Exploiting river tourism from existing strengths

24/10/2023
Taking advantage of the strengths of the river region to develop tourism is one of the right directions, helping Hau Giang gradually shape and build unique products, creating impressive unique features.

Taking advantage of the strengths of the river region to develop tourism is one of the right directions, helping Hau Giang gradually shape and build unique products, creating impressive unique features.

Hau Giang Province Tourism

Waterway tourism in Hau Giang will be exploited more fundamentally, professionally and systematically. Photo: TRUNG QUAN.

More opportunities to develop potential

Continuing to effectively implement the objectives of Resolution No. 04 of the Provincial Party Committee, including the tourism sector, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a Plan for Waterway Tourism Development in the area, to continue to have more conditions to exploit and promote the advantages of the river and canal system, thereby building and developing waterway tourism products, building new tourism products, increasing the experience. Forming services to gradually meet the needs of tourists. In addition, there is also the connection, building intra-provincial and inter-provincial tours, investing in infrastructure, tourism services, to continue to preserve and promote cultural and historical values ​​to serve tourism development, contributing to increasing income for people.

The requirement is to develop waterway tourism associated with environmental protection, sustainable development, in accordance with inland waterway infrastructure planning, provincial planning...

Xa No Canal is considered the “Rice Road” of the West Hau River region, a national waterway route from Ca Mau to Ho Chi Minh City. This is also a vital route originating from the Vam Xang junction of the Can Tho River, passing through Phong Dien, to the Ba Voi River junction (Hau Giang), before flowing into the Cai Lon River (Kien Giang). On that approximately 40km stretch, the unique feature is the landscape, especially the section across the center of Hau Giang province.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: “We have seen that if we exploit the strengths of the river region, Hau Giang tourism will flourish. From there, we organized a survey trip to the Xa No canal, met with experts and travel agencies to listen to their opinions and orientations for building tours and routes on the river. We boldly advised on the development of this plan and also repeatedly consulted with departments, branches and localities to make the plan more in-depth and realistic. The promulgated plan continues to be a condition for tourism to develop by taking advantage of advantages and potentials for exploitation.”

When there is a thorough and fundamental plan, it will be exploited successfully.

River tourism products always have their own appeal. Having surveyed Hau Giang destinations many times, Mr. Le Thanh Phong, Permanent Vice President of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association, commented: Hau Giang is on the right track when gradually exploiting its strengths and potentials to develop tourism. The story of Xa No canal since it was dug more than a hundred years ago, the story of the Xa No place, the historical story in the book of writer Son Nam... All are different and unique, unlike anywhere else. To become a tourism product, it requires drastic participation, cooperation of travel agencies, media and most importantly, a new and different perspective to create highlights for those working in tourism".

In the plan to develop waterway tourism, exploiting the Xa No canal is the top priority and will be implemented immediately, along with the construction of a wharf on the Cai Con river connected to Nga Bay floating market.

Strive for the period 2025-2030 to have 2 wharves on Xa No canal and along Hau river, forming a fleet of boats to serve tourists on waterway tourism routes; linking waterway tourism routes with neighboring provinces and cities such as Can Tho, Soc Trang, Kien Giang... From there, 3 main tourism products will be focused on investment: Xa No canal tourism route, Cai Con river route connected to Nga Bay floating market and the route connected to the river and garden, preserving the typical landscape of the river and water along Hau river.

Tasks and solutions have also been set out, from developing tourism products to investing in infrastructure, facilities, and services for these products, while training human resources for waterway tourism. Propaganda and promotion work has also received special attention, both strengthening propaganda and promoting extensively, and coordinating with travel agencies inside and outside the province to connect tours and waterway tourism routes combined with roads to bring visitors to fruit gardens, historical and cultural relics, traditional craft villages, etc.

The budget to implement this plan is over 58.5 billion VND. The specific budget calculation will be an important condition for each content in the plan to be implemented smoothly, methodically, on schedule and with the required quality.

In mid-November, the Xa No tourist ship will resume operations.

The provincial leaders, together with relevant departments and branches, have recently inspected the repair and renovation of the Xa No tourist ship at the Mechanical Workshop of 622 Company Limited, Binh Thuy District, Can Tho City. The Xa No tourist ship will be painted, repaired, and renovated on each floor, with a total cost of repair and equipment of more than 2.2 billion VND. It is expected that by mid-November, the ship will be back in operation, preparing to serve major events that will take place at the end of the year.

Vinh Tra - Hau Giang Newspaper

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