A strong boost for tourism in the Mekong Delta.

The Can Tho River Culture Festival and the Flower and Ornamental Plant Festival in Dong Thap promise to attract a large number of tourists to visit, have fun, and enjoy themselves.

The Can Tho River Culture Festival 2025 officially opened on the evening of December 27th. The opening ceremony created a grand and vibrant festival atmosphere, attracting tens of thousands of local people and tourists from all over.

An emotional outburst

The opening art program at the Can Tho River Culture Festival evoked a surge of emotion in many. Viewers were amazed and delighted by the elaborately staged live performance.

The highlight of the festival's opening night was not only the recreation of characteristic cultural features such as the bustling floating market, the poetic wedding procession on the river, or the vibrant boat race. Right on the water, the simple, authentic life and livelihoods of the riverine inhabitants for generations were also vividly and artistically recreated.

At the festival's opening night, Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Trang from Hanoi couldn't hide her surprise and delight. "I came to Can Tho for work during the festival, so I stopped by Ninh Kieu Wharf. I didn't expect the festival to be so lively! The opening ceremony was truly spectacular. This is the first time I've witnessed a stage set up with so many boats and canoes, combined with flyboards and drone lights, so vibrant," she excitedly said. That was also the shared feeling of thousands of people present at the festival's opening night.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, the River Culture Festival is being held for the first time in the city. She emphasized: "The series of activities at the festival not only introduces and promotes the unique river culture of the Mekong Delta in general, and Can Tho in particular, to a wide audience of people and tourists, but also aims to raise community awareness in protecting the environment and river ecosystems, towards sustainable tourism development."

The Can Tho River Culture Festival 2025 will last until January 1, 2026. This event is expected to create a strong boost for tourism in Can Tho and the entire Mekong Delta, through exciting activities such as: a challenging sailing race on the Hau River, an exhilarating SUP board race, spectacular flyboard performances, and an exciting composite hull racing championship...

Besides the festive atmosphere, to be ready to welcome a large number of tourists during the upcoming New Year's holiday, tourist attractions, restaurants, and hotels in Can Tho City have also made thorough preparations.

At Tu Dung Eco-tourism Garden (Phong Dien commune), Ms. Tran Thi Kim Loan - the owner - said that she is focusing on investing in creating many miniature scenes depicting traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations, and check-in spots that capture the essence of the Mekong Delta's riverside countryside, such as monkey bridges, flower gardens, and boat docks, to serve the needs of tourists for souvenir photos. In addition to traditional dishes, the garden is also researching and adjusting the menu to suit the tastes of international tourists.

"We will introduce Southern Vietnamese specialties such as spring rolls, grilled fish, hot pot, etc., prepared and presented exquisitely to suit the culinary habits of Western tourists, while also explaining the local culinary culture. We hope that these preparations will contribute to giving tourists a truly fulfilling, warm, and memorable New Year's holiday in the riverside region of Can Tho," Ms. Loan expressed.

The opening night of the Can Tho River Culture Festival 2025 attracted tens of thousands of locals and tourists. Photo: CA LINH

Garden houses - "tourism ambassadors"

In Dong Thap province, the 2nd Sa Dec Flower and Ornamental Plant Festival also opened on December 27, 2025, and will last until January 4, 2026. This festival not only aims to honor flower and ornamental plant growers but is also expected to be a boost to help Dong Thap attract a large number of tourists during the 2026 New Year holiday.

Sa Dec, considered the largest flower and ornamental plant capital in the Mekong Delta, has undergone centuries of development. From the first farmers who brought flowers to Sa Dec to cultivate them, to the skilled and meticulous artisans, generations have diligently and tirelessly worked to create this unique flower and ornamental plant village. Many gardeners have become wealthy by combining flower and ornamental plant production with tourism, contributing to the development of Sa Dec ward in particular and Dong Thap province in general.

According to the People's Committee of Sa Dec ward, flower and ornamental plant growers are constantly striving, being perceptive and creative to "keep the flame alive" for the profession. The entire Sa Dec ward currently has about 4,000 households producing flowers and ornamental plants on an area of ​​946 hectares, with approximately 2,000 varieties; and more than 200 flower and ornamental plant businesses. The Sa Dec flower village supplies more than 12 million products to the market each year. In 2024, the total value of flower and ornamental plant production in Sa Dec is estimated at approximately 3,300 billion VND - accounting for 79% of the value of agricultural production…

In preparation for the 2nd Sa Dec Flower and Ornamental Plant Festival, the Tan An Flower and Ornamental Plant Production Cooperative in Sa Dec ward, despite its "new look," still retains its traditional cultural features and existing advantages and potential to serve the needs of tourists. The cooperative has also prepared many new and unique types of flowers and ornamental plants to meet the demand of tourists who wish to purchase them for display.

"To create a highlight at Sa Dec Flower Village, our cooperative designed a miniature landscape called 'Heart' combined with the image of the red flag with a yellow star, made from approximately 1,700 pots of fresh flowers of various kinds. The giant 'Heart,' about 70 square meters, is made from 1,600 pots of periwinkle, pico daisies, and chrysanthemums. The national flag is made from 100 pots of red firecracker flowers and yellow pico daisies. This impressive miniature landscape is attracting many locals and tourists to visit and take photos," - a representative of the Tan An Flower and Ornamental Plant Production Cooperative enthusiastically stated.

At the opening ceremony of the 2nd Sa Dec Flower and Ornamental Plant Festival, Mr. Pham Thanh Ngai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Thap province, said that this festival represents a strong transformation of Sa Dec Flower Village. This is an opportunity to honor the diligence and creativity of the "knowledgeable farmers" - the artisans who have transformed the land along the Sa Giang River into the largest flower and ornamental plant center in the Mekong Delta.

"Every gardener and every resident of Sa Dec is a 'tourism ambassador,' contributing to spreading the value and unique characteristics of this century-old flower village to friends and tourists near and far," Mr. Pham Thanh Ngai emphasized.

Gardeners in Sa Dec Flower Village both produce flowers and ornamental plants and engage in tourism. Photo: TAM MINH

Understanding and empathizing

At the opening ceremony of the 2nd Sa Dec Flower and Ornamental Plant Festival, Mr. Le Minh Hoan - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly - stated that today, Sa Dec flowers and ornamental plants are not only brought to Tet markets and spring flower festivals, but are also incorporated into experiential tourism, art installations, landscape design, public spaces, and even creative industries and economic sectors.

If flowers are sold only in pots, their value is limited. However, if they are combined with stories about the flowers, experiences associated with them, memories connected to them, and are considered works of art, their value is immeasurable in monetary terms. This is the creative economy, where flowers not only bloom in the garden but also in people's minds.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly expressed his hope that Sa Dec would not only be remembered as a "flower village," but also as a creative space for flowers and ornamental plants; a place where young people find opportunities to start businesses, where artists find inspiration, and where tourists not only take photos but also stay longer to understand and appreciate...

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cu-hich-manh-me-cho-du-lich-mien-tay-196251228213000752.htm