Tourism Triangle in Mekong Delta

 

Can Tho, Kien Giang and An Giang all have different resources and advantages for tourism. Can Tho lies in the heart of the Western region and has the advantages of communication and transport, infrastructure, university, Tra Noc industrial zone, Rice Institute, Song Hau State Farm, General hospital and International Exhibition and Trade Fair Centre. The city is most favourable for the development of MICE tourism (Meeting, Awarding, Conference, Exhibition). It can also develop eco-tourism with orchards and floating markets.

 

Kien Giang has diversified geographical conditions with plains, forests, mountains, sea and islands. In particular, Phu Quoc is becoming a centre for eco-tourism and international resorts, attracting both tourists and investors. The province is also rich in historical relics, traditional festivals such as Tao Dan Chieu Anh Cac (Elites Meeting Tower), and National Hero Nguyen Trung Truc Commemoration. The province can also coordinate tours with ASEAN countries, especially Cambodia and Thailand.

 

For its part, An Giang has a range of mountains in the Western plain, famous relics and pagodas namely Tay An Co Tu, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb, and Ba Chua Xu Temple, favourable for combinations of eco-tourism, mountain climbing and pilgrimage. As the province shares the border with Cambodia, it can serve as a transit station across the border.

 

With those conditions, Can Tho, Kien Giang and An Giang are regarded as the region’s “Tourism Triangle.” They can develop their advantages and make joint efforts to promote tourism in the Mekong Delta. Mr Vuu Chan Hung, Director General of Can Tho Tourism JSC said the company has started cooperation with partners in Kien Giang, An Giang, Tra Vinh, etc. and will boost it in the coming years.

 

To this end, related tourism companies have put their heads together to co-ordinate and develop tourism in the region. The official signing of the MOU for the 2006-2010 cooperation plan is an important step. The tourism triangle employs division of labour to avoid overlapping, and ensures greater attraction of tourists. It will maximize the advantages of each locality, improve quality, and promote tourism at home and abroad. Accordingly, consulting centres will be established to provide information and introduce tourism potential on the TV programme “Nine-dragon tourism” on CVTV1 and local television stations.

 

The cooperation between State-owned and private enterprises in the region will make tourism an important economic sector. With the success of the tourism triangle, Mekong Delta tourism can take off, fast and far. If Phu Quoc is considered the centre of the Mekong Sub-Region, the tourism range can cover many famous tourist sites such as Sentosa (Singapore), Tiomam, Petaling Jaya, Perhentian, Redang, Langkawi (Malaysia), Narathiwat, Pattni, Songkha, Nakhon Sri Thamarai, Samui, Huahin, Pattaya, Trade, Chanthaburi (Thailand), Kokong, Komposom, Prongkep (Cambodia), Phu Quoc, Kien Giang, and Mekong Delta (Vietnam), each year attracting millions of tourists from all parts of the world.

 

With good locations and attractive landscapes, Mekong Delta provinces can also develop tourism triangle between Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand and fully tap the region’s tourism potential.

Huong Thao