Tourists visiting Bến Tre Province. VNA/VNS Photo

BẾN TRE — The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Bến Tre has approved the establishment of the Chợ Lách Cultural and Tourism Village in 2020-2021 as a driving force to develop the tourism industry.

The VNĐ242 billion (US$10.2 million) model village is meant to be one of the leading tourism, entertainment and leisure centres in the country, according to the province People's Committee.

It would help fulfil the province’s tourism potential, which is based on its diversity of cultures, traditions and natural resources and key agricultural produce.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has chosen the Chợ Lách Culture and Tourism Village as a pilot model for scaling up around the delta.

The 1,500-hectare village spreads over Vĩnh Nam, Đông Kinh, Lân Đông, and An Hòa communes in Chợ Lách District.

The project comprises elaborate plans for landscaping and construction of infrastructure around the village.

The project also seeks to develop the village into one of the largest producers of seedlings, fruits and flowers in the country over a period of time.

As the Mekong Delta’s largest producer of seedlings, Chợ Lách District is home to 31 villages that grow seedlings, flowers and ornamental plants.

It supplies more than 17 million seedlings and 12 million pots of flowers and ornamental plants to the market annually. — VNS