Vietnam’s duck farm: A quirky, must-try tourist experience

By Diana M. Cleto

Quang Binh province in central Vietnam has become an unexpected hot spot for international tourists seeking a one of a kind rural adventure.

At The Duck Stop, visitors can enjoy playful beak massages from ducks and experience a hands-on farm lifestyle.

A viral experience among travelers

The farm was already on the list of travelers, having been featured by The New York Times in 2019 as “a popular budget travel experience attracting backpackers”.

Its appeal lies in its simplicity – offering tourists a chance to engage with ducks in ways they wouldn’t typically experience.

In June 2024, German digital nomad Esteban Zanelli shared a photo on Instagram of himself sitting among a flock of ducks, captioning it as a “silly but extremely relaxing experience”.

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Close-to-nature activities

British tourist Fran Lavish was drawn to The Duck Stop after seeing videos on social media. As an animal lover, she knew she had to visit the farm.

“You definitely won’t find a similar experience anywhere else,” she was quoted by VnExpress International as saying about her visit in June 2024.

She added that her favorite moment was holding a food container and watching an entire flock of ducks chase after her.

Lavish said that such authentic, close-to-nature activities appeal strongly to foreign tourists, particularly those from urbanized, developed countries where rural scenes are rare.

Rural tourism boom in Vietnam

According to the Quang Binh tourism promotion center, The Duck Stop is a prime example of a community-based tourism model focusing on agricultural activities and rural life experiences.

Rural tourism in Vietnam has been flourishing in recent years as many foreign visitors show increasing interest in experiential travel.

Vietnamese tour guides report that affluent travelers in particular are seeking immersive activities that allow them to connect with local lifestyles.

Across Vietnam, localities such as Quang Binh province, Ninh Binh province, and Hoi An city, are developing unique tourism models where visitors can experience buffalo herding, crop farming, market tours and cooking classes.

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