Mekong Delta tourism expected to break through with new development space
With open space, rich resources, unique cultural identity and increasingly improved infrastructure, localities and businesses in the Mekong Delta region expect the tourism industry here to have breakthrough developments in the coming time.
Bộ Văn hóa, Thể thao và Du lịch•25/07/2025
After merging 3 localities (including the old Can Tho city, Hau Giang province and Soc Trang province), the new Can Tho city has an area of over 6,300km², a population of over 4 million people and 103 communes and wards. This is a major turning point in expanding development space, enriching resources, identity, human resources and raw material areas for tourism development.
According to many tourism businesses, after the merger, Can Tho city will have Can Tho international airport, large cargo ports, and many festivals imbued with the identity of the South. In addition, the system of accommodation facilities is rich, with 3-5 star hotels fully meeting the needs of events, cultural activities, and major festivals... These factors contribute to creating a new and diverse development space for Can Tho tourism in the coming time.
In the first 6 months of this year, Can Tho tourism welcomed more than 6.3 million visitors.
In recent times, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City has also promoted the development of many products, organized a series of events to attract tourists, more than 150 stimulus packages, services, new tours combining entertainment, cuisine, river experiences, ecology, and community. In the first 6 months of this year, Can Tho tourism welcomed more than 6.3 million visitors, of which over-night visitors reached more than 2.7 million, with revenue reaching about 5,450 billion VND.
According to Ms. Le Dinh Minh Thy - Director of Can Tho branch of Vietravel Company, detailed analysis between the number of visitors and revenue in recent times shows that the tour value and spending level of tourists on journeys to explore the Mekong Delta region are still low, not reflecting the potential and development expectations of the region. Therefore, after many localities in the Mekong Delta region merge, there will be many opportunities to exploit inter-route products based on the strengths of each locality before. In addition, the research and development of products linking the value chain, enhancing the experience for tourists will also be more favorable.
"With the new Can Tho, after merging Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang, we will have the opportunity to build more diverse new products and increase the experience. Tourists will have a more interesting experience, when coming to one locality but having the opportunity to visit and experience the characteristics of another locality," said Ms. Le Dinh Minh Thy.
The Mekong Delta has many destinations and experiences that attract tourists.
According to the report of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association, in the first 6 months of this year, tourism business activities in the Mekong Delta region have made quite good progress. Accordingly, the total number of visitors to the Mekong Delta is estimated at more than 35 million, an increase of 17.6% over the same period last year. Of which, international visitors are more than 2 million, an increase of more than 53% over the same period last year; domestic visitors are more than 33 million, an increase of 16% over the same period last year. Total revenue from tourism activities is nearly 54 trillion VND, an increase of more than 54% over the same period last year.
In the coming time, the Mekong Delta Tourism Association will coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Tourism Associations of provinces and cities in the region after the merger to promptly review the existing potential and strengths to establish key tourism products of their localities; coordinate in promoting and advertising specific tourism and effectively implement the Plan to disseminate applications and technology products of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to communicate and promote the potential, cultural traditions, people of the Mekong Delta, typical tourism products, typical tourist destinations of the Mekong Delta... Thereby, helping tourists when coming to the Mekong Delta conveniently choose safe, friendly and quality destinations.
After the merger, localities in the Mekong Delta region have new and diverse spaces for tourism development.
Mr. Le Thanh Phong - Permanent Vice President of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association said: “We coordinate with localities and businesses to continue to promote the implementation of the Government's Tourism Stimulus Program to attract visitors to the Mekong Delta, accelerate tourism development in the new situation; regularly coordinate to organize training courses, foster human resources, promote the application of information technology, digitize tourism data, gradually professionalize tourism activities to create attractiveness to attract visitors. With the advantage of unique tourism resources, many typical tourism products of the Mekong Delta with high appeal, we believe that tourism in the Mekong Delta will continue to develop rapidly and sustainably".
With the expanded space, enhanced resources and close coordination between localities and businesses, tourism in the Mekong Delta after the merger of localities is facing a great opportunity to make a strong breakthrough. However, to realize this potential, it is necessary to continue to invest systematically in infrastructure, improve service quality, promote value chain linkages and effectively promote the image of destinations. The cooperation of the government, businesses and people will be the key factor to develop tourism in the Mekong Delta quickly and sustainably, creating a driving force to promote the socio-economic development of the whole region in the new period.
Comment (0)