CREATING NEW SPACES, OPENING UP DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL Part 3: Towards a “multi-polar city”, tourism becomes a key economic sector

The new Vinh Long province has created a completely new administrative and economic entity, fundamentally changing the status and prospects of the multi-polar urban system. Along with possessing a treasure trove of unique cultural heritage, long-standing traditional craft villages and a strategic geographical location connecting major economic-tourism centers of the Mekong Delta, aiming to make tourism a key economic sector in the future.

The “Red Kingdom” aims to develop into a “living ceramic museum” combining production, performance, experiential workshops and product commerce. Photo: NGO ANH KHOA

Forming a "multipolar urban network"

Vinh Long has a rich revolutionary tradition and is the hometown of many high-ranking leaders of the Party and State such as Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Pham Hung, many members of the Politburo , leaders of the National Assembly and the Government. This creates a special position for Vinh Long in the socio-political awareness, and is also a great pride of the local people.

With outstanding advantages in development space, human resources, cultural and revolutionary traditions, and favorable conditions for building a large-scale urban system, after the merger, the province became a "bridge" between the eastern and western provinces of the Mekong Delta, closely linked with Can Tho City and neighboring provinces.

To fully exploit the province's potential, Mr. Tran Ngoc Chinh - Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Development Planning Association said that Vinh Long province needs to have a strategic vision to develop the urban system according to a multi-polar model, closely linked instead of just focusing on building a single nuclear urban area, but towards the model of a "multi-polar urban network".

Each urban area will play a specialized role, complementing each other to create a sustainable development ecosystem. This model helps reduce population and infrastructure pressure on a single urban area, while allocating investment resources reasonably to ensure balanced development.

In particular, the old Vinh Long City area will be the administrative, educational and service center. The old Tra Vinh City area will be the gateway to the sea, the energy and logistics center. The old Ben Tre City will focus on agricultural processing and eco-tourism. This clear division of roles helps each urban area have its own development motivation, enhancing the connectivity and sustainability of the whole province.

Meanwhile, the central pole, Vinh Long City (old), will consolidate its role as the political, administrative, cultural, educational and financial center of the province. This place will focus on developing high-quality services, attracting investment in the fields of trade and medical services, education and finance.

Continue to be an important trade connection hub in the Mekong Delta region. Expand urban space, form new urban areas, modern residential areas to the East, West and South of the current city. Focus on upgrading and expanding the urban traffic system, belt roads, bridges and ports.

Besides, the marine economic and energy poles are the coastal urban areas of Tra Vinh and Ben Tre (old), including Tra Vinh City, Duyen Hai Town and Ben Tre coastal urban areas, which will be the main growth poles in marine economy, clean energy (wind power, solar power, green hydrogen) and logistics, acting as specialized economic poles, complementing the administrative functions of Vinh Long City.

Establishing a coastal urban area and building a strong "strategic river-sea logistics corridor" is a prerequisite to connect and effectively promote these development poles.

Dinh An Port will act as a gateway for exporting goods to international markets, supporting the entire new province. Ben Tre City (old) is oriented to be the eco-tourism center of the new province.

Along with that, satellite urban areas including the remaining urban areas are developed in the direction of agriculture-urban areas, focusing on agricultural product processing and traditional craft village tourism on the basis of taking advantage of the individual strengths of each urban area.

Exploiting tourism potential along the Hau River and islands to develop eco-tourism and experiential tourism connecting tourist destinations in Vinh Long and neighboring provinces.

In urban areas with Khmer and Chinese communities, focus can be placed on developing cultural tourism and traditional festivals.

Exploiting the cultural "gold mine"

Vinh Long has many historical relics, ancient architecture, cultural heritage, pagodas, river landscapes, and wind power projects extending to the sea, adding to the beautiful scenery and attracting tourists.

In particular, the province possesses many unique cultural heritages, notably the art of Southern amateur singing and the art of singing in Vinh Long province. This is an important foundation for building creative products and services associated with tourism, entertainment, and performing arts, bringing heritage closer to the public at home and abroad.

Focus resources on key infrastructure projects with regional connectivity. Photo: DUY HIEN

Focusing resources on key infrastructure projects with regional connectivity. Photo: DUY HIEN

Mr. Duong Hoang Sum - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the province focuses on developing tourism with the motto "1 route, 3 destinations". In which, the locality builds and forms typical destinations, based on the potential and unique advantages of each region.

At the same time, the "red kingdom" of Mang Thit with more than 1,500 ancient brick and ceramic kilns is being oriented by the province to develop into a "living ceramic museum" combining production, performance, experiential workshops and product trade.

Vinh Long also has a rich network of handicraft villages such as weaving mats, weaving bamboo and rattan, making products from coconut, tofu skin...

These occupations have economic and cultural values, suitable for the development orientation of "Crafts and folk arts" - one of the priority areas of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

Stating that the cultural industry is becoming a new economic driving force on a global scale, closely linked to cultural identity and creativity, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong - Director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism, said that for Vinh Long, this is a "double" opportunity: both promoting socio-economic development and preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.

“The province’s community tourism infrastructure is opening up opportunities to connect cultural industries with local experiences. The favorable geographical location helps the province easily connect with major tourist centers such as Can Tho City and Ho Chi Minh City. In particular, in the cultural and social field, the province has 230 OCOP products (of which 2 products have achieved 5-star national standards), opening up the possibility of commercializing agricultural and cultural products. The combination of cultural and ecological tourism with cultural industries not only enhances service value, but also extends the value chain, increasing income for the community” - Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong analyzed.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, Vinh Long aims to turn cultural industry into a strategic breakthrough industry in the 2025-2030 period, so cultural industry should be positioned as an important component in the province's GRDP structure.

From there, a creative ecosystem is formed, the cultural industry is not only a new economic sector but also the "key" for Vinh Long to implement "3 in 1": preserving identity, creating growth momentum and enhancing international integration capacity.

“The cultural industry not only contributes significantly to GDP and global trade, but is also a “passport” to help localities improve their international integration capacity. For Vinh Long, this is the path to gradually join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the period 2030-2035, while affirming its position as a cultural and creative center of the Mekong Delta” - Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong suggested.

Spatial structure “1 axis- 2 wings- 3 engines”

Mr. Le Anh Duc - Head of the Regional Planning and Development Department (Institute of Strategy and Economic-Financial Policy) said that Vinh Long needs to orient the spatial structure of "1 axis - 2 wings - 3 driving forces". That is, the driving force axis develops along the North-South expressway corridor (My Thuan-Can Tho section) and National Highway 1 - this is the logistics backbone, the center of processing industry, high technology and regional services of the whole province. The 2 East and West wings include: the marine economic corridor; agriculture and ecology of Tien River - Hau River. The 3 driving forces identified include: 3 regional central urban areas in the center of Vinh Long, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh (old); 3 specialized urban areas are Duyen Hai, Binh Minh and Ba Tri along with the satellite urban area network and new urban areas.

KHANH DUY - TUYET HIEN

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/kinh-te/202510/kien-tao-khong-gian-moi-khai-mo-tiem-nang-phat-trien-ky-3huong-den-do-thi-da-cuc-du-lich-tro-thanh-nganh-kinh-te-mui-nhon-0120585/