The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Đồng Tháp will host the Cultural and Tourism Festival of Đông Hòa Hiệp Ancient Village at Cái Bè Commune in December. VNA/VNS Photo Hữu Chi

ĐỒNG THÁP – The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Đồng Tháp is working on a series of cultural and tourism activities to attract tourists during the upcoming holidays.

The province will host the Cultural and Tourism Festival of Đông Hòa Hiệp Ancient Village in Cái Bè Commune between December 3 and 7.

The festival, themed Ký Ức Làng Cổ (Memories of Ancient Village), aims to preserve and promote the cultural and historical heritage values of the ancient village, contributing to boosting local tourism.

The event will feature a journey exploring Đông Hòa Hiệp Village, local craft villages and nearby orchards.

The ancient village, surrounded by orchards and the Cái Bè River, is home to seven ancient houses built between 150 and 220 years ago. Each house was designed in the style of traditional southern garden houses with five large rooms and wooden pillars carved with patterns of pine trees, daisy flowers, bamboo and mai (ochna) trees.

The festival will include seminars on developing tourism products for the Đông Hòa Hiệp Village and creating digital data of the village.

It will also feature storytelling sessions and music shows at the village, as well as a fair showcasing traditional food and agricultural products from the province and the region.

Along with cultural and tourism activities, Đồng Tháp plans to rebuild the Cái Bè Floating Market at the festival, offering signature dishes and handicrafts.

The floating market on Tiền River began in the 18th century, operating from 2am to 8am, and selling local agricultural products, food, and handicrafts. It has disappeared since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual Sa Đéc Flower – Ornamental Plant Festival in Sa Đéc Ward is a popular festival in Đồng Tháp. VNA/VNS Photo Nhựt An

In addition, the province will organise the annual Sa Đéc Flower – Ornamental Plant Festival in Sa Đéc Ward from December 27 to January 1.

The festival will showcase 1,000 varieties of flowers and ornamental plants from across the country and abroad.

It will also feature cultural and artistic activities such as a show depicting the history and development of the 100-year-old Sa Đéc Flower Village, flower arrangements, photo exhibitions, and an áo dài (Vietnamese traditional dress) fashion show.

The event will focus on seminars on advanced techniques in growing flowers and ornamental plants, and sustainable urban agricultural models.

The Sa Đéc flower village, renowned for its cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants in the delta, attracts nearly one million visitors annually, including over 2,000 international tourists. The village currently has an area of 946 hectares for growing flowers and ornamental trees.

Phạm Văn Tân, deputy director of Đồng Tháp’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the tourism sector has proactively hosted festivals and events to attract local and international visitors and enhance their experiences and average expenditure.

He added that the province will cooperate with the HCM City Department of Tourism to launch fam trips for domestic and international travel agencies, introducing tourism products in border areas, and release an electronic guidebook about tourism projects in the city and Mekong Delta provinces and cities to call for investment.

According to the department, Đồng Tháp welcomed more than 5.4 million visitors in the first ten months of this year, including 517,000 international tourists.

The province’s most popular attractions include Tràm Chim National Park in Tràm Chim Ward, the Xẻo Quýt relic site in Mỹ Hiệp Commune, the Gò Tháp lotus pond tourism area in Tháp Mười Commune, Thới Sơn Islet in Mỹ Tho Ward, Tân Thành Beach in Gò Công Đông Commune, and Đông Hòa Hiệp Ancient Village. — VNS