The "Phong Dien - Can Tho Ecotourism Festival" is an annual event organized by the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in coordination with the People's Committee of Phong Dien District. Its purpose is to introduce and promote the image, culture, people, tourism products, and attractive destinations of Phong Dien District and, more broadly, Can Tho City to both domestic and international tourists. This occasion also serves as an opportunity for Phong Dien District to enhance promotion, stimulate demand, and foster the development of tourism in the new context. Additionally, it offers a platform for businesses and tourism establishments from Can Tho City and various provinces, districts, and towns to engage directly, exchange ideas, and interact through a variety of activities. The aim is to introduce and promote the distinctive cultural features of the riverine region, particularly in the fields of ecotourism and community-based tourism, gradually advancing Phong Dien's tourism towards professionalism and sustainability.

City leaders visited the booths of participating units.

The festival takes place from September 25th to September 28th at Phong Dien District Square, featuring 20 main activities. Notable additions to this year's program include an exhibition showcasing nearly 100 booths for tourism promotion. Among them, 31 booths represent provincial and city entities engaged in displaying and promoting tourism, while 25 booths showcase OCOP products. Additionally, there are 150 booths serving tourists for shopping, a traditional folk cake competition, a display of delicious local cuisine, a parade and exhibition of electric vehicles, traditional folk games (including an artistic cockfighting competition), the third edition of the Composite Boat Race, ecological miniature models combined with fruit sales, a job fair, and a thematic seminar on "Safe Agricultural Production for Food Security - Developing Ecotourism." Furthermore, a Famtrip delegation is organized to survey and introduce new tourist destinations and products in Phong Dien District.

The parade and exhibition of vehicles during the festival.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Nghia, Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Phong Dien District, stated that in response to World Tourism Day (September 27th) in 2023 with the theme "Tourism and Green Investment," the tourism sector of Can Tho City in general and ecotourism in Phong Dien District in particular will continue to focus on developing green tourism. They will leverage the value of tourism resources as well as the potential and strengths of ecotourism in Phong Dien to align with environmental protection. This will transform tourism into a main force for green and digital economy development, ensuring no harm to people and the planet. Simultaneously, investment is identified as a key priority for future growth and development of tourism.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Nghia, this marks the 10th year that Phong Dien District has organized the Ecotourism Festival and the 7th year it has expanded to city-level with the coordination of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Can Tho City. This year's festival is part of a series of activities celebrating the 20th anniversary of Phong Dien District's establishment and the establishment of Can Tho City directly under the Central Government. With a larger scale and more distinctive activities, this year's event is expected to provide a fresh experience for visitors and tourists.

Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, delivered a speech.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, proposed that in the coming period, to fully leverage the potential for tourism development in the city as a whole and ecotourism development in Phong Dien District in particular, the relevant departments and the People's Committee of Phong Dien District need to intensify efforts in public awareness campaigns regarding the importance of environmental protection. This is crucial to bolster eco-friendly tourism and to integrate the exploration of historical and cultural landmarks and unique products of the district into tourism development.

In tandem with this, there should be an increased focus on promoting and presenting images and tourism products, traditional craft villages, historical landmarks, and distinctive local products of Phong Dien - Can Tho. The emphasis should be on constructing high-quality tourism services with food safety and hygiene, ensuring safety and security, and enhancing price management while promoting courteous and welcoming attitudes to attract tourists.

Furthermore, Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien stressed the need to build, preserve, and promote both tangible and intangible cultural heritage within the region. He emphasized the importance of enhancing the cultural quality of the local residents, shaping the people of Can Tho as "Intelligence, dynamism, compassion, heroism, and refinement" Attention should be directed towards planning the development of tourism, particularly eco-tourism, in alignment with the city's urban planning. Investment should be concentrated on infrastructure development, particularly transportation infrastructure, to maximize the potential and benefits of the city's tourism resources.

Performing martial arts at the Festival.

Participating in the Traditional Folk Cake Competition.

On the path of integration and development across the nation, tourism in Can Tho City has become a pivotal economic sector. Referred to as the "green lung" of Can Tho City, Phong Dien is considered a significant destination in the field of eco-tourism and community-based tourism. The objective is to deepen tourism development, enhance quality, and extend the duration of tourists' stays. Phong Dien is gradually asserting its brand. This isn't just a firm step forward in tourism but also a driving force for the development of other industries, making a crucial contribution to the economic and social prosperity of the locality.