Western tourism after merger 2025: New map - New experience
The year 2025 marks a major shift in the administrative system in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta region. According to the new planning, many provinces and cities in the West will be merged to streamline the apparatus and develop the regional economy. The merger is not only a matter of administrative organization, but also opens up many opportunities for infrastructure development, transportation and especially tourism in the West after the merger.
Việt Nam•01/07/2025
Tourism is a natural strength of the West, where rivers, gardens, folk culture and multi-ethnic communities converge. After the merger, the tourism space is expanded, experiences are linked, bringing visitors a very different, new, convenient and more diverse West than ever.
1. Western tourism after the merger: What is changing?
A corner of the central urban area of Can Tho City . (Photo: DT)
One of the most noticeable changes after the merger is the ability to connect between regions within the province becomes more flexible and effective. Localities that used to belong to different provinces are now under the same administrative unit, making it easier to build inter-regional tours.
No more administrative barriers, no need to move complicatedly between many provinces, tourists can now explore many prominent locations in just one compact journey. Tourism in the West after the merger has therefore become more attractive not only thanks to the scenery, but also thanks to the optimization of logistics and services.
Not stopping there, localities are encouraged to develop eco-tourism, community tourism and indigenous cultural tourism, contributing to enriching the experience for tourists and creating sustainable livelihoods for local people.
>> See Western tour: 1. Coconut Countryside Painting | Ben Tre - Hai Van Farm - Ba Lai River Cruise - Vam Ho Primeval Forest - Forest Bathing (1 Day) 2. My Tho - Thoi Son - Con Phung - Ben Tre (1 Day) 3. Chau Doc - Cam Mountain - Ba Chua Xu Temple - Tra Su Melaleuca Forest (2N1D)
2. Administrative merger 2025: New map – New boost for tourism in the West
From 13 familiar provinces and cities, the Mekong Delta will wear a new look with "super" provinces and cities, each with its own potential and strengths, promising to create a breakthrough development for the entire region. (Photo: Vietravel)
After the merger, the 2025 Western tourism map will not only change on paper but also change profoundly in actual experience. Itineraries that used to take three days can now be encapsulated in an intra-provincial route, with diverse attractions: from mangrove forests, floating markets, craft villages to islands, mountains, and spiritual culture.
Spacious Space – Seamless Journey
The previous “inter-provincial” tours such as: Tra Vinh – Ben Tre – Vinh Long, or Soc Trang – Can Tho – Hau Giang, have now become intra-provincial tours thanks to the merger. This not only shortens travel time, saves costs, but also creates conditions for tourists to explore more deeply and comfortably.
From rivers to seas and skies, everything is within reach
With provinces like An Giang – Kien Giang, or Ca Mau – Bac Lieu, tourists can easily experience everything from mountains to islands without leaving an administrative unit. This is especially attractive to international visitors, who are often afraid of complicated itineraries.
3. New destination map – What is there in Western tourism after the merger?
Before exploring each specific destination, let’s take a look at the new administrative picture of the Mekong Delta after the major merger in 2025. With the policy of streamlining the apparatus and promoting regional connectivity, the Mekong Delta region now has only 6 major provinces and cities. This structure not only helps manage more effectively but also brings clear advantages to the tourism industry thanks to more space, more diverse resources and more convenient connection routes. Specifically:
New Can Tho City = Can Tho + Soc Trang + Hau Giang
New Vinh Long = Vinh Long + Ben Tre + Tra Vinh
New Dong Thap = Dong Thap + Tien Giang
New Ca Mau = Ca Mau + Bac Lieu
New An Giang = An Giang + Kien Giang
New Tay Ninh = Tay Ninh + Long An
The expansion of administrative space makes it easier to travel between tourist destinations. Instead of having to travel between provinces, tourists can explore many destinations in just one locality. And below are the lands you should not miss in your journey to explore the West after the merger.
