From 31 July to 31 August 2026, the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development in Vietnam (ST4SD) Project organized a study tour to Đà Lạt for representatives of local authorities, tourist management boards, and local tourism businesses operating in Sa Đéc, Đồng Tháp Province. The program aimed to help the local community explore successful models, learn practical experiences from Đà Lạt, and seek solutions to develop Sa Đéc’s tourism products in a green and sustainable direction.
Over the four-day program, the delegation visited and engaged in discussions at Dalat Hasfarm, XQ History Village, Dalafarm, Là Việt Coffee, and Langbiang Land. These destinations provided valuable lessons in product development, marketing, destination storytelling, connecting agriculture with tourism, cultural preservation, and efficient operational management. Through interactive sessions, discussions, and observations, participants synthesized and identified core practices that can be applied directly in Sa Đéc.
The visit to Dalat farm
Reviewing the trip, Mr. Ngô Tổng Trưởng, Deputy Director of the Tourism Promotion Center under the Đồng Tháp Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, shared that the greatest value of this journey is providing practical experience for tourism operators, particularly in management, human resource administration, and service and product development. He noted this serves as an essential foundation for capacity building, supporting the development goals of the Sa Đéc Flower Village and the green tourism orientation of Đồng Tháp Province.
XQ Sử quán
For local households from Sa Đéc, the study tour positively shifted their mindset regarding product development, deepening their understanding of how to tell authentic tourism stories, create engaging experiences, and add value to local products. Participants gained immediate, actionable takeaways in spatial arrangement, visitor hospitality, task delegation, and inter-household cooperation. They were particularly impressed by Dalat Hasfarm’s marketing strategies, XQ History Village’s captivating cultural storytelling, and Dalafarm’s professional Farm-to-Table model. Furthermore, the dedication, sincerity, and openness of the hosting businesses left a strong emotional impression, showing that genuine care and honesty are vital foundations in serving tourists.
At Dalat Hasfarm
“Thank you to the ST4SD Project for organizing the trip for local residents to visit, learn, and directly explore these tourism models. Through this, we have gained additional experience to refine guest reception, assign tasks logically, and improve operational efficiency at our household,” shared Mr. Phạm Văn Nhứt, owner of the Duyên Nhứt business household. Additionally, the trip sparked many new ideas, such as landscape renovation, selecting appropriate greenery, adding miniature landscapes, and utilizing traditional dishes and local specialties to enrich the visitor experience. More importantly, the households realized that to “go far together,” they need to strengthen collaboration, share ideas, and build a unified service chain.
This study tour is under Component 3: Sustainable Product and Destination Development of the ST4SD Project. Through this initiative, the project expects that these practical lessons from Đà Lạt will empower the Sa Đéc community to further refine its offerings, elevate service quality, and gradually establish the Sa Đéc Flower Village as a green, attractive, and sustainable destination.