Large numbers of people visit Quán Âm Phật Đài Pagoda in Bạc Liêu City in the Mekong Delta during Tết. – VNA/VNS Photo Chanh Đa

HCM CITY – The number of tourists visiting the Mekong River Delta was significantly up in the first few days of the Tết (Lunar New Year) festival that began on February 1 this year.

The delta, which comprises Cần Thơ City and 12 provinces, has a dense river and canal network, vast paddies and fruit orchards, a diverse eco-system, a unique culture, and a myriad of other tourism attractions.

In Cà Mau Province, tourism destinations received nearly 72,500 visitors between January 31 and February 4, up 3.4 per cent from last year, according to its Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The President Hồ Chí Minh memorial monument, the Cà Mau Cape national tourism zone, the Hòn Đá Bạc tourism area are the most popular destinations.

In Kiên Giang Province’s Phú Quốc City, a popular island destination, all three- to five-star resorts and hotels were fully booked between February 2 and 6.

A large number of tourists were from HCM City and Hà Nội, according to the Kiên Giang Tourism Association.

Bùi Quốc Thái, director of the Kiên Giang Department of Tourism, said tourism establishments have been instructed to prepare well to serve tourists, including ensuring COVID – 19 safety and effectively implementing promotions.

Nguyễn Khánh Hiệp, director of the An Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the province’s tourism activities recovered during Tết as companies invested in renovating tourism destinations and offering a range of cuisines to attract tourists.

An Giang received 316,000 visitors between January 30 and February 3, up 58 per cent. 

The province's well-known landmarks like Núi Sam National Tourism Zone, Núi Cấm Tourism Area and Trà Sư cajuput forest attracted large numbers of tourists.

Its new destinations like An Hảo solar power tourist area and Tri Tôn lakes were also crowded.

To revive the tourism industry, the province has been focusing on domestic tourists.

It is famous for ecological, community-based, spiritual, and cultural tourism. 

“The province is implementing [its own] tourism promotions and the national domestic tourism stimulation programme, ‘Vietnamese people travel in Việt Nam’,” Hiệp said.

In Trà Vinh and Đồng Tháp provinces too the number of visitors increased significantly.

Đồng Tháp received more than 75,500 tourists in the first four days of Tết, up 27.7 per cent against the same period of last year. – VNS