Exploiting tourism during the flood season in An Giang.

During the 2025 flood season, many localities in An Giang province organized recreational activities on the water. Meanwhile, locals and tourists flocked to the flooded fields to experience the tranquil atmosphere of the water.

"The 2023 Flood Season Festival in Chau Phu attracted a large number of locals and tourists."

Every year, in July, floodwaters (also known as the rainy season) from the upper reaches of the Mekong River flow into the delta region. The two provinces of An Giang and Dong Thap, located downstream of the Mekong River, benefit from these floods in terms of both fish and alluvial soil.

Having fun during the flood season.

In December, the floodwaters recede, flowing into the main river. The receding water brings back aquatic life to the Mekong River, leaving behind fertile silt for the fields. The floodwaters are like a distant friend, arriving silently and then departing noisily on schedule every year.

As the water gradually rises into the fields and alluvial plains along the riverbanks, a unique flood season culture is formed, encompassing activities such as aquaculture, floating rice cultivation, and the raising of aquatic plants.

Photographers also didn't miss the opportunity to capture beautiful shots of the vibrant nature, from mangrove trees submerged in water, people pulling fishing nets, people picking water lilies and wild flowers; to night markets selling produce that only appear during the flood season…

The mangrove trees submerged in floodwaters during the rainy season in An Cu commune create a beautiful natural landscape that attracts tourists to take photos.

In 2023, the former Chau Phu district organized the "Flood Season Festival in Thanh My Tay Commune's Rice Fields," attracting a large number of tourists and locals to enjoy the festivities. The program included activities related to the river and water, such as pushing a net to catch snakehead fish, searching for snails in the rice paddies, and using a basket to catch fish in the fields, offering visitors fun and hands-on experiences.

During the 2025 flood season, many localities along the Hau River organized recreational activities. At the end of September, the People's Committee of An Giang province, in coordination with the People's Committee of Phu Huu commune, organized the "Flood Season Sports Festival" at Bun Ren sluice gate, Vinh Loc hamlet. Phu Huu commune is located at the headwaters of the Hau River, receiving the floodwaters. The rice fields, once rice paddies, transform into giant lakes teeming with shrimp and fish during the flood season.

Boat racing using banana tree trunks in the flooded fields of My Thoi ward.

The sports festival included various events such as men's doubles and mixed doubles three-leaf boat races over distances of 150 to 200 meters, banana tree trunk boat races, and duck chasing in the fields… The festival contributed to promoting the beautiful image of Phu Huu during the flood season, attracting tourists to visit in future flood seasons.

In October and November, the People's Committee of Chau Phong commune and the People's Committee of My Thoi ward organized the first-ever flood season event with activities such as banana tree boat races and duck catching.

These events attract large crowds, demonstrating the strong appeal of the flood season. The fact that communes and wards organize flood season events is also noteworthy information for tourists.

Traveling during the flood season

During this flood season, farmer Nguyen Van Tai, residing in Vinh Dong hamlet, An Cu commune, opens up his fields to welcome the alluvial soil and encloses them to attract wild fish. Mr. Tai and other farmers with adjacent fields also cooperate in growing organic lotus.

Mr. Tai's group organizes ecotourism during the flood season, using small boats to transport tourists across flooded fields, wading through water to visit lotus ponds, participating in net fishing, and experiencing local fish dishes. This model has provided Mr. Tai's group with additional income from tourism compared to previous years.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tai's group takes visitors on a tour of the flooded fields.

The model of tourism in the deep fields is enjoyed by tourists as they immerse themselves in nature and personally experience touching and scooping up the silt grains soaked in the rice paddies, and catching fish leaping wildly in the nets…

Since 2024, Mr. Dinh Hoang Tinh has built a coffee shop called "Monsoon Wind" in the middle of a vast rice field in Co To commune. Mr. Tinh shared: "During the dry season, customers come to the shop to admire the golden rice fields heavy with grain. During the flood season, customers come to enjoy the fresh breeze from the fields, listen to the birds singing, and admire the reflection of Co To mountain in the water."

In 2025, Mr. Tinh maintained the model, constructing miniature landscapes related to rivers and water, arranging fishing nets, three-leaf boats, glimpses of low thatched houses, and planting water hyacinths to create a compact yet vibrant flood season atmosphere.

Many visitors enjoy coming to the cafe at sunset and sunrise to leisurely admire the beautiful natural scenery of mountains and water blending together in the flooded fields. They calmly watch the fading golden rays of the setting sun spread across the water, and the last rays of light disappearing behind the Co To mountain.

A natural landscape submerged in water during the flood season.

In previous years, the Tan Trung Tourism Cooperative in Tan Trung commune (now Phu Tan commune) organized activities to welcome tourists to enjoy themselves at Tan Trung Lake. During the dry season, Tan Trung Lake is an alluvial plain, but during the flood season, it acts like a funnel, collecting water from the Vam Nao River and becoming a large lake very suitable for tourism development.

Through tours in Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can immerse themselves in the local culture by picking water chestnuts and wild rice, clearing bushes, pulling nets to catch fish, and searching for snails and crabs; they can also admire the sight of stilt houses seemingly floating precariously in the floodwaters, thus gaining a better understanding of what the flood season is like.

In areas along the Hau and Tien rivers, many places take advantage of the flood season to develop eco-tourism, allowing visitors to explore the lives of farmers and fishermen during the flood season.

Tourists cruise on the waves.

Flooding has long been closely associated with the inhabitants of the delta region, an inseparable part of the cultural life of the wetland area. With proper investment and effective exploitation, it is certain that An Giang province will have a new type of tourism that allows visitors to immerse themselves in and experience nature, a phenomenon only seen during the four months of the flood season. This will provide local people with a sustainable source of income through tourism route linkages.

THANH DUNG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/khai-thac-du-lich-mua-nuoc-noi-o-an-giang-post930031.html