Spreading cultural - economic - tourism imprints

The 2nd Ca Mau Crab Festival in 2025, with the theme "Ca Mau Crab - Forest Fragrance, Sea Flavor", is scheduled to take place from November 16-18, not only to honor the value of the crab industry but also to promote the culture, tourism and investment potential of Ca Mau to friends near and far. Before this event, reporters of Ca Mau Newspaper, Radio and Television interviewed Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (VH,TT&DL) of the province to hear about the preparation for this special festival!

• Promote communication activities for the 2nd Crab Festival event in 2025
• Bringing Ca Mau crab to the next level – Positioning the national brand

- What are the highlights and special features of the 2nd Ca Mau Crab Festival in 2025 and how have the preparations been carried out?

*Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong: Preparations for the 2nd Ca Mau Crab Festival in 2025 are being carried out urgently, systematically, closely following the plan approved by the Provincial People's Committee. As the organizing advisory body, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proactively coordinated with relevant departments, branches and localities to develop detailed scenarios for each activity. At the same time, communication is being promoted, social resources are mobilized, urban embellishment is being carried out and technical infrastructure is being ensured to serve the event.

The 1st Ca Mau Crab Festival in 2022 has created a widespread effect, becoming a prominent cultural - economic - tourism mark of the province.

This year's festival has many new highlights, notably a series of unique and local competitions, such as: Communication activities, promoting Ca Mau Crab Festival; crab industry trade exhibition and display; start-up, innovation and OCOP products; Ca Mau crab cuisine and commercial activities; forums, conferences, seminars, a series of competitions (Fun logo creation contest; Ca Mau OCOP product identity; setting a record for Ca Mau crab; Crab Master Chef); sports activities and folk games; street festivals; Southern Amateur Music Festival; Grand Music Festival; Ca Mau tourism experience program...

The opening ceremony program is combined with an art performance program with the theme: "Ca Mau Crab: Forest Fragrance - Sea Flavor", broadcast live on the provincial Newspaper and radio and television and some stations cooperating with Ca Mau.

The 2nd Ca Mau Crab Festival not only honors the value of the crab industry but is also an opportunity to communicate, promote and enhance the Ca Mau Crab brand, introduce culinary culture and the importance of the crab industry, OCOP products of Ca Mau province in the socio-economic development of the province. Connect and cooperate with domestic and foreign enterprises and investors to build a complete value chain of the province's sea crab industry; improve the competitiveness of the Ca Mau Crab brand in the domestic and international markets. Provide information on research, application of new science and technology, innovation in the chain of crab production, farming and processing activities to contribute to improving the productivity, output and quality of Ca Mau Crab. Promote the potential and strengths of Ca Mau province in terms of economy, culture, tourism, environment, investment potential and sustainable development prospects; call on domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to invest in Ca Mau.

- How does the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinate with relevant units and people to prepare commercial crab sources to serve the crab festival?

*Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong: Currently, the improved extensive farming model (QCCT), combining crab with forest shrimp, shrimp - rice is the main form in Ca Mau province, with an area of over 360 thousand hectares, the largest crab farming area in the Mekong Delta region , an average yield of 100 kg/ha, an output of over 25,200 tons/year. To prepare a source of commercial crab for the upcoming Crab Festival, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province has coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Environment, People's Committees of coastal localities and crab farming households in the area to carefully prepare a source of commercial crab for the main activities at the Festival.

Ca Mau crab is not only a specialty, but also a cultural, ecological and economic symbol of the southernmost land of the Fatherland.

The functional units have reviewed and selected farming areas that meet international and organic standards and have the potential to supply high-quality crabs. At the same time, the agricultural sector has worked with purchasing, preserving and transporting facilities to ensure that crabs are continuously supplied, fresh, and well-served for culinary competitions, record-setting, displays and food courts at the festival.

In addition, at this year's Crab Festival, it is expected that advanced, environmentally friendly crab farming models will also be introduced and connected for field visits for tourists, experts and investors. This approach not only meets the immediate needs of the event, but is also an opportunity to promote the crab industry value chain and promote the sustainable development of the Ca Mau crab farming industry.

- Evaluation of the spread and influence of the 1st Crab Festival? Expectations of individuals as well as representatives of department and industry leaders about the 2nd Crab Festival this year?

*Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong: The 1st Ca Mau Crab Festival in 2022 has created a widespread effect, becoming a prominent cultural - economic - tourism mark of the province. The event has attracted tens of thousands of visitors from inside and outside the province, strongly promoted on press platforms and social networks, contributing to positioning the "Ca Mau Crab" brand on the culinary map of Vietnam and the region. Unique competitions such as "Crab Master Chef", "Sumo Crab", crab racing, crab tying competition... along with the activities of setting many national records have attracted a large number of tourists and people interested throughout the event.

Ca Mau crab dish is recognized by the Vietnam Record Organization in the Top 100 Vietnamese specialty dishes and Top 100 Vietnamese specialty gifts.

In particular, through the festival, the image of Ca Mau, dynamic, hospitable, and imbued with Southern identity, is clearly portrayed in the hearts of tourists and investors; at the same time, it is also an opportunity to promote the image of Ca Mau - a land rich in cultural, tourism and OCOP product potential - to the business community, investors and domestic consumers. Many economic and tourism models associated with crabs and local products have been connected, opening up new development directions for the crab industry value chain.

With the successes achieved from the 1st Crab Festival in 2022, with this year's Crab Festival, the province hopes to continue to affirm Ca Mau's position as the "crab capital" of the country, bringing culinary impressions associated with the unique river culture. Not only is it a festival for entertainment and promotion, but it is also an opportunity to connect and promote trade and investment, arousing the pride of the people here in Ca Mau crab, one of the symbols of the seafood industry in the southernmost part of the country.

We believe that, with careful preparation, creativity and the support of the entire political system, businesses and people, the 2nd Ca Mau Crab Festival will be a great success, spreading more strongly domestically and internationally.

Thank you sir.

Loan Phuong

Source: https://baocamau.vn/lan-toa-dau-an-van-hoa-kinh-te-du-lich-a121092.html