Visitors have the chance to participate in enriching outdoor activities

Could you please tell us about the potential, advantages and recent outstanding results of Ben Tre province’s tourism industry?

Ben Tre is more favored by nature than other provinces and cities in the region. The province also has many islets like Con Phung, Con Quy (Tan Thach - Chau Thanh), Con Phu Da (Cho Lach), Con Oc (Hung Phong), Con Nhan and Con Ho (Ba Tri). Besides, it is home to cultural and historical relics recognized at national and provincial agencies. To promote these potential advantages, Ben Tre has sped up tourism development, particularly in countryside eco-tourism, craft village tourism, homestay tourism and resort tourism.

As of September 2024, Ben Tre had 32 travel businesses (11 international firms and 21 domestic companies), a tourist area, two tourist destinations, 89 hotels with 1,646 rooms to serve more than 3,000 guests, seven tourist service providers, 10 outstanding tourist destinations of the Mekong Delta, and four OCOP tourism products. Total tourism revenue was estimated at VND2,470 billion in the first nine months of 2024, up 15% year on year and equal to 79.7% of the plan. Tourist arrivals were forecast at 1,973,165, up 15.1% year on year and equal to 80.4% of the plan. 

On January 29, 2021, the Provincial Party Committee announced Project 02-DA/TU on tourism development to 2030 and the Provincial People's Committee launched Plan 3706/KH dated July 1, 2021 on implementation of Project 02. How is the tourism sector concretizing the Project and the Plan?

The sector has focused on coordinating with relevant agencies and localities to implement and concretize the Project and the Plan and achieved some outstanding results. It has launched, guided and implemented central and provincial policies and mechanisms. In addition, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has worked with competent bodies to consult the Provincial People's Council to develop a resolution on policies supporting tourism development investment to 2030. It is expected to be submitted to the Provincial People's Council at the mid-2025 meeting.

The infrastructure system for people’s livelihoods and tourism development has been gradually completed. At present, the province has many large-scale modern hotels, sightseeing spots, restaurants and shopping malls to meet the growing demand of people and tourists.

Tourist products and services have been created to effectively tap local potential advantages, meet market demand and enhance tourist experiences. The quality of tourism products and services, imbued with local identity, has also been raised professionally.

The sector has further strengthened and promoted connectivity and cooperation with other provinces and cities, training facilities, travel companies in the Eastern Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, 13 Mekong Delta provinces and cities, the Central Highlands, the Central Coast and some northern provinces. The sector has regularly organized and participated in domestic and international tourism promotion.

Ben Tre has focused on calling for investors to invest in resort tourism, cultural and historical tourism and MICE tourism development projects. The province currently has 23 tourism investment projects with a total investment capital of over VND6,000 billion. It has also announced a list of 22 prioritized tourism projects to attract investment.

Training, coaching and fostering human resources is focused on implementing in a professional and modern manner.

Advancing digital transformation, Ben Tre launched Technology 4.0 in smart tourism development and conducted digital transformation, including auto interpretation, in relics and tourist destinations.

In addition, the province has strengthened State management, inspection and examination to promptly warn, remind, guide and strictly handle violations to ensure a healthy and professional tourism business environment.

Ben Tre is promoting tourism with a focus on eco-tourism, craft villages, homestays, and resorts

To realize the above goals, turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector and achieve sustainable development, what key solutions will the sector take?

The province will continue to boost communications and effectively execute the Tourism Law 2017, Action Program 22-CTr/TU, programs, projects and plans to raise awareness and create consensus in actions of Party committees, businesses and people, thus bolstering tourism development.

The province will focus on mobilizing resources, attracting investment capital and effectively implementing Component 16 and the Ben Tre tourism development plan in 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The locality will perfect mechanisms and policies to support and facilitate tourism development.

Ben Tre will give priority to infrastructure investment in planned tourist destinations and areas, strengthen communications on Ben Tre tourism images, and expand cooperation in product development and tourism route connection. In addition, the province will reinforce tourism worker training to meet the higher and more diverse demand from tourists.

Thank you very much!