekong Delta” by Dr. Ngo Thanh Lam (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City)

“Rural tourism in overcoming tourism seasonality and developing rural resources, contributing to improving the lives of Vietnamese farmers (Lessons from Tanaka Farm, California, USA)” by Dr. Do Hai Yen (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi)

“The involvement of the agricultural sector and solutions to enhance the value of agricultural products and the effectiveness of participation in the tourism value chain” by Dr. Ngo Kieu Oanh (Director of Ba Vi Countryside Farm)