VietNamNet Bridge – Soc Trang Province is calling for investments in tourism, especially eco- and community-based tourism. Moreover, this Mekong Delta province also boosts regional cooperation, mainly river tourism.

Soc Trang has 72 kilometers of coastline with sand dunes, alluvial grounds, coastal salt-marsh forests, islets and orchards.

Hosting eight national cultural-historical heritage sites and 26 provincial heritage sites, the Mekong Delta province boasts specialties combining three communities — Vietnamese, Khmer and Chinese.

Outstanding are the Buddhist Tower and the Khmer-style architecture of the house of Mai Mai Huyen in Phu My Commune, My Tu District—the local tourist magnet.

Such advantages enable Soc Trang to develop eco- and community-based tourism, especially in localities such as My Phuoc Islet, Phong Nam Islet, Dung Islet, Vinh Chau Town, Nga Nam Town, Chau Thanh District and Tran De District.

According to Soc Trang Province’s tourism development master plan in 2011-2020, the province focuses on projects concerning the two types of tourism (see list below). To realize these projects, the provincial authorities are offering investment incentives, mobilizing tourism infrastructure capital sources and improving the quality of its traditional festivals.

Various ways to attract investments have been applied, including directly promoting investment projects among potential investors at conferences and introducing projects through investment guidebooks and websites.

Especially, Soc Trang is committed to simplifying administrative procedures while timely dealing with investors’ difficulties.

Great potential of river tourism

Lying in the basin of the Hau (Lower Mekong) River, Soc Trang is endowed with a coastline and rivers which provides a broad swath of specialties, on which the province can develop river tourism.

In particular, the 1,200-hectare forest of cypresses on Dung Islet is home to diverse wildlife such as bats, birds, crabs, shrimps, clams and oysters. Visitors of Dung Islet will study legends of Lord Nguyen Anh (King Gia Long later) and Long An and Dam Tien canals.

Next to Dung Islet is My Phuoc Islet which is well known as the kingdom of fruits such as Nhon My durians, An My jackfruits, Phong Nam purple longan and red oranges, Xuan Hoa star apples, Ke Thanh pomelos and Ba Trinh oranges.

The My Phuoc Traditional Cultural Festival Tourist Site is under construction, anticipating more entertainment choices for tourists.

According to experts, river tourism in the Mekong Delta, including Soc Trang, is promising. Cai Rang (Can Tho City) and Nga Bay (Hau Giang Province) floating markets are famous destinations. Soc Trang also has its own Nga Nam floating market. However, it has not attracted many tourists due to poor transport infrastructure.

The provincial tourism sector plans to cooperate with neighboring local government to include floating markets and other tourist destinations in the regional tourism network.

Last year, of Soc Trang’s more than one million tourists, one fifth used local accommodation services. To lengthen tourists’ stay and to diversify tourism products, the provincial authorities should develop community-based tourism associated with the sea, rivers and islets.

The move may help the province’s tourism develop sustainably. Promoting local tourism through various channels, participation in the network of the Mekong Delta’s western region, cooperation with other provinces and Cambodia are among the top priorities.

SGT