Hoa Sen University

Vatel Program - Hotel & Tourism Business School

FINAL ASSIGNMENT
FOREIGN LAGUAGE II
LAN201

Student: PHAN GIA BAO Student ID: 1910007

Class: MA2-2019 Date: 02/06/2021

Teacher in charge: Nguyen Minh Hung

Topic: Rural tourism is a trend and going to boom in

the following years when people are more inclined to nature-
oriented touristic spots where they can experience what they
cannot in big cities. Please identify the location (in Vietnam
or anywhere in the world) and discuss factors of rural
tourism that you believe if effectively enhanced would
promisingly become an advantage for its sustainable
development.
Rural tourism is a trend and going to boom in the following years when people are more
inclined to nature-oriented touristic spots where they can experience what they cannot in big
cities. Please identify the location (in Vietnam or anywhere in the world) and discuss factors
of rural tourism that you believe if effectively enhanced would promisingly become an
advantage for its sustainable development.

● Introduction

For the sole aim of leisure and enjoyment, rural tourism may be defined as when the tourists
spend their holiday time on a farm, a ranch, a country residence or the surrounding areas in a
rural location. It is a trend that will continue to grow in the coming years as people become
more drawn to tourist destinations that focus on nature and allow them to experience what
they cannot in urban areas.

Rural tourism has a huge potential in our nation that is yet not fully exploited, which will not
only encourage tourist inflow but will also support local communities. In our country, the
Mekong Delta and high mountains such as those in the Northwest and Central Highlands, in
my opinion, have the greatest potential for rural tourism development, not only because they
have an outstanding natural foundation and sustainable agricultural development, but also
because of the special harmonious cultural interaction between many different ethnic groups.
The Mekong Delta is the most worthy to be developed internationally as an ideal ruler rural
tourism spot in the southern area.

● Discussion

The Mekong Delta, at the southern point of Vietnam, is the most fertile and most densely
populated region in Vietnam, as well as the largest in Southeast Asia. This area has 1 city
directly under the central government, Can Tho city, and 12 provinces. With a densely
distributed river network, vast rice fields, four-season bay fruit orchards, “cai luong” music,
“don ca tai tu”, the sweet aroma of tropical fruits and southern folk delicacies, the land has a
lot of potential for tourism development but currently has not been fully exploited. The
favourable tropical and monsoonal weather makes it easy to travel to the Mekong Delta at
any time of the year. If you want to fully see the life of the river in the west, the time from
August to November will be the best time for typical activities of the flood season such as the
floating market.

Though it develops quickly, the town keeps its appeal as the heart of a rural area, since the
urban growth is taking place in a rather orderly manner. Hence, there are several factors in
Mekong Delta rural tourism that I feel would be promising for its sustainable growth if they
were adequately improved. The reason I chose not a particular city but the entire Mekong
Delta for discussion and analysis is that I realize many similarities among provinces and
cities with great potential for tourism development in this region, which would lead the
tourist industry throughout the region if effectively enhanced.

❖ Focusing on agritourism

In the context of the COVID-19 epidemic, to safely recover the tourism industry, it is
recommended to focus on organizing tours associated with safe destinations, such as river
eco-zones, tours to the sea and islands. With the advantage of many rivers and the strong
development of agriculture, the Mekong Delta has an ideal base to focus on developing
agritourism.

Travel companies should organize individual tours, choosing destinations that are safe for
visitors. Many tourist areas and attractions for tourists in the Mekong Delta are very open,
spacious and not crowded. Service providers are very aware of the prevention and control of
epidemics and ensure the safety of visitors.

Tourists enjoy visiting the tourist attraction "flying snakehead fish" in Con Son, Binh Thuy
district, Can Tho city.

The development status of tourism in the Mekong Delta has not changed much these years
because provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta were still struggling with defining what is a
specific tourism product when every locality has similar products. Therefore, it is vital to
develop new products in addition to current ones. The Mekong Delta has duplicate tourism
products, but if they know how to refresh, they will not be the same. For example, “don ca tai
tu” in Tien Giang will be different from Bac Lieu or other localities. “Canh chua ca loc” in
Vinh Long will taste different from An Giang. We need to know how to renew products from
the old, from the needs of visitors that make a difference. The product packages are appealing
not only in terms of pricing, but also in terms of new product ideas, connecting concepts,
producing many experiences, many exciting holidays, and leaving an impact in the hearts of
visitors.

Farmers that engage in agricultural tourism and offer their fields to tourists will boost the
value of their produce. Farmers not only consume products through traditional channels, but
they also offer items to farm visitors directly. As a result, farmers may conserve and enhance
their intrinsic productivity through agricultural tourism. If we can do this, it would give our
rural youth in the Mekong Delta the best employment opportunities without letting them
relocate to and remain in urban cities.

Phong Dien, for example, is a region in Can Tho with over 8,500 hectares of fruit trees.
Mangosteen, durian, longan, and other delightful fruit delicacies are all VietGAP certified.
Many gardeners in the area have taken advantage of the opportunity to engage in agricultural
tourism. Most tourists like to come over after visiting Cai Rang floating market to visit the
fruit-laden fields. Many households have expanded the number of fruit trees in their yards to
serve visitors. Coming there, guests also have more information, very interesting skills
associated with "gardening passion". This is a way to sell and introduce effective products for
farmers with sustainable farming models, bringing high economic efficiency.