3.1. Dong Thap tourist destinations after merger
Dong Thap – Tien Giang: Seamless garden – Spirituality on the road. (Photo: Collected)
After merging with Tien Giang, Dong Thap has become an ideal destination for those who love garden space combined with cultural and spiritual elements. Now, tourists do not need to choose between Sa Dec flower village or Cai Be floating market, because both are located within the same provincial itinerary.
Along with that, the tour route from Tram Chim - the natural land of birds, connecting to Truc Lam Chanh Giac Zen Monastery - a prominent spiritual work of Tien Giang , has opened up an experience space that is both relaxing and meditative. Dong Thap tourism after the merger is a harmonious combination of nature and cultural depth.
>> See Western tour: 4. Western Region – My Tho – Thoi Son Islet – Ben Tre – Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – My Khanh (Free dinner on Can Tho cruise) (2N1D) 5. Vinh Long - Enjoy typical Vietnamese cuisine - Can Tho - 4-star resort stay (2 days 1 night) 6. Western Region: Dong Thap - Tram Chim - My Phuoc Thanh Eco-tourism Area - Xeo Quyt Relic Area - Green dream in the Land of Pink Lotus (2N1D) 7. The West: Chau Doc - Cam Mountain - Tra Su Melaleuca Forest - Can Tho - Cai Rang Floating Market - Experience the Newest Expressway of the West (3N2D)
3.2. Vinh Long tourist destinations after merger
Vinh Long – Ben Tre – Tra Vinh: The intersection of three cultures. (Photo: Collected)
The combination of the three provinces of Vinh Long, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh has created a very unique river garden tourism space. Not only is it a fruit-laden area, Vinh Long is also a convergence of Ben Tre coconut culture, Tra Vinh Khmer culture and the rustic traditional garden features of Vinh Long.
Tourists can start their journey at An Binh Islet, stop to enjoy coconut cuisine in Chau Thanh (Ben Tre), then visit Khmer pagodas in Tra Vinh such as Hang Pagoda and Ang Pagoda. This new tourist destination in the West has become much richer thanks to the convergence of three cultures and three adjacent ecological spaces.
3.3. Can Tho tourist destinations after merger
Can Tho – Soc Trang – Hau Giang: A miniature West. (Photo: Collected)
No longer simply a "Western Capital", the new Can Tho City after merging with Soc Trang and Hau Giang has become a true inter-regional tourism center. Places such as Lung Ngoc Hoang - a pristine ecological reserve, Doi Pagoda with impressive Khmer architecture or the bustling Nga Nam floating market in the early morning, are all within easy reach of tourists.
The special thing is that Can Tho tourism after the merger allows designing a "three-tone one-day" tour from cultural to ecological experiences, from garden to spirituality within a single administrative area. This is the clear answer to the question: What's new in Can Tho in 2025?
>> See details: What's new about Can Tho Tourism 2025 after the merger that you can't miss?
3.4. An Giang tourist destinations after merger
An Giang – Kien Giang: Mountains, sea, islands in one trip. (Photo: Collected)
Merging with Kien Giang , An Giang has become a rare destination in the West that converges all the elements: mountains - rivers - plains - islands. The tourist journey can now start from Cam Mountain (sacred That Son), then follow the border route to Rach Gia, Ha Tien and finally Nam Du Island, Ba Lua archipelago.
The Khmer – Cham – Hoa – Kinh cultural space stretches from Tinh Bien, Tri Ton to the coastal areas of Kien Luong, Ha Tien, creating unique colors for border tourism. Western tourism after the merger in An Giang – Kien Giang is a rich blend of beliefs, nature and identity.
3.5. Ca Mau tourist destinations after merger
Ca Mau – Bac Lieu: Traditional music blends with the breath of ecology. (Photo: Collected)
With the merger with Bac Lieu , Ca Mau is not only the end of the country but also the starting point of many profound journeys. From U Minh Ha forest, Ca Mau cape, to Bac Lieu prince's house, Cao Van Lau Music Square, visitors can experience the wild nature and the depth of Cai Luong - Don Ca Tai Tu.
