4 reasons why the Mekong Delta is a 'low-lying' region for tourism in Vietnam.

Experts point out four reasons why tourism in the Mekong Delta has not developed despite its great potential.

According to experts, poor tourism products, inadequate transportation infrastructure, seasonal tourism, and a lack of large-scale service complexes are four reasons why tourism in the Mekong Delta is underdeveloped.

At a press conference on the organization of the Vietnam International Tourism Fair - Can Tho 2023 held on the afternoon of August 7th in Ho Chi Minh City, several experts argued that the Mekong Delta has all the conditions to become a leading tourism center in the country with many potentials and unique features, most notably ecotourism. However, this region is still considered a "low-lying area" of Vietnamese tourism.

Tourists take a boat tour of Tra Su Melaleuca Forest, An Giang . Photo: Khanh Thien

Mr. Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Tourism Association, believes that many localities in the Mekong Delta have not yet invested in developing tourism products, while still claiming that their provinces are rich in resources and have great potential.

"Tourists don't just visit to see potential; they buy services and enjoy what the locality has to offer. To attract tourists, businesses need to go to each place to survey and exploit natural resources and local culture to create unique tourism products," Mr. Binh said, comparing the Mekong Delta with the Northwest or Northeast provinces. According to him, in recent years, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau... have made remarkable progress in tourism.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoan, General Director of Flamingo Redtours, noted that the Mekong Delta still faces many difficulties in developing tourism despite its rich resources. The main reason is poor transportation infrastructure, making travel from Ho Chi Minh City to the Western provinces "not very convenient." Although the distances between provinces in the region are short, only a few tens of kilometers, traffic jams occur constantly, lasting for hours.

Tourism in the Mekong Delta has traditionally been seasonal. Mr. Hoan stated that tourism in the region mainly focuses on products associated with the flood season from October to December, with no distinctive activities during other times. While the localities boast diverse cuisines and unique cultural features, "there's no highlight; tourists only visit once or twice and rarely return," lacking the ability to expand during off-peak seasons or offering specific products during those periods.

Furthermore, the provinces in the Mekong Delta lack large-scale tourism service complexes. Tourism businesses focus only on attracting small groups of 15-20 people, making it difficult to reach large groups of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourists.

Due to their small scale, most community-based tourism products are "showcase-oriented," while today's tourists prioritize authentic experiences.

According to Mr. Hoan, to capitalize on the potential and "awaken" tourism in the Mekong Delta, localities should develop regional tourism linkages. Each province and city should identify its distinctive products related to landscapes, historical sites, or cuisine, and then combine them to create integrated tourism products.

Furthermore, to create a breakthrough for the entire region, it is necessary to attract large investors and build large-scale tourism complexes. Mr. Hoan cited Nha Trang as an example, with Vinpearl investing in it, Cat Ba having Flamingo, and Da Nang having Ba Na Hills, all of which are popular destinations for both domestic and international tourists. Currently, most entertainment areas in the Mekong Delta are public spaces.

"We need to strongly develop waterway tourism and river-based resorts. This is a distinctive feature of tourism in the Mekong Delta. We can combine the development of routes from Chau Doc and Ha Tien to southern provinces of Cambodia, and develop tourism products along the Mekong River. In addition, the Mekong Delta has a strong coastline but has not fully exploited its potential. We need to identify and invest in the development of specific product groups such as beach tourism, river tourism, community tourism, and ecotourism," Mr. Hoan said.

Bich Phuong

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