Ca Mau (VNA)𒊎 – Authorities and people of Ca Mau are joining hands to establish the southernmost province of Vietnam as a charming and hospital destination for visitors.

Taking pride in local delicacies

Coming to Ca Mau in late October and talking to local residents, visitors can understand their pride of and willingness to join efforts in developing tourism to impress tourists with beautiful images of the southernmost land. Le Minh Ty, owner of the Rach Goc – Tu Ty rest area in Tam Hiep hamlet of Rach Goc township, Ngoc Hien district, said not waiting until the Dat Mui (Cape Land) Culture – Tourism Week in mid-December takes place, he has always told his family’s members and employees to keep a polite and enthusiastic attitude when receiving visitors. Dropping in this rest stop on the way to the Dat Mui tourism area, despite not using services or buying any goods, visitors still receive detailed and enthusiastic guidance on road, vehicle and accommodation from its staff. Ty said in late 2018, the provincial Department of Industry and Trade and the Ngoc Hien district People’s Committee chose the Rach Goc –Tu Ty rest area for housing a store selling specialties of Ca Mau. The store aims to make not only delicacies but also typical rural industrial products of Ca Mau more popular among tourists such as honey, “trai giac” (three-leaf cayratia) wine, dried “sac ran” (Trichogaster pectoralis) fish, dried shrimp, and “bon bon” (bullrush) pickles. Resting here, travellers will also have a chance to experience many interesting eco-tourism activities like sitting on “vo lai” (a type of small motorised boat) to go deep into mangrove forests, catch “ca thoi loi” (giant mudskippers) and “oc len” (mud creeper), search for “ba khia” (red crab) at night, and join locals in cooking simple but typical dishes of this land of water. In Tan An Tay, an outstanding new-style rural commune of Ngoc Hien district, Vice Chairman of the communal People’s Committee Vo Minh Ho said locals have decorated roads with flowers and greenery to make this countryside area more attractive and leave good impression of Ca Mau on visitors.

Events to be held to promote Ca Mau’s tourism

In an effort to foster tourism, the provincial People’s Committee is going to organise the Mui Ca Mau (Ca Mau Cape) Culture – Tourism Week from December 10 to 15 with a myriad of activities like inaugurating a replica of the Hanoi Flag Tower, the Temple of Lac Long Quan (father of the Hung Kings – the legendary founders of Vietnam), and some structures at the Mui Ca Mau national tourism area; along with a trade – tourism fair. Tran Hieu Hung, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said an important event of the week is the inauguration of the replica of the Hanoi Flag Tower in Ca Mau Cape. This symbolic structure is a gift from the administration and people of Hanoi, showing the profound sentiment of the capital city’s people for the southernmost land of the nation. An array of other activities will also be held as part of the week like singing and dancing performances; cuisine introduction with the participation of representatives from Mekong Delta localities, Thailand, Koh Kong province of Cambodia, Khammouane province of Laos, and Jeollabuk province of the Republic of Korea; destination introduction; and sale of specialties. Art troupes from nationwide will give visitors a taste of traditional cultural quintessence such as “quan ho” singing of Bac Giang province, “cheo” (traditional opera) of Ninh Binh province, the gong culture of the Central Highlands region, along with “cai luong” (reformed opera) and “don ca tai tu” music and songs of the southern region. A “cai luong” competition for amateurs in the Mekong Delta will also take place. Main activities of the week are set to be held in Ngoc Hien district, which is home to the Mui Ca Mau national tourism area, and Ca Mau city. Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau provincial People’s Committee Tran Hong Quan, who is also head of the week’s steering board, said aside from creating a highlight for the Mui Ca Mau national tourism area, the week is also expected to help introduce local economic, cultural and tourism potential and strengths and affirm Ca Mau as a special destination for domestic and foreign visitors./.