At the seminar "Linking the Development of Community Tourism and Local Ecotourism in 2026" organized by the People's Committee of Ben Tre Ward, delegates discussed the potential and development orientation of community tourism and ecotourism in the ward; proposed solutions for linking wards in tourism development; the role of the community in ecotourism development; and the application of information technology and digital transformation in tourism promotion.
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| Exploiting the potential advantages of ecotourism in the orchards. Photo: NG. HAN |
Promoting unique values
According to Nguyen Van Thuong, Chairman of the Ben Tre Ward People's Committee, Ben Tre Ward is strategically located at the gateway where the Ham Luong River flows through, bordering many important waterways; it is a crossroads of many major rivers, making it suitable for organizing river tours, exploring the ecological gardens, and conveniently connecting tours within the ward and inter-commune/ward tourism routes in the province.
The Ham Luong riverside area still retains its pristine natural beauty and characteristic landscape of a riverside countryside, making it very suitable for developing "back to the roots" tourism, rural experiences, ecotourism, and community education tourism.
The entire Ben Tre ward currently boasts many locations with beautiful natural landscapes, peaceful spaces, and a close connection to the river. In addition, the people are friendly and open, easily encouraged to participate in community tourism models, homestays, etc. These are favorable advantages for the locality to effectively exploit its potential and develop tourism into a key economic sector of the ward.
According to Bach Nhu Yen, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Hoi Ward, An Hoi Ward is located in the urban center, surrounded by and connected by a network of waterways; two major rivers are the Ham Luong River and the Ben Tre River. To the west, the ward borders Ben Tre Ward; to the north, it borders Phu Khuong Ward, forming a close-knit urban core axis.
An Hoi possesses unique tourism resources with a distinctive symbiotic model between the modern, bustling urban space on the northern bank of the Ben Tre River and the pristine garden and riverine ecosystem associated with coconut trees in the Long Thanh district's islet area to the south. The harmonious blend of dynamic urban life and the characteristic tranquility of the riverside countryside creates a unique advantage for tourism development.
Furthermore, the locality boasts a rich cultural and spiritual life with 21 religious establishments and 24 places of worship and temples. The system of historical and cultural heritage is also very prominent, with 5 classified relics, including 1 national-level relic: the Ben Tre Museum (the residence and workplace of Colonel Pham Ngoc Thao) and 4 provincial-level relics: An Hoi Temple, the Temple of the Ancestors, the site commemorating the Tet Offensive of 1968, and Phu Nhuan Temple; along with a 200-year-old heritage tree. This is an important foundation for the locality to develop various forms of eco-tourism, cultural tourism, historical tourism, and community-based experiences.
The technical infrastructure and facilities serving tourism in An Hoi ward have been invested in quite comprehensively, effectively meeting the needs of tourism development. The diverse accommodation options, along with modern entertainment, recreation, and culinary facilities, attract tourists. Furthermore, the waterway transportation infrastructure, with numerous wharves and inland waterway terminals, contributes to improved connectivity and efficient exploitation of river tourism routes.
Linking together for sustainable tourism development.
Vice Chairman of An Hoi Ward People's Committee, Bach Nhu Yen, emphasized that linking tourism development is an essential requirement for effectively exploiting the potential of localities. Accordingly, adjacent wards need to coordinate and connect historical sites, shopping areas, and scenic spots; build distinctive tourism routes such as urban-river-garden tours, coconut-region culinary experiences, waterway tourism, cycling tours, and exploring green urban spaces.
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| Exploiting the potential advantages of ecotourism in the orchards. Photo: NG. HAN |
Furthermore, coordinating the organization of cultural events, festivals, culinary competitions, traditional music and dance spaces, street activities, and weekend programs will contribute to creating attractions, extending the length of stay, and promoting the development of the night-time economy. Local authorities also need to strengthen the application of digital technology in promotion, connect with travel businesses, and empower the people to play a leading role in building a civilized and friendly tourism environment.
According to Phan Van Hai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Tan Ward, each locality needs to identify key tourism products that suit its actual conditions, forming a chain of complementary products to avoid duplication and create a unique identity. "Linking tourism development is not only a solution to effectively exploit potential but also contributes to building the image of Ben Tre city as a dynamic, friendly city rich in the cultural identity of the coconut land; promoting socio-economic development and improving the lives of the people," Mr. Hai emphasized.
According to Mr. Phan Buu Toan, Deputy Principal of Saigon College of Tourism, to develop sustainable tourism, localities need to clearly identify their distinctive products, target the right customer segments, and continuously improve the quality and uniqueness of existing products. Local people must be the direct participants, experiencing and proudly showcasing local products, and benefiting from tourism to create sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking at the seminar, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, expressed her hope that the wards of Ben Tre, An Hoi, Phu Khuong, Phu Tan, and Son Dong would boldly develop distinctive inter-ward tourism products and routes; strengthen linkages and work together to develop tourism that reflects the unique riverine culture of the province. Through this, they can effectively exploit potential, create livelihoods for the people, and contribute to promoting sustainable socio-economic development in the locality.
TRAN QUOC- NGOC HAN
Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/xa-hoi/du-lich/202605/lien-ket-khai-thac-tiem-nang-tao-da-phat-trien-du-lich-53f40ac/
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