HONOURING FARMERS - A museum featuring the agriculture of the Mekong Delta will be built on 11ha of land located in Vũng Liên Town, Vũng Liên District of Vĩnh Long Province. It is expected to open in 2027 and will display over 1,000 artefacts and documents on agriculture in different periods. Photo courtesy ofnongnghiepvinhlong.vn.

VĨNH LONG — A design competition for the construction of a museum for the agriculture of the Mekong Delta has been launched by the People’s Committee of Vĩnh Long Province.

The event’s goal is to find a viable design for the museum building on 11ha that will be located in Rạch Trúc Hamlet, Vũng Liên Town, Vũng Liên District of Vĩnh Long.

The construction will cost VNĐ400 billion (around US$17 million) from the State budget and other resources, and is divided into several stages of implementation.

The museum is expected to open in 2027. It will display over 1,000 artefacts and documents on agriculture in different periods, including the Nguyễn Lords and Nguyễn Dynasty from 1698-1858 and the French colonial period dating back to 1858.

Many agricultural tools used to prepare soil for planting, to make hay, and to harvest as well as fishing tools, will be also featured.

According to the chairman of the People's Committee of Vĩnh Long Province, Lữ Quang Ngời, the museum aims to honour the achievements of regional agriculture and the contribution of local farmers to the country’s economic and social development.

“The museum will help promote the value of agricultural heritage and connect tourism development in the region and Vĩnh Long Province,” he said.

Vĩnh Long is located between the Tiền and Hậu rivers, two tributaries of the Mekong Delta region. It has worked to develop eco-tourism products related to rivers, orchards, handicraft villages and rural areas.

The province has 11 national heritage sites and 54 provincial heritage sites, many of which are popular tourism destinations.

It has solicited investment of VNĐ6.5 trillion ($284 million) for seven tourism projects, such as Mang Thít Contemporary Heritage and An Bình eco-agriculture urban area. The museum of the Mekong Delta’s agriculture is also included.

Work on the museum began in 2022 and is expected to last five years.

The design competition has begun and will present awards in October. — VNS