“Our success in many years comes from our choice of path: the construction of a rural ecological zone in “the center of the rural region” of the Mekong Delta.”, Said Mr. Le Van Sang, director of the Tourist Company of Limited Liability My Khanh (My Khanh resort, Phong Dien district). This establishment, which was “lost” at the beginning by building common houses in the style of the highlands, identifies with its original rural space. “It will be unequal and unnecessary competition with other countries if we build grandiose palaces and monuments. It is the river areas, orchards, old southern houses that attract foreign travelers.”, He added. In the near future, a floating market model will be designed in the resort for the diversification of tourism products.

Mr. Le Van Sang, Director of My Khanh Ecotourism Co., Ltd (My Khanh Tourist Village, Phong Dien District), shared that: The success of My Khanh Tourism Village for many years is thanks to choosing a separate path. : re-enact a garden ecology in the "Mekong Capital" of the Mekong Delta. In fact, this tourist village used to be "misguided" when building empty houses and then now has its own identity with unique garden space. Looking broadly, Mr. Le Van Sang commented: “If I build a magnificent and spacious high-rise building, it will be an unequal and unnecessary competition with the tourism industry of other countries. Foreign tourists looking to the West are looking for river space, fruit trees, Southern style houses ...”. It is known that My Khanh Tourism Village is also forming a floating market within the premises of the tourist village to diversify products.

Can Tho's ecotourism, considered to be the rapidly developing economic sector, has succeeded thanks to its own identity. The terms “green tourism”, “Aboriginal tourism” are increasingly used and put into practice in the tourist areas of this land - “capital of the West”, including Hometravel Mekong Can Tho (Thuong Thanh, Cai Rang district). Hometravel Mekong Can Tho is one of the first homestays equipped with the Mekong Delta wind system. Nothing luxurious, but typical of the region: very simple rooms with coconut palm roofs overlooking the canals with mangroves on the edges, wild flowers on the trails, banana trees, fish swimming in the water lily ponds … This place barely 10 km from the city center seems untouchable by urbanization. Particularly, the power supply for each room is provided by a small wind pole. Ecotourism always attracts a lot of customers to this site. Mrs. Nguyen Ha Kim, resident in Ninh Kieu district, visiting her friends at Hometravel Mekong Can Tho, told us: “My friends want to stay in a quiet place and I have presented this site to them. They are all happy. In the afternoon, they even jump into the arroyo for a swim to have fun.”

Another luxurious and typical rest area of the region is Can Tho Ecolodge, Ba Lang ward, Cai Rang district. The striking, typical and original feature of this area is that the buildings’ walls are covered with coconut wood and the interior furniture is also made of coconut wood. This construction, inspired by the local culture, offers visitors interesting experiences. The tour program of Can Tho Ecolodge is diversed with the visit of the flower incubator-nursery, the manufacture of coconut candies, orchards and the floating market of Cai Rang, the discovery of the daily life of local inhabitants… Suzanne, a French tourist, told us: “It's really a feat, the construction is made of coconut wood! Comfort in a rural area, I’m very happy.”

The success of tourist sites in Can Tho confirms that the cultural values of the locality are well exploited and promoted. This contributes to the diversification of tourism in the Mekong Delta and avoids “similarities” - which is mentioned in almost all thematic seminars on the development of tourism in the Mekong Delta. Until the end of 2019, Can Tho has 13 representative tourist sites at municipal level, 7 at the level of the Mekong Delta region with known labels like the My Khanh tourist garden, Xeo Nhum ecological orchard, Ong De resort, Lung Cot Cau tourist site,etc. These are typical tourist sites of Can Tho city.

Can Tho Ecolodge's original architectural design builds its own identity.

According to statistics, in 2019, Can Tho welcomed around 8.87 million visitors; or 410,000 foreign tourists, up 12.4% compared to 2018. The city also received 32,000 domestic tourists via foreign operators, up 8.6% compared to 2018; organized tours abroad for 25,000 local tourists, up 10.3% compared to 2018. These figures show the development of Can Tho tourism in the international sector. The new lines are also used: Ninh Kieu wharf - Cai Rang floating market - Cai Rang floating market area - Can Tho Ecolodge.

According to the leader of Can Tho Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, thanks to the construction of the tourism identity and the creation of the typical tourist products, in 2020, the design of new tours and the collaboration with other provinces, cities having signed the convention of cooperation in tourism with the Mekong Delta’s localities are more favorable. In 2020, Can Tho tourism will implement the Tourism Development Cooperation project with provinces, cities across the country and abroad, suitable for its tourism development. These efforts will promote the international integration of tourism in this land, the capital of the West.