After the merger, Vinh Long province has a coastal corridor stretching over 130km. With its open space towards the East, the province hopes to unlock its potential for coastal tourism , forming a tourism route connecting inland orchards to the coast, creating diverse and unique products.
Enchanted by the blue sea.
Located at the gateway to the East Sea of the Minh Island area, situated between the Ham Luong and Co Chien rivers, Thanh Hai coastal commune, with its beautiful natural scenery, pristine ecological environment, rich cultural traditions, historical relics, and warm hospitality of its people, possesses a unique charm that leaves a lasting positive impression on visitors.
Traveling nearly 160km, Ms. Phan Thi Kim Qui (from Cao Lanh ward, Dong Thap province) arrived at Con Bung (Thanh Hai commune) during the summer days. Ms. Kim Qui said that the seawater here is not crystal clear, and the sand is not white, but it has a unique characteristic of the alluvial coastal region. Especially along the way, she and her family were able to admire the beauty of the giant wind turbine towers, rising majestically against the blue sky.
Ms. Qui added that early morning, when fresh seafood is brought ashore, is the ideal time for tourists to choose and buy shrimp, crab, clams, snails, etc. Then, by simply having the seafood restaurants along the beach prepare it on the spot at a reasonable price, tourists can enjoy fresh, delicious seafood right next to the beach.
Besides swimming and enjoying seafood, the family had the opportunity to visit the Nam Hai Whale Mausoleum - a place of worship for two giant whale skeletons, a spiritual symbol of the people of the coastal region - to learn more about the unique cultural and religious beliefs of the local people.
In addition, her family also visited the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the Sea - "the bridgehead for receiving weapons from the North to support the Southern battlefield" - a historical site honoring the brave soldiers who transported weapons by sea, making them even more proud of the historical traditions of their ancestors.
Located approximately 12km from Con Bung islet, and boasting a prime location near the sea and lush mangrove forests, the Gió Đước Ecological Lagoon (in Thanh Thoi B hamlet, Thanh Hai commune) has been operational since May 2023. It's not just a recreational destination, but also a green tourism model that harmoniously combines nature conservation, community development, and local cultural experiences.
Ms. Vo Thi Kim Thuy (Cao Lanh ward, Dong Thap province) shared that amidst the lush green space of the coastal mangrove forest, the Gio Duoc ecological lagoon "welcomes" tourists with slender yet challenging rope bridges. Ropes stretched horizontally, connecting small wooden planks to create pathways across the clear water, leading into the thriving, refreshing mangrove forest.
Taking slow, deliberate steps, she felt a gentle tremor with each step, yet it was incredibly enjoyable. For Thuy, this wasn't just a physical activity in the mangrove forest, but also a way to connect with nature, immersing herself in the feeling of "slow living" beneath the lush green mangrove canopy.
Mr. Nguyen Dang Khoa, owner of the Gio Duoc Ecological Lagoon, said that by utilizing his family's existing mangrove forest, he began exploiting this long-neglected "inherent resource" in the Thanh Hai coastal area, creating a unique ecotourism space.
The journey began with a simple desire to bring nature back to tourists so they could touch, hear, and feel the mangrove trees in a tranquil space, as well as create a place where visitors could immerse themselves in nature, relax under the mangrove canopy, and feel the peace and familiarity of the Western coastal region.
Nestled in Thoi Hoa 2 hamlet, Thoi Thuan coastal commune, Con Ba Tu homestay has emerged as a unique coastal eco-tourism destination, attracting numerous domestic and international tourists.
As a 3-star OCOP-certified homestay by the end of 2024, this place stands out with its mangrove forest scenery, creating opportunities for visitors to connect deeply with nature, live slowly, "heal," experience being a real coastal farmer, and participate in rustic activities such as fishing, casting nets, picking shellfish, catching crabs, and setting traps.
Ms. Le Thi Kim Linh, owner of Con Ba Tu homestay, said that the homestay "welcomes guests" with the simplest things: thatched roofs, wooden walls, simple earthen floors, and typical dishes of the coastal countryside; it is a peaceful, breezy space amidst vast shrimp ponds and salt fields, contributing to spreading a green lifestyle, protecting the environment, and preserving the traditional local cultural values of the people in the riverine region.
Besides the charming Southern Vietnamese countryside setting, what truly captivates visitors is how Linh and her husband treat them like family.
Ms. Linh said that Mr. Thao (her husband) takes on the role of tour guide, leading visitors on tours through the mangrove forests and providing experiences of local livelihoods. She is responsible for preparing traditional meals with fresh seafood and garden vegetables.
Simple, home-style meals are always the most intimate connections – where hosts and guests sit together at the table, chatting without any distance between them. It is this warm and sincere hospitality that has led many tourists to consider this place their "grandmother's home," giving them a feeling of "returning home" amidst the still largely unspoiled coastal region.
Building a "three-in-one" destination image.
According to Lam Huu Phuc, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long province, after the merger, Vinh Long's coastline of over 130km opens up golden opportunities for tourism development, especially in forming a tourism route connecting inland orchards to the coast, creating unique products and diverse experiences for tourists.
Previously, Vinh Long was famous for its garden and river tourism, historical and cultural relics. With its long coastline, the province could add more marine tourism products such as resort tourism (developing high-end coastal resorts); organizing activities such as surfing, paragliding, kayaking, and fishing to develop marine sports tourism; along with exploring the mangrove ecosystem, alluvial plains, sand dunes, and islets along the river flowing into the sea; learning about the life and culture of local fishing communities to develop marine cultural tourism...
According to Mr. Lam Huu Phuc, the combination of orchards and the sea will create a seamless and unique experience, attracting tourists to stay longer in Vinh Long and increasing revenue for the tourism industry.
Coastal tourism will lead to the development of many other service industries such as accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, and handicrafts. This will create thousands of new jobs for local people, improve their living standards, and contribute to the overall economic development of the province.
Furthermore, the newly acquired coastal advantages will attract major domestic and foreign investors to the tourism sector, building modern tourism infrastructure for the locality. The province also has the incentive to upgrade the transportation system connecting garden and coastal tourist destinations, making it more convenient for tourists to travel.
Furthermore, the province focuses on developing sustainable tourism while preserving the traditional cultural values of the orchard areas, the Khmer ethnic minority communities, and the marine ecosystem. Tourism projects can integrate environmental education programs, raising community awareness about protecting natural resources and cultural heritage.
Mr. Lam Huu Phuc shared that possessing the advantages of orchards, a distinctive Khmer ethnic culture, and a coastline makes Vinh Long different from neighboring provinces in the Mekong Delta.
The province can build an image as a "three-in-one" destination, blending the distinctive features of its riverine orchards, traditional Khmer culture, and the beauty of the sea. This will help Vinh Long increase its competitiveness on the national and international tourism map.
According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long province, in the first six months of 2025, the province welcomed over 5.1 million tourists, including more than 676,000 international visitors; the total revenue of the tourism industry was over 4,000 billion VND.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/vinh-long-after-merger-exploiting-tourism-potential-from-orchards-to-the-coast-post1050460.vnp
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