Promoting local tourism potential

In 2023, Ho Chi Minh City developed community-based tourism products in Thieng Lieng, Thanh An, Can Gio districts linking with the exploitation of natural values and distinctive cultural characteristics of Can Gio. These were considered the first truly meaningful community-based tourism products of the city in its efforts to renew products and welcome tourists during peak holiday and Tet seasons. In the initial stage, the Thieng Lieng community-based tourism destination had 16 services serving tourists with tourism products bearing the characteristics of mangrove forest ecosystems and the culture of local people.

In Ho Chi Minh City's Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, Can Gio is identified as one of the key areas for tourism development linked with the conservation and promotion of the values of forests, seas, and biosphere reserves. In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism is also coordinating with relevant sectors and agencies to implement plans for developing eco-agricultural tourism linked with high-tech agriculture in 5 districts of the city. Moreover, Ho Chi Minh City also builds many highlight events such as in the first River Festival in 2023, creating conditions to promote river tourism, festivals, etc.

Ms. Nguyen Cam Tu, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center, said that Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry continues to roll out characteristic products focusing on exploiting and promoting the strengths of Thu Duc City and districts' tourism in conjunction with types of tourism that are potential strengths of localities. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City pays attention to key products such as MICE, golf tourism, cultural and historical tourism, medical tourism, river tourism, agricultural tourism, eco-tourism, and cuisine.

Meanwhile, river tourism is identified as one of the two main products and strengths of Can Tho's tourism. Mr. Nguyen Hoang On, Director of Can Tho Tourism Development Center, said: "MICE tourism and river tourism are the two main products that Can Tho focuses on investing and developing, in addition to eco-tourism, community-based tourism, cultural and historical tourism, agricultural tourism, cuisine…" Specifically, Can Tho will develop river tourism in the direction of diversifying products, focusing on experiential products associated with the floating markets of Cai Rang and Phong Dien, exploiting the strengths of the canal system.

Coming to Can Tho’s river tourism products, tourists have the opportunity to learn about and discover the most typical values of the Mekong Delta in general and Can Tho in particular. That is the lives of people closely tied to fields and gardens on islets and lands along rivers, the traditional river lifestyle typified by floating markets associated with river landscapes woven into the cultural space of Southern folk music and dance. In addition, leveraging the advantages of rivers along Hau River and Can Tho River, Tan Loc islet (Thot Not district), Son islet (Binh Thuy district) to build characteristic, diverse experiential products.

Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City have many similarities and differences in tourism potential, so the two localities also have favorable conditions to learn from, exchange with, and support each other in building tourism products, especially characteristic MICE, river, and agricultural tourism products.

Together overcoming difficulties

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang, owner of the 9 Hong Fruit Garden (Phong Dien district, Can Tho City), said: "This time, the Can Tho City Tourism Department created conditions for us to visit and learn about river tourism, community-based tourism, and agricultural tourism models in Ho Chi Minh City. The trip brought me many useful things to apply at the facility. Through this, we also want to connect with destinations in Ho Chi Minh City to build more diverse experiential tours for tourists”.

River buses are very attractive to international tourists in Ho Chi Minh City.

Currently, the construction and development of local tourism products are facing difficulties and have not fully realized their potential as expected. Ecotourism, agricultural tourism, and MICE tourism in Can Tho City are currently hindered by mechanisms and policies. Mr. Pham Trung Dong, Head of Service, Tourism product development department at the Can Tho Tourism Development Center, shared: “Can Tho is encountering challenges regarding mechanisms and policies related to MICE tourism development. Therefore, we are also eager to learn and study in Ho Chi Minh City to reference MICE tourism policies. Consequently, the locality can select applicable solutions in practical situations. Regarding river tourism products, we also seek information on the management of piers and waterway vehicles to serve tourism development”.

Mr. Phan Dong Nhut, from the Department of Tourism Resource Development Planning, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, believes that there are various grounds for collaborative development between Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, including a collective linkage between Ho Chi Minh City and the 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region during the 2020-2030 period. These collaborations encompass agreements to exchange state management information about tourism, collaborate on tourism product development, promotion, tourism human resource development, and investment promotion for tourism development. Consequently, in 2023, over 2.7 million tourists participated in the linked tourism programs in the Mekong Delta region to experience the culture, ecology, lush rivers, and indulge in Southern cuisine.

Specifically, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho City have signed a support agreement for the 2023-2025 phase regarding tourism image promotion, establishment of a main river tourism route connecting Can Tho City and Ho Chi Minh City in 2024, and the development plan for tourism products in the Mekong Delta region with Can Tho as the focal point… Mr. Phan Dong Nhut mentioned: “Piers and waterway vehicles serving the river route must have specific planning with standards dedicated to tourism. Only when meeting these standards, we will grant operational permits”. Specifically, Ho Chi Minh City plans to develop river tourism products during the 2023-2025 phase. The objective is that by 2025, river tourism products will be exploited on all Saigon River routes, inner-city canal routes with neighboring provinces and cities, featuring at least 10 river tourism programs. This plan also clearly outlines various product groups: short-range tourism products (tours within a 10km radius on the river, inner-city waterway tours), mid-range tourism products (river tours spanning 10km to less than 60km), internal regional products, inter-regional products, and coastal routes.

Regarding MICE tourism products, Ms. Nguyen Cam Tu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center, stated: “We have formulated the city's MICE tourism development policy based on referencing MICE tourism policies of destinations in the region: Thailand, Singapore, South Korea... Each policy will target specific markets, and we are ready to share this with Can Tho”.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang On, Director of the Can Tho Tourism Development Center, remarked: “Surveying and learning about tourism models in Ho Chi Minh City are extremely valuable to us. Through this, we reference methods to construct products, enhance services, connect product links, and organize events tailored to each market and customer preference. Especially this time, we had specific discussions regarding MICE products and river routes. Based on this foundation, we will study and advise the local area on mechanisms and policies for MICE tourism development, establishing piers and stops associated with river route tours”.