An Giang tourism sector "reaches the finish line" ahead of schedule.

The driving force comes from potential and effort.

We returned to U Minh Thuong National Park on a windy morning. Our small boat gently parted the thin mist that blanketed the path. In that tranquil space, on the small canals through the forest, more than a dozen small boats had already been moored. Anglers continuously cast their lines, then slowly reeled them in, eager to catch some "giant" snakehead fish.

Our guide was Ms. Truong Be Diem, a staff member of U Minh Thuong National Park. Pointing to the endless stretches of melaleuca forest, she enthusiastically recounted the unique ecosystem of this national park, and the extremely rare Javanese stork that many photographers are willing to wake up at dawn to "hunt" for beautiful moments. Her voice was filled with pride as she spoke of experiences that every visitor wants to try: "Besides admiring the beautiful natural scenery, visitors also love fishing, setting traps, eating fermented fish hotpot, braised eel, and grilled golden catfish served with the famous U Minh forest vegetables."

The scenery in Tri Ton commune is stunning. Photo: MINH DIEN

The words of Ms. Diem that I remember most, amidst the sound of the boat engine and the wind cutting through the water, were: "An Giang now has the sea, the mountains, the forests… and moments of tranquility that people will remember and cherish after visiting." From her story, the province's tourism landscape emerges in diverse colors: U Minh Thuong – breathing the green essence of the land and sky; Phu Quoc – a paradise of sea and islands; the Bay Nui region – a legend nestled amidst the mist; Ha Tien – the beauty of the border region imbued with poetic soul…

An Giang 's appeal is not only evident in its scenery but also in the recently announced tourism growth figures. In the first 10 months of 2025, the province welcomed over 21 million tourists, a 21.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024, including 1.4 million international tourists, a 65.7% increase. Total tourism revenue exceeded 56,000 billion VND, a 78.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and 42.6% higher than planned.

According to Bui Quoc Thai, Director of the Department of Tourism, An Giang's impressive tourism results stem from continuous and coordinated efforts. The province has intensified its promotional and marketing efforts, spreading the image of An Giang more widely across media platforms and international markets. Simultaneously, the tourism sector has focused on improving service quality and enhancing the visitor experience. The accommodation system continues to be modernized. The tourism business community organizes numerous tours and routes, developing new programs that contribute to creating a positive impression on tourists.

An Giang's tourism industry achieved its 2025 targets two months ahead of schedule thanks to the increase in domestic tourists, especially during the festival season. The international market, in particular, not only remained stable but also expanded to new, high-end potential customer segments from the Middle East, the US, Australia, India, and Europe. Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Association, Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, emphasized: “Businesses are continuously innovating products, training staff, and improving skills, especially in foreign languages. The arrival of Sun Phu Quoc Airways has strongly stimulated demand, attracting tourists to the pearl island.”

Preparing for major advancements

Alongside its growth, An Giang's tourism industry also frankly acknowledges its challenges. Transportation along the route from Long Xuyen to Tinh Bien or from Tri Ton to Ha Tien still has some shortcomings. Tourism infrastructure in many areas, especially border regions, rural areas, and potential areas like Bay Nui and U Minh Thuong, has not been developed comprehensively. Tourism products lack innovation and there are not many new products that are symbolic of the region. The exploitation of local cultural values and community-based tourism has not yet created a distinctive mark.

Mr. Pham Van Huong, a tourist from Can Tho, said: “I have traveled to many places in An Giang, from Hon Dat and Ha Tien to Bay Nui. During holidays, there are a lot of tourists. But many beautiful places have rough roads. If the roads are improved, more tourists will come.” This simple statement perfectly reflects the wishes of tourists, locals, and local businesses: To retain tourists, roads must be smooth and infrastructure must be robust.

Tourists enjoying themselves on Phu Quoc Island. Photo: MINH DIEN

To maintain its growth momentum, An Giang's tourism industry will continue to expand the linkage program between Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta in 2025. This will create a seamless tourism flow, allowing visitors to delve deeper into the culture and ecology of the Southwestern region. Amidst the rapid growth of the tourism industry, the province is actively preparing for the special task of successfully hosting the APEC 2027 conference. This will be an opportunity to promote the image of Phu Quoc in particular and An Giang in general to the international community.

According to Mr. Bui Quoc Thai, the Provincial People's Committee's advisory department has submitted to the Prime Minister for approval the project "Building Phu Quoc into a high-quality eco-tourism and marine tourism center of national and international stature." Simultaneously, they are coordinating the process and procedures for developing the project "Developing An Giang Province's Tourism in the period 2025-2030 and orientation to 2035." This will be the strategic framework to help An Giang's tourism enter a professional, sustainable, and competitive phase in the region.

An Giang has developed more distinct intra-provincial tourism routes after the merger, but still lacks a strong "brand" capable of reaching international standards. Mr. Nguyen Vu Khac Huy proposed: "An Giang needs to design key tourism products that are iconic and linked to local identity. At the same time, there needs to be a coordination mechanism between the government, businesses, and the community to share responsibilities and benefits, aiming for sustainable development." Mr. Huy believes the province needs to accelerate digital transformation, apply AI in tourism promotion and management, develop green tourism, and improve the quality of human resources – factors that determine its ability to integrate internationally.

After discussing plans and the future, we returned to U Minh Thuong National Park to immerse ourselves in the pristine beauty that An Giang is striving to preserve amidst its rapid transformation. From above, the forest stretched out like a green carpet, with layers of melaleuca trees interwoven. In the canals below, the yellow-headed flowers of the Anthurium plant stretched out, basking in the sunlight. A few small boats were anchored, and some fishermen patiently waited for a tugging of the line. A young tourist accompanying us laughed and repeated Diem's words: "Anyone who comes here will remember and love An Giang."

TU LY - MINH DIEN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/du-lich-an-giang-ve-dich-som-a468291.html