After 6 months of implementation, the tourism linkage program between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces has achieved many positive results, especially in product development and investment promotion. However, the arrangement and consolidation of provincial administrative units is creating new challenges, requiring the tourism industry to adjust its strategy to adapt and develop sustainably.
According to the report of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, in the first half of 2025, many important tasks were completed. The conference on tourism linkage implementation in 2025 took place in Soc Trang with the theme "Enhancing connectivity - Sustainable development". The event included exhibitions, trade connections and promotion of 50 typical destinations of the two regions.
In addition, the program to develop tourism products in border areas with the theme “Proud of the imprints of border areas” has been implemented. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has coordinated to survey the current status of resources in border provinces and basically completed the construction of 4 typical tourism products.
Another highlight is the development of an electronic handbook introducing tourism investment promotion projects, aiming to promote potential to domestic and foreign investors. To date, the Department has compiled 68 projects from Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta.
Challenges from administrative mergers
Despite many achievements, the implementation of the linkage also encountered difficulties due to Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW of the Central Committee and Resolution No. 202/QH15 of the National Assembly on the arrangement and consolidation of provincial-level administrative units. Accordingly, 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta merged into 6 administrative units.
This change affects the progress, stability and continuity of many tasks. The adjustment of boundaries, local names and tourism investment projects causes some tasks to be postponed or adjusted. Overlapping in coordination and non-standardized tourism data after the merger are also problems that need to be addressed.
Recommendations for the last 6 months of the year
In the new context, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism proposed to change the name in the plan from "13 provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta" to "5 provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta" to be consistent with the new administrative structure.
Some tasks proposed to be moved to 2026 include:
- Tourism promotion program in the Central provinces: Localities need more time to consolidate their apparatus after the merger.
- Building an electronic handbook to introduce investment projects: It takes time to review, update the priority list and adjust the planning.
- Evaluation of investment cooperation agreements (MOUs): The rearrangement of focal agencies in localities affects the review of information on signed MOUs.
In the second half of the year, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism will continue to organize the 2025 summary conference, support the Mekong Delta provinces to participate in promoting foreign tourism, and promote on the 3D/360 smart map platform of Ho Chi Minh City.
These adjustments aim to ensure the feasibility and effectiveness of the linkage program in the new context, contributing to promoting sustainable tourism development with regional characteristics.
Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Magazine
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/du-lich-tp-ho-chi-minh-dong-bang-song-cuu-long-no-luc-thich-ung-sau-sap-nhap-20250919102233181.htm
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