HÀ TĨNH — Smartphones and social media are giving women in Hà Tĩnh’s coastal communities a new way to promote local tourism, products and culture, while helping residents connect with wider markets.

In Hải Ninh Ward, 56-year-old Nguyễn Thị Thanh Hương regularly uses her smartphone to record fishing boats returning from the sea, early morning seafood markets and the daily work of local fishermen.

Hương has no formal training in video production. She has taught herself how to shoot and edit short videos, add music and post them on social media.

Her main aim is to introduce her hometown to a wider audience, rather than attract views or likes.

“I want to introduce the beauty of my hometown, its culture and the daily work of local fishermen,” she said.

Her videos have also become a way for people living away from Hà Tĩnh to keep in touch with their home.

At Cẩm Trung Commune, Võ Thị Lành, who works at a seaside restaurant, has taken a similar approach.

She records fishermen pulling in nets, boats arriving at the shore, fresh seafood and local markets. Some of her videos have attracted tens of thousands of views.

“I was born in a coastal area, so I understand the lives of local residents. I want to show that everyday life to more people,” she said.

According to the Women's Affairs Committee under the Hà Tĩnh Province Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee, more women are becoming involved in digital activities to promote local products, tourism and culture.

The committee has organised training courses on digital skills, including the use of social media, online promotion and content creation. It has also supported models such as digital women's groups, digital families and clubs aimed at helping women participate in the digital environment.

Video competitions and other activities have encouraged women to create content introducing local products and destinations.

Dương Thị Hòa, deputy head of the committee, said the programmes would continue, with a focus on more advanced digital content skills and online sales.

Women will be supported in developing sales channels on Facebook, Zalo, TikTok and YouTube. Support will also cover products associated with Hà Tĩnh’s distinctive culture and tourist areas, including packaging and labels linked to local landmarks and historical sites.

 

The activities are part of broader efforts to promote digital transformation in local communities, in line with Resolution 57-NQ/TW, which identifies science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as key drivers of national development.

For coastal communities, the change is taking place through simple tools. A smartphone can now record a fishing trip, introduce a local product or show a visitor what a coastal market looks like.

The content may be simple, but it gives local women a direct way to promote their communities and products in the digital marketplace.

For Hương and Lành, digital content has also become a way to tell their hometown stories in their own voices – one short video at a time. — VNS