The tourism space here is now more seamless than ever, connecting the forest area - the sea area - the urban area. Ca Mau tourism after the merger promises to be an ideal destination for those who want to find peace, simplicity but with a strong Southern character.
3.6. Tay Ninh tourist destinations after the merger
Tay Ninh – Long An: Gateway connecting the Eastern and Western regions of the South. (Photo: Collected)
The merger between Tay Ninh and Long An gives the new Tay Ninh a great advantage in terms of traffic connection and inter-regional tourism development. From Tay Ninh Holy See, Ba Den Mountain - a spiritual symbol, visitors can continue their journey to explore ancient villages, communal houses, and relics associated with the history of land reclamation in Tan An, Can Duoc, Can Giuoc (old Long An ).
This spiritual - historical - cultural journey promises to be one of the key products of Western tourism after the merger, connecting the East and West in a more natural and attractive way than ever.
4. Experience rich regional cuisine and culture
After the merger, Can Tho City will have more unique relics, including the famous Khmer pagodas of Soc Trang. (Photo: Duy Tan)
The connection between the merged regions not only makes the route more seamless but also enriches the culinary and cultural treasure of the Western region. From the typical Soc Trang noodle soup to Ben Tre coconut pancakes, or grilled snakehead fish of Vinh Long... tourists can experience it all in just one trip.
Festivals such as the Khmer Chol Chnam Thmay, the Ngo boat racing festival, or the Bay Nui cow racing festival are now combined into a series of continuous cultural events, contributing to building the post-merger West into a destination of cultural exchange with rich identity.
>> See Western tour: 8. Southern Liveliness: Can Tho - Cai Rang Floating Market - Ca Mau - Indulge in Dat Mui cuisine - Soc Trang - Travel to the land of the Prince listening to Hoai Lang's tunes (4 days 3 nights) 9. Can Tho - Ca Mau - Dat Mui - Bac Lieu - Soc Trang (4N3D) 10. Chau Doc - Ba Chua Xu Temple - Tra Su Melaleuca Forest - Ha Tien - Rach Gia - Can Tho (4N3D) 11. Quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine - Southern flavors | Can Tho - Hau Giang - Ca Mau - Dat Mui - Bac Lieu - Soc Trang (Enjoy typical dishes on the Vietnamese culinary map) (4 days 3 nights) 12. Southern Sea and Forest Symphony: An Giang - Con En - Thien Cam Son - Rach Gia - Ca Mau - Conquering 2 National Parks - Bac Lieu 'Wind Power Tourism in the Land of the Prince' - Soc Trang 'Discovering Khmer Cuisine' (5N4D)
Proposal at Sunset town on Phu Quoc pearl island. (Photo: DT)
Administrative restructuring has created conditions for the tourism industry to transform towards intensive regional linkages within the province. Localities can cooperate to build common brands, such as “Tien River Garden Tourism”, “Can Tho – Heart of the West”, or “Sacred and Green Southwest”.
At the same time, this also makes it easier for travel businesses to design package tours, no longer subject to geographical barriers. Tourists benefit from shorter, more in-depth itineraries, and more consistent services.
Western tourism after the merger in 2025 is not only a change in boundaries, but also a transformation in development thinking. Open space, wide experiences, diverse products... all are helping the West "score points" strongly with both domestic and international visitors.
If you are looking for a journey that is both relaxing and profound: where you can listen to traditional music, eat fruits from the garden, see the forest and sea and visit ancient pagodas, then come to the new West . A West that is very close, very familiar... but also very different. - For more information about the program, please contact: VIETRAVEL 190 Pasteur, Xuan Hoa Ward, District 3, HCMC Tel: (028) 3822 8898 - Hotline: 1800 646 888 Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/ vietravel Website: www.travel.com.vn
Source of article: Collected and compiled @traveltips #traveltips
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