HCM CITY — The Mekong Delta province of Trà Vinh has started building a Khmer culture and tourism village project at a cost of nearly VNĐ26 billion (about US$1.1 million), with VNĐ8 billion coming from the Government’s coffers and the rest by private investors.

Located in Ward 8 in Trà Vinh city and Lương Hoà Commune in Châu Thành District, the village is expected to be finished in 2020.

It will comprise seven main areas: the Bà Om pond, Ang Pagoda, Khmer ethnic cultural museum, Trà Vinh Pali Khmer school, Khmer cultural village, Lò Gạch Pagoda, Óc Eo relic site, and a night market.

According to Dương Hoàng Sum, director of the Trà Vinh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province is home to over 300,000 Khmer people, who make up 32 per cent of the population.

Trà Vinh, which has more than 140 Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas, celebrates Ok Om Bok, Sene Dolta and Chol Chnam Thmay festivals.

Ok Om Bok has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Trà Vinh province received more than 652,000 visitors last year, up 23 per cent from 2016, including 15,780 foreigners, Sum said. — VNS