A colorful picture of tourism in Long An.

In recent years, Tan Lap Floating Village, the Endless Fields, and the Dong Thap Muoi Ecological Zone have become attractive tourist destinations in Long An, drawing many visitors seeking unique experiences. Particularly, its location bordering Ho Chi Minh City, serving as a gateway connecting the Southeast region with the Mekong Delta, makes it very convenient for people from surrounding areas to choose tour packages or independent trips for day trips, short stays, or weekend getaways to explore Long An.

The center of Tan An City, the capital of Long An province. Photo: Nguyen Luan/Vietnam Photo News.

The pristine natural landscape, with its primeval mangrove forests and beautiful lotus lakes emitting a subtle fragrance, fills visitors with energy and refreshment.

Mr. Pham Huu Tri (Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City), a travel enthusiast, recently took a weekend trip with his wife and two children to the Endless Fields Tourist Area (Moc Hoa District, Long An Province). Mr. Tri said he enjoys independent travel and backpacking by motorbike. After several solo motorbike trips to Long An, he decided to book a tour with a travel company to bring his family along for a weekend getaway. According to Mr. Tri, there are currently many tours departing from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta provinces, including Long An, or combined tours to various locations in the Mekong Delta, depending on the needs and desired travel time of tourists. The main experiences of his family during their two-day, one-night trip to the Endless Fields included: experiencing "forest bathing" therapy – enjoying the fresh, relaxing air and admiring the diverse vegetation in the Dong Thap Muoi Medicinal Plant Reserve, providing relaxation, reducing fatigue, and acting as a mental therapy; soaking feet in medicinal herbs with natural essential oils; kayaking, composite boat rowing, swimming, snorkeling to admire the vegetation in the rainwater lake, participating in folk games and physical activities for children; visiting the pristine Melaleuca forest in the tourist area by boat, and the Sao Mai Medicinal Plant Growing Area – a gene conservation area with rare and unique medicinal plants of the Dong Thap Muoi region. The family visited the Moc Hoa Tram Factory, which produces natural medicinal products such as essential oils, cosmetics, functional foods, and traditional medicines. Regarding cuisine , they enjoyed many famous local specialties such as steamed snails with lemongrass, braised eel with noni leaves, boiled wild greens, catfish hotpot, refreshing drinks made from red dragon fruit, and various herbal drinks like Vối leaf tea and ginger-lemongrass-honey tea… which are not only refreshing but also good for the digestive system. Accommodation options within the eco-tourism area are diverse and convenient, situated in a quiet and cool environment, perfect for a relaxing vacation. Before returning to the city, tourists can choose to buy local medicinal products and cosmetics as gifts for loved ones or for personal use. The Dong Thap Muoi Medicinal Plant Conservation and Development Research Center, covering an area of ​​over 1,000 hectares, boasts a vast, pristine flooded Melaleuca ecosystem and is also a conservation area for many rare and valuable herbal genes, as well as the largest essential oil extraction site in the region.

The peaceful atmosphere, filled with flowers and trees, creates a tranquil, rustic village setting typical of the Mekong Delta, attracting many tourists.

Located just over 80km from Ho Chi Minh City, Moc Hoa District boasts famous tourist destinations such as the Dong Thap Muoi Medicinal Plant Research and Conservation Center, Tan Lap Floating Village, and the Endless Fields Tourist Area, connected to the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve (Tan Hung District). These are characteristic tourist destinations of the Dong Thap Muoi region in general and are key targets for the future development of unique tourism in Long An province. Notably, at the end of October, the leaders of Long An province took the Consul General of South Korea in Ho Chi Minh City and his staff to visit and experience tourism programs at the Dong Thap Muoi Medicinal Plant Research and Conservation Center and Tan Lap Floating Village during their survey and working trip to the locality to prepare for the 2nd Culture - Sports - Tourism Week in 2024 (from November 28th to December 4th). Many organizations and units from South Korea are expected to participate in activities during this week.

The image of "Long An tourism: safe, friendly, and attractive" has created a strong appeal for domestic and foreign tourists and investors. This is a direction that the locality is focusing on according to the Resolution on the Master Plan for Tourism Development of Long An Province until 2020 and vision to 2030, with the overall goal of becoming a leading satellite tourist destination of Ho Chi Minh City in the Mekong Delta tourism region. In addition, Long An has also issued a Program on developing tourism into a keyeconomic sector.

Son Nghia

Photos: Nguyen Luan - Dang Kim Phuong

Source: https://vietnam.vnanet.vn/vietnamese/long-form/buc-tranh-sac-mau-du-lich-long-an-381023.html