Educational tourism associated with green growth through agricultural livelihood knowledge ecosystems in Vinh Long

Abstract

This study examines how livelihood knowledge is transformed into learning experiences in the development of educational tourism associated with green growth at agricultural livelihood destinations in Vinh Long Province, using a knowledge ecosystem approach. Ecological knowledge, farming experience, collective memory, and local ways of interacting with nature are incorporated into educational experiences through storytelling, field-based interpretation, and community engagement. The study employs a qualitative approach that combines field surveys, participant observation, in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis conducted at Con Chim, Con Ho, and Nhi Hoa from 2023 to 2026. The findings indicate that “knowledge mapping” plays a central role in transforming lived knowledge into meaningful learning experiences for visitors, thereby contributing to a gradual shift from landscape-based tourism toward knowledge-oriented tourism. In this process, local communities emerge as key actors in shaping learning experiences and transmitting ecological knowledge. Accordingly, the destination value is no longer determined primarily by tangible resources but increasingly by their capacity to foster reflective understanding, facilitate community learning, and cultivate local green learning ecosystems.