MEKONG HERITAGE: Long An Province will introduce new tours to discover its cultural and historical sites and natural landscapes to visitors during its first Culture and Tourism Week from September 17-21. VNA/VNS Photo by Thanh Bình

LONG AN – The southern province of Long An will open its first Culture and Tourism Week in the city of Tân An tomorrow to honour its cultural and historical heritage and promote its tourism potential.

“With the theme of Du lịch Long An An Toàn, Thân Thiện, Hấp Dẫn (Tourism in Long An - Safe, Friendly and Attractive), the festival aims to introduce traditional festivals, cultural and historical sites, tourism areas, natural landscape and craft villages to travel agencies and the public,” said Nguyễn Anh Dũng, director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“It also creates opportunities for local businesses to seek cooperation with travel agencies in HCM City and southern provinces to create new tourism products to attract visitors in Việt Nam and the world,” he added.

The five-day festival will open with a music gala at Tân An Park featuring songs praising the country, President Hồ Chí Minh and Long An, as well as tài tử music, a traditional music genre of the South.

There will be a fireworks performance at Long An Stadium after the opening ceremony.

The province will host exchange performances of tài tử music and other kinds of traditional music between local artists and those from other southern provinces at the Culture and Art Centre in Tân An.

A photo exhibition featuring the province’s development and socio-economic and cultural achievements will be set up at the centre.

Moreover, the province will launch a trade fair introducing its OCOP (one commune one product) products, craft villages and cuisine at Tân An Park.

It will hold forums on tourism promotion, and introduce new tours to discover cultural and historical sites such as an ancient house having 100 wooden poles in Cần Đước District, and Tôn Thạnh Pagoda built in 1808 in Cần Giuộc District.

During the festival, the province will offer free tickets for all visitors at the Happy Land Tourist Area in Bến Lức District, where tourists can have fun with a series of southern folk games.

“Through the festival, the province will focus on promoting its tourism potential and strengths, and developing tourism along with protecting and preserving its cultural and historical values,” Nguyễn Bá Luân, director of the Department of Information and Communications, said.

The province also invited Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 H'Hen Niê to become the festival’s ambassador to connect and promote the image of the province to the people.

The festival will close on September 21. It is expected to attract around 250,000 visitors. – VNS