HO CHI MINH CITY – Vietnam is looking at directing more tourism towards Vĩnh Long province, where plans have been made to develop special tourism products including homestays, ecological tours, and classical drama shows.
In 2019, the province welcomed 1.5 million tourists, marking a 15% jump from the year before. Income from tourism hit US$22.5 million, representing an over 50% hike from 2018.
This year, Vĩnh Long province hopes to do even better, looking at receiving 1.6 million tourists.
To achieve this goal, the local tourism sector will be promoting Vĩnh Long province’s special tourism products.
Currently, hát bội (classical drama) shows are offered on a trial basis for tourists looking for entertainment options. In particular, travellers can look out for shows by the local Đồng Thinh Art Troupe – who performed at the Smithsonian Festival in 2007 held in Washington DC.
Homestays are also offering such hát bội shows, where guests get to meet artists after the performance, even learning how to act and put on make-up for the shows.
Director of Vĩnh Long Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Phan Văn Giàu, says the local tourism sector is hoping to introduce such classical dramas and đờn ca tài tử (amateur music art) to more tourists.
A plan has been made to push tourism products in four sectors: homestays combined with ecological tours, cultural tours, agricultural tours, and visits to handicraft villages. Vĩnh Long province is home to about 100 homestays, hotels and guesthouses, 50 fruit gardens, and 40 tourism sites. For culture lovers, there are about 55 such sites to pick from, plus 25 handicraft villages that can demonstrate how to weave leaves, making rattan wares and rice crepes.