“Ninh Thuan Culture and Tourism Day in Can Tho 2023” is one of the important events to strengthen cooperation between Ninh Thuan Province and Can Tho City in the field of culture and tourism. This is the first time Ninh Thuan Province has held such an event in Can Tho, marking a milestone in the two localities’ relations. Moreover, the event is expected to promote domestic tourism and introduce cultural values, specialties, and people of Ninh Thuan to tourists from near and far.

Participating in the festival, locals in Can Tho had the chance to try Bau Truc pottery crafting and My Nghiep brocade weaving and contemplate beautiful photos showcasing the people and tourist attractions of Ninh Thuan. Moreover, they could enjoy traditional Cham ethnic minority dances, as well as be introduced to musical instruments from other ethnic communities indigenous to Ninh Thuan.

Demonstration of Ninh Thuan Province’s traditional crafts at the event.

The festival also featured 24 stalls showcasing Ninh Thuan OCOP products, specialties, and cuisine. visitors can observe traditional product crafting by skilled ceramic and brocade-weaving artisans and try the local delicacies of Ninh Thuan Province.

According to the People’s Committee of Ninh Thuan Province, tourism is set to become the province’s economic spearhead. Under the provincial tourism development plan, set for 2021-2025 with a vision towards 2030, Ninh Thuan expects to welcome 3.5 million tourists by 2025, including 455,000 foreign arrivals. By 2030, the province aims to serve 6 million visitors, of whom 900,000 are foreigners. The tourism sector is projected to generate 2.9 trillion VND (126.94 million USD) by 2025, and 5.9 trillion VND by 2030, becoming an economic spearhead that contributes about 15 percent of the locality’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP). In 2023 alone, Ninh Thuan strives to reach the goal of welcoming 2.9 million visitors.

A traditional dance performance of the Cham ethnic minority at the festival.

Moreover, Ninh Thuan focuses on prioritizing the development of three main product groups, including four specific products, four novel products, and four complementary products. Specifically, the group of specific products includes beach experience resort tourism; Cham cultural heritage tourism; High-tech agricultural tourism; Ecotourism associated with Nui Chua National Park. The group of novel products includes discovery and entertainment tourism of sand-salt; semi-wild hunting tourism; Railway experience tourism; nursing and health care tourism. The group of complementary products includes community tourism; entertainment and cuisine tourism; visiting renewable energy production tourism; trade tourism.