HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội and Vĩnh Long Province are working together to build stronger inter-provincial tourism links that highlight cultural identity, natural landscapes and local craft traditions, with the aim of forming themed travel routes that appeal to visitors across regions.

The overarching goal of the cooperation between Hà Nội and Vĩnh Long Province in the Mekong Delta is to create unique and diverse inter-provincial and inter-regional tourism product chains that have high appeal, connecting destinations based on specific themes.

Deputy Director of the Hà Nội Department of Tourism Trần Trung Hiếu made the statement at a conference to promote and cooperate in tourism development between Hà Nội and Vĩnh Long Province, held in the locality on November 5.

The conference is part of the programme for the promotion, advertising and cooperation in tourism development between Hà Nội and the provinces in the Mekong Delta, specifically in Vĩnh Long and Đồng Tháp.

The delegation from Hà Nội is led by the Director of the Hà Nội Department of Tourism and includes representatives from various specialised departments, the Hà Nội Tourism Association, the UNESCO Travel Club of Hà Nội, representatives from several local communes in Hà Nội, as well as journalists from Hanoi media and 15 travel companies.

Specifically, Hà Nội and Vĩnh Long will focus on four main areas of collaboration: culture - heritage, nature - experience, cuisine - shopping and craft villages - river tourism.

These inter-regional products aim to provide a comprehensive experience for visitors, ranging from the ancient cultural space of Thăng Long – Hà Nội to the picturesque scenery of the lush gardens and waterways of the Mekong Delta.

According to the Deputy Director of the Hà Nội Department of Tourism, this collaboration opens up numerous opportunities for cooperation in various aspects, creating a foundation for developing attractive and sustainable inter-regional tourism products.

Director of the Vĩnh Long Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoàng Văn Sum emphasised that collaborating with Hà Nội presented a significant opportunity for the province to leverage its strengths in ecological tourism, community experiences, craft villages and local cuisine.

"The connection between the two localities not only expands the customer market but also facilitates the sharing of management and promotional experiences, contributing to the enhancement of service quality and the development of professional and sustainable tourism," he said.

Several in-depth presentations were made at the conference, contributing specific solutions to promote two-way tourism between Hà Nội and Vĩnh Long.

Deputy Chairman of the Hà Nội Tourism Association Nguyễn Tiến Đạt proposed the establishment of tourism routes titled "From Thăng Long to the Waterways of the West," featuring cultural and ecological journeys to increase visitor experiences and extend their length of stay.

Meanwhile, Trương Quốc Hùng, Chairman of the UNESCO Travel Club of Hà Nội, stressed the importance of connecting management agencies with travel businesses.

"Hà Nội’s enterprises are eager to collaborate more deeply with partners in the Mekong Delta to create four-season tourism products that are both experiential and culturally rich. This is also a way to spread the image of Việt Nam’s land and people to international friends," he said.

As a representative of the local government, Nguyễn Thanh Tùng, Deputy Head of the Cultural - Social Department of Ba Đình Ward in Hà Nội, shared his experiences in developing urban cultural and heritage tourism products through the 'Ngọc Island - Trúc Bạch' model. This serves as evidence of Hà Nội’s ability to innovate and transform tourism products towards sustainability.

At the conference, Hà Nội also presented its tourism products in an exhibition held alongside the event, attracting the attendees’ attention. The products included a variety of One Commune One Product (OCOP) items, handicrafts and gifts from craft villages, suggesting potential collaboration in developing a chain of souvenirs and regional specialities for visitors.

In his concluding remarks at the conference, Hiếu expressed confidence that the partnership between the two localities would create a new breakthrough for Việt Nam’s tourism industry.

"When the thousand-year-old capital collaborates with the lush waterways of the Mekong, it is not just a geographical connection but also a fusion of identities, a spirit of cooperation and sustainable development," he stated.

After the conference, the Hà Nội delegation conducted a field survey in Vĩnh Long and Đồng Tháp, visiting notable destinations such as Hô Islet, Sa Đéc Flower Village, the Huỳnh Thủy Lê Ancient House, Tràm Chim National Park and Mỹ Xương Tourist Village.

They also experienced the Ok Om Bok Festival, an intangible cultural heritage of the Khmer people. These activities aim to promote the development of inter-regional tourism products that connect culture, ecology and community between the North and the Mekong Delta. — VNS