Phong Dien Fruit Garden, Can Tho City

❖ Developing tourism associated with the culture, life and cuisine of the locals

In addition to the tourism characteristics of the river region, tourism in the Southwest region
also possesses a potential element that needs to be exploited, which is the culture expressed
through the daily life of the people. The demand of tourists is increasing, not only to enjoy
nature but also to learn and explore the life of people in that natural setting.
Chau Giang Cham Village is a famous village of the Cham community in An Giang province.
For those who want to learn about the culture and people of the Cham people, this must be a
destination not to be missed. Cham Chau Giang village highlights the scene of wooden stilt
houses with unique and strange architecture. Along the way to this Cham village, you can
easily see the image of traditional silk weaving Cham girls, also, coming here you can
combine to buy a few pretty small items as gifts since the souvenirs are quite cheap here.

One of the typical cultural features in the Mekong Delta is the floating market. Along with
Cai Be floating market (Tien Giang), Cai Rang has long been known to domestic and foreign
tourists as one of the two most famous river markets in the region. In the middle of the vast
river, the market is most crowded at six o'clock in the morning and ends at eight or nine
o'clock with hundreds of large and small boats, trading all kinds of goods, fruits and
agricultural products. On each boat, people put a pole and hang the items they want to sell on
it. Just at a glance, buyers can easily recognize and find the item to buy.
The shopping scene was bustling. Besides the shopping boats, there are also boats serving
food, with noodles, coffee, cigarettes, beer, groceries crept everywhere to serve customers.
Tourists both visit the floating market and enjoy the fresh products right on the boats of the
people here. Today, although the road network has developed widely, floating markets still
exist and develop, even more crowded, becoming a cultural feature of the Mekong Delta.

The climate is favourable with wind and rain all year round, creating favourable conditions
for lush trees, rivers full of alluvium, which has formed a very rich and diverse cuisine in this
land. Every tourist comes, in addition to visiting the scenery, also to enjoy the famous
specialities and delicacies of the Mekong Delta cuisine.

One of the Western specialities that must be mentioned is “bun ca Chau Doc”. In terms of
origin, “bun ca Chau Doc” is not created by Vietnamese people but imported from Cambodia.
Over the years, with the variation in ingredients and flavour, Chau Doc noodle soup has
become a familiar dish that brings many people. the taste of the people of the West. The dish
has attracted many people by the rich flavour of the broth cooked with fresh wormwood and
turmeric, adding a piece of snakehead fish that is both sweet and firm, served with local
vegetables.
Another Western speciality is “banh pia”, a Soc Trang speciality made with simply flour, taro,
green beans, durian, and salted duck egg yolk, yet “banh pia Soc Trang” has a flavour unlike
any other cake. Enjoying a few cakes with a sip of ginger tea, trading a couple of stories will
warm the hearts of tourists. The most interesting thing is the pure sweetness of durian flavour
that can not be replaced by any artificial flavouring.

❖ Paying attention and raising awareness about environmental issues

The development of tourism in the Mekong Delta is now gradually being invested
methodically in many aspects such as creating distinct highlights, diversifying specific
products of each locality, which attracts a large number of tourists. However, the tourism here
still has many concerns, including concerns about the environment.
When visiting Can Tho in early spring, many tourists cannot miss experiencing the rhythm of
life of people living on the river at the Cai Rang floating market. However, practically
everyone is aware of one fact: the uncontrolled dumping of waste into this river. This is
likewise the case in all of the Mekong Delta's floating markets.

Every day, around 2,500 boats and ships dock in the region's floating marketplaces, trading
and exchanging commodities, according to data. On the other hand, the daily floating market
dumps a significant quantity of rubbish directly into the river. All types of floating debris,
including several difficult-to-decompose compounds that cause major environmental
contamination, such as plastic objects, plastic bags...

Despite the fact that local management groups are created on a daily and weekly basis to
collect waste, the situation has not changed.
Tourism development has not been linked to the effective exploitation and utilization of
natural resources, nor has it been linked to environmental conservation. The reason for this is
that tourist expansion in recent years has been far too rapid. Many tourist activities have
begun to take place in ecologically vulnerable places as a result of the mass tourist trend.
These factors put a significant strain on the ecosystem of the area.

We must confess that the majority of international visitors are highly conscious, which means
that they are aware of where to dispose of rubbish and how to conserve and respect property
without needing to be reminded. Vietnamese visitors aren't as aware as that. Perhaps the
government's management force is limited, and funds to gather or handle these situations is
also limited, so there will be flaws, but I believe people's consciousness is still the most vital.

To develop sustainable tourism, long-term planning is required, which not only considers
profit as a goal but also the benefits for the future through rational and efficient use of natural
and cultural resources. The tourist environment must also be focused, to achieve a balance in
preserving and promoting tourism values in the future.

● Summary

The Mekong Delta is not only a rich agricultural area but also has great potential in
developing rural tourism. However, in recent times, tourism in the Mekong Delta has not
been properly invested and exploited effectively. Therefore, the correct identification of the
current situation, challenges and sustainable development of tourism in the Mekong Delta is a
necessary issue.

Rural tourism development in the Mekong Delta is only shown in the vision, there is still a
lack of specific actions. The way to do tourism is still spontaneous and unprofessional.
Tourism products are mainly based on nature, exploiting what is available without long-term
investment. Investment in tourist infrastructure development, as well as upgrading the level
of tourism human resources, is also required to create a breakthrough for rural tourism in “the
land of Nine Dragons”.