Birds in Tram Chim National Park (Photo: VNA) Dong Thap (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap isworking to promote local tourism through three kinds of tourism, namely ecotourism, historical site tourism and community-based tourism.
The province has worked to turn each attraction into unique tourismproducts to draw tourists. For example, the Dong Sen-Go Thap art architectureand archeological complex in Thap Muoi district has the theme of lotus kingdomand spiritual culture.
Meanwhile, Tram Chim National Park, home to about 200 different birdspecies, has focused on Dong Thap Muoi’s natural bird park. It has held experiencetours that allow tourists to become farmers or visit birds in their breeding season.Flower field tours are also on offer, according to Le Hoang Long, Director ofthe Tram Chim National Park.
Aiming to become a flower city of the southern region, Sa Dec city has launcheda green tourism model at Sa Dec flower village, housing more than 2,000 floraspecies across 470 hectares. The city has also invested in infrastructuredevelopment to improve the environment in the village.
The tourism sector of Dong Thap province has also promoted local specialities,especially lotus-based products. Other local delicacies, such as Sa Giangshrimp chips and Lai Vung fermented pork rolls, have been honoured by domesticand international organisations.
Local farmers have been encouraged to invest in eco-farms to diversify localtourism and attract tourists to eco-holidays. For instance, Le Van Ngot, owner of a 4-hectare lotus plantation, offers various servicesfor tourists to visit lotus field and make lotus-based dishes themselves.
Due to all these efforts, Dong Thap province welcomed 1.6 millionvisitors, including more than 40,000 foreigners in the first six months of theyear. Its total revenue from tourism exceeded 300 billion VND, increasing by39.14 percent against last year and making up 52.17 percent of the yearly plan.
The local tourism sector aims to lure 3.5 million tourists with earningsof 900 billion VND to 1 trillion VND by 2020 and become one of the mostattractive destinations in the Mekong Delta region. -VNA
