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Different from other regions in Vietnam, the Mekong Delta and Can Tho are an attractive destination because residents’ lives are closely connected with small islets, gardens and rivers. Visitors are impressed by the dense system of rivers and canals, and especially the colorful Cai Rang floating market – one of the three most popular floating markets in the Mekong Delta.
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Established in the early 20th century, the Cai Rang floating market not only serves the trading demand of local residents, it is closely linked to life in the southwestern region. There are more than 300 boats and junks operating on the crowded market all day long. The wares are diverse including farm produce, household goods, craft and food products. Today, regardless of convenient and modern shopping methods on land, the Cai Rang floating market is still popular and is also a top tourism destination of Can Tho and the Mekong Delta, in general.
Leaving the Cai Rang market, tourists continue to luxuriant fruit gardens, a typical feature of Can Tho Province. Endowed by nature with fertile land and warm climate all year round, Can Tho has a rich collection of fruit trees such as green-peel grapefruits, star apples, mangosteens and rambutans, mostly planted in Phong Dien District and Tan Loc islet. Famous garden owners include Vam Xang, Giao Duong, My Thom, Vu Binh and My Thuan.
Phong Dien District currently has 45 eco-tourism sites featuring charming sights and offering local farmers’ hospitality, responding to tourist interest in the culture and lifestyle of the southwestern Vietnamese people. Each fruit garden here welcomes an average of over 800 visitors a day, earning a revenue of over VND200 billion a year.
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Having identified the green tourism development trend, Can Tho is seeking to take advantage of its rivers and fruit gardens for eco-tourism. River-borne and fruit garden tours have the advantage of being suitable all year round and unaffected by seasonal factors.
According to Can Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in addition to prioritizing the development of river-borne and garden tourism, it is also focusing on Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism. It is exploiting the river route starting from Ninh Kieu wharf to explore sites at Ninh Kieu, Cai Rang and Phong Dien. The river tourism lines have been commercialized to serve domestic and foreign tourists.
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Hoa Quynh
