Exploiting U Minh Thuong tourism commensurate with its potential

U Minh Thuong (An Giang province) possesses a unique ecosystem and a landscape that still retains its wild features, opening up many potentials for ecotourism development. In the context of the locality moving towards green growth, exploiting tourism along with nature conservation and preserving identity is the direction that needs to be given top priority for U Minh Thuong to develop sustainably and make a difference.

Báo An Giang•04/12/2025

Peaceful scenery in U Minh Thuong. Photo: PHAM HIEU

Charming U Minh

U Minh Thuong is a commune merged from An Minh Bac and Minh Thuan communes. The highlight of the locality is eco- tourism at U Minh Thuong National Park, which is considered a natural museum of flooded saline forest ecosystems on peat soil.

Coming to U Minh Thuong National Park, visitors will enjoy the fresh air and open space, watching birds and many endemic plants. Currently, U Minh Thuong National Park has more than 30 species of animals; about 50 species of reptiles and amphibians; more than 60 species of fish; over 200 species of insects; 190 species of birds...

According to the leader of U Minh Thuong National Park, visitors can admire the immense green of the forest at a height of 24m on the observation tower at Hoa Mai Lake; see the biodiverse fields of the forest; the canal system is both a place to protect the park and a place to travel by water.

Tourists can also go fishing for fun; visit the wildlife rescue center; take a boat trip to visit the peatland forest habitat and some seasonal flooded habitats... Coming here, many people also buy souvenirs and enjoy typical U Minh cuisine such as grilled snakehead fish, perch braised with dragon fruit, fish sauce hotpot, grilled catfish...

The deeper you go into the core area of U Minh Thuong National Park, the more you see before your eyes a vast space of endless green. Tree trunks covered in silver-gray color appear hidden in a thin layer of mist like smoke. Under the forest canopy, the carpets of duckweed, water lilies, water hyacinths… create a very beautiful ink painting. Occasionally, from afar, you can hear the sound of fish biting bait.

The chirping of birds combined with the rustling of the wind created a gentle, pure symphony of nature. A gentle breeze accidentally carried the fragrant scent of cajuput flowers, a characteristic that is rarely found anywhere else. All of these combined to create a wonderful space, both wild and gentle but profound, making the picture of U Minh Thuong not only beautiful but also evoking a strange feeling of serenity and peace.

Rare animals in U Minh Thuong National Park. Photo: PHAM HIEU

Not only that, U Minh Thuong was once the revolutionary base of Zone 9, the Southwest Zone, then Rach Gia Provincial Party Committee and departments and branches of Rach Gia province. This place also marked many resounding victories associated with the following places: Cay Bang Junction, Nha Ngang, Vinh Tien, Cong Su... Today, U Minh Thuong has the historical relic site of Zone IX Security; the relic site of Xeo Can - Bo Dua Provincial Military Command; the Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee base under construction... which both have traditional educational value and create diversity in the journey of discovery for tourists.

Tourism development is a priority task.

According to the People's Committee of U Minh Thuong Commune, in recent years, the locality has been interested in investing in building infrastructure and technical facilities to serve tourism development. Cultural and historical relics have been restored, upgraded and built, contributing to creating a new face for tourism in the commune...

To exploit potentials and advantages, U Minh Thuong has determined to focus on developing cultural and historical tourism, community tourism associated with experiential ecotourism spots, agricultural tourism, community ecotourism... Outstanding as the community ecotourism spot channel 21 serving tourists to visit fruit gardens, experience fishing, picking water lilies and enjoy country dishes...

Head of the Department of Culture and Society of U Minh Thuong Commune, Le Thi Ngoc Hue, said that in the coming time, the locality will continue to invest in developing eco-tourism, including visiting beekeeping facilities, enjoying fruit wine, and rural cuisine; connecting tourism inside and outside the province; encouraging businesses to invest in homestays, accommodation facilities, and restaurants; building culinary culture programs, traditional music, boat racing, folk games, etc., combined with visiting pagodas and provincial-level revolutionary historical sites to learn about the customs, habits, and culinary culture of the Khmer people.

Hoa Mai Lake in U Minh Thuong National Park. Photo: PHAM HIEU

Mr. Huynh Phuoc Ty - former Head of the Department of Culture and Information of U Minh Thuong district (before the merger) said that U Minh Thuong needs to focus on exploiting intangible cultural tourism resources such as folk festivals, reformed opera, village dance of Khmer people, amateur music clubs; invest in U Minh Thuong tourism brand; strengthen promotion, link training and development of tourism human resources; plan to build supermarkets and shopping spots to serve tourists.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Trung Luong - former Deputy Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, Department of Tourism, said that green tourism, environmentally friendly tourism with a focus on eco-tourism is the appropriate and sustainable direction of U Minh Thuong. However, to exploit this eco-tourism, An Giang needs to have specific policies to attract investment, first of all, connecting infrastructure and specific products according to priority orientation to attract visitors to the locality. Most importantly, the province must consider developing U Minh Thuong tourism as one of the priority tasks of An Giang tourism, thereby developing a breakthrough in the new period.

Some other tourism experts suggest that U Minh Thuong also needs to apply information and communication technology to form a tourism ecosystem and create mutual benefits among three groups of tourists, authorities and businesses...

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