Companion in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention

Tourism is a synthetic economic sector and it seems vulnerable whenever disease or natural disaster happens. Therefore, in the situation of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) complicated occurring, Ben Tre tourism is trying to inform tourists about some Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) methods to prevent to minimize infected ability, to help them protecting themselves, their family as well as our community.

A lack of tourists in a souvenirs display during COVID-19

According to VNExpress.net, until 13/02/2020, there have been 60161 cases of infection all over the world, including 8243 cases in critical condition and 1365 people in death because of this disease. 27 countries and territories have confirmed having cases of infection. Vietnam has confirmed 15 cases of infection in Vinh Phuc province (10 cases), Thanh Hoa province (1 case), Khanh Hoa province (1 case) and in Ho Chi Minh city (3 cases), but especially China - the biggest tourism market of Vietnam (Northern and North Central of Vietnam) is the outbreak country and currently in the process of spreading most seriously and dangerously.

Concerning Ben Tre, we have not had any cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 ) infection yet. However, the most important mission is to prevent and deal with the danger of the COVID-19 penetration in our province because it has been affected gradually our economy - especially tourism, agriculture,… and also our worried mind because of the complications occurring in many provinces and countries all over the world.

With the aim of propagating and preventing the danger of the COVID-19 penetration, following the government’s instruction (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ben Tre Province People’s committee), Ben Tre Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has promulgated two documents, consist of:

1. Official correspondence number 206/SVHTTDL-QLDL published on February 5th, 2020 about the urgent Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID - 19) prevention.

2. Official correspondence number 210/SVHTTDL-QLVH published on February 5th, 2020 about using the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID - 19) prevention measures.

According to these documents, Ben Tre tourism information promotion center accompanied with tourist businesses to survey and consult a lot of methods about the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention campaign, as follows:

- For the domestic traveler: Domestic tourist agencies must not organize tour, journey to any Coronavirus disease 2019 infected area (26 infected countries all over the world and 4 infected provinces in Vietnam). During the itinerary, help tourists avoid crowds by not taking them to pagodas, festivals,…. Instead, we encourage tourists to have sightseeing tours to mountains, scenic spots and any kind of ecotourism. Check and update the newest information about tourists’ health to have measures to prevent, isolate and report follow the local health authorities…

Tourists are going to travel by boat in Ben Tre

- Concerning traveler in Ben Tre: Both international tourists and inbound tourists who follow a contract between a travel agency inside our province and a travel agency outside our province as well as private tourists also obey all the listed instruction. But pay attention that we do not accept anybody who has gone to infected area. Ben Tre ecotourism is a safe destination and still opens as normal. 

- Concerning all the tour administrators, operators and staffs: obey all the leaders’ instructions. Do up all the tourist accommodations regularly to destroy all the virus. Remind your colleagues and your tourist accurate information about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to avoid their worried mind. Raise your alert in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention. Do not ignore obeying the instructions for sake of money. 

During the itinerary, remember to remind tourist that they have to provide all the information about their journey and where they had gone whether they have a health problem or not. Cooperate with local health authorities providing information for disease surveillance. Use medical masks correctly and avoid being in the crowds. Do personal hygiene regularly, wash your hands by hand wash correctly, gargle by mouthwash. Do not spit higgledy-piggledy. When you cough, remember to cover your mouth and nose by tissue papers or handkerchief. Put used tissue papers in the wasted basket then wash your hands by hand wash or alcoholic solutions. Avoid contacting people who have temperature, cough, flu,…. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Only eat cooked food. Do not contact any wild animals or pets. Keep checking your health state continuously for 14 days after having contact infected people or living in the infected area (During this time, always wear medical masks and avoid being in crowds…)

Hoping with the consensus of Vietnam tourism, especially Ben Tre tourism, we will soon destroy the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and minimize the economic loss for our country. And we also hope that there won’t be any cases of COVID-19 infection and Ben Tre tourism will develop steadily with the feature: “Ben Tre ecotourism with the criteria: “safety - friendly - quality.” 

Writer: Thanh Son

Translator: Minh Thuy

Unique “bananas knead with coconut” flavor

Along with coconut tree, banana is also a familiar one and planted around the garden by many people in Ben Tre province. Do not know ever since, banana and coconut are "couple" with a harmonious combination, create many featured dishes with fat, sweet flavor specially and be liked by many people, such as: banana grilled with coconut milk, banana baked with coconut, banana sweet soup, ... but there is a dish with special flavor and has imprinted into the memories of people here, that is “Banana knead with coconut”.

Bananas knead with coconut, which vegetables and sauce (photo by Bao Tram)

For the best dish, bananas are used for cooking must be old, almost ripe. Firstly, we have to wash and soak bananas into the water to reduce gum, and then sort, pour water into a pot; and cook them. When we see bananas turning soft and cracked shells with yellow color they are ok. We should choose old bananas but not so ripe because when we eat, they will be very sweet. Secondly, we take out and peel bananas; then we knead them with curetted coconut; in this process, we can add some salt, sugar into the blend and it will have a special flavor very much.

Although it is very simple, the taste of this dish is extremely unique. There are many different ways to enjoy it. In many places, people enjoy this dish with many kinds of vegetables around their garden, such as lettuce, herbs, basil, ... and eat with fish source which is mixed with garlic, chili, and fresh coconut water. We can roll “bananas knead coconut” with vegetables and sauce. The acrid flavor from vegetables; fatty, salty, sweet flavor from “banana knead coconut”; spicy, odorous flavor from fish source. Everything will be blended together and made everyone who has ever tasted always want to enjoy more. In some places, people enjoy this dish with peanut and they don’t need vegetables or fish source because they want to feel the greasy banana itself fatty. You can enjoy this dish with someways you want because the flavor is always special. Anyone who has ever enjoyed “bananas knead with coconut” also has commented that only in Ben Tre people can make it become the greasy and soft level of blend and banana’s odorous flavor.

According to the timeline with the variety of other attractive dishes but with people in Ben Tre province, this dish is really a familiar and special dish of each family. “Banana knead coconut” has imprinted in the memories of people here and anyone who has loved it because of unique and special flavor. If you have opportunity, you should visit Ben Tre province once to enjoy this dish; certainly, you will want to come back here again./.

Writter: Bao Tram

Translator: Tuong Vi