In early February 2025, a local tourist visiting Kim Tien Pagoda (Tinh Bien Town) was approached by a group of masked individuals who staged a conflict to rob him of his belongings. Mr. N.D.S. (a resident of An Phu Ward) stated that this incident sparked heated debate on social media, with many claiming that security in the area was inadequate and lax. However, having settled in the area for several years, he affirmed that the situation is very stable. “This unfortunate incident is something no one wants to happen. But having said that, despite warnings on the media and local broadcasts, many people are still careless when going out to visit temples and wearing gold jewelry indiscriminately, making it difficult to avoid attracting the attention of criminals. It's the same everywhere during festivals; everyone must protect themselves, because with so many people, it's impossible to control everything,” Mr. S. expressed.
An Giang is currently in its festival season, with increasing numbers of pilgrims from both within and outside the province visiting tourist attractions and places of worship. In particular, in Chau Doc City, the Ba Chua Xu Temple on Mount Sam attracts a significant number of pilgrims. “Many visitors told me that they only come to worship, never to buy goods or eat, and they bring their own offerings. Being cautious is necessary, but on the other hand, this reflects a decline in the trust of some tourists in the locality. If everyone is solely focused on visiting and then leaving, the locality will only benefit from the influx of visitors, not from consumption, accommodation, or service usage. Many positive improvements have been made alongside the development of tourism, yet few people mention them,” shared Mr. Nguyen Quoc Huy (a small business owner in Nui Sam ward).
Trash spoils the natural beauty of tourist destinations.
Over the years, the province has strived to build its image and enhance its communication efforts to raise public awareness and prevent people from being exploited, overcharged, or scammed. This information needs to be widely shared to build a safe and civilized image for An Giang as a tourist destination, and to collectively prevent profiteering, fraud, and disruption of public order. However, instead of sharing positive information, some people on social media are giving advice on pilgrimages to An Giang, suggesting avoiding certain temples and visiting others, leading to unnecessary misunderstandings.
Another negative aspect of tourism stems from the inappropriate behavior of some tourists and visitors. Within the province, some "check-in" spots, not yet famous or well-invested, have quickly become makeshift garbage dumps due to visitors. To get beautiful photos, those obsessed with "living virtually" invest in outfits, spend hours posing, and editing pictures. Supporting this journey are food, drinks, and accessories… which quickly turn into indiscriminate litter on the spot.
This is not a new problem, but it has existed for a long time, especially in pristine, unspoiled lakes, streams, and mountains that are little-known and sparsely populated. Not to mention that groups and families often turn these places into venues for parties and gatherings, leaving behind an increasing amount of trash that, with no one to clean it up, becomes polluted and unsightly.
Ms. LH (Thoai Son district) shared that thanks to social media, some previously ordinary places have suddenly become famous. Near her house, at the foot of Sap Mountain, there's just a small lake, a few mossy rocks, and a flame tree that bursts with vibrant red in the summer, making for a uniquely beautiful and attractive photo spot. Places like this don't have trash cans because they're far from residential areas, and maintaining cleanliness depends on each person's awareness. Unfortunately, behind those stunning photos lies countless pieces of trash: plastic cups, cardboard boxes, nylon bags, and even flowerbeds crammed with garbage, with leaves and flowers stripped bare to be used as props for photographers. The summit of Sap Mountain is also a beautiful and peaceful "check-in" spot. In recent years, the number of visitors has increased, and with it comes a growing amount of waste, causing frustration among the locals.
I believe that, in addition to the responsibilities of relevant agencies and local authorities, each individual needs to raise their awareness and sense of responsibility. Local people contribute to building a beautiful and friendly image, while tourists also need to be informed and reminded to behave appropriately and civilly in the places they visit.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/an-giang-24-gio/ban-doc/giu-hinh-anh-dep-cho-du-lich-a415752.html
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