Leveraging potential and advantages

The Director of the An Giang Department of Tourism said: After the merger, An Giang has become a vast area that converges diverse resources from plains, sea and islands, mountains and forests, borders to riverine interiors of the Mekong Delta. This merger not only expanded the natural area, but also gave An Giang many localities with tourism products famous domestically and internationally, such as: Phu Quoc is positioned as a center of high-quality eco-services, sea and island tourism of national and international stature; Ha Tien - Kien Luong - Kien Hai are known for marine eco-tourism linked with the province’s cultural destinations and historical relics; Vinh Te - Nui Cam is famous for spiritual tourism with Mieu Ba Chua Xu nui Sam and Nui Cam Tourist Area; U Minh Thuong National Park, Phu Quoc National Park, and Tra Su melaleuca forest are known for diverse forest ecosystems and renowned for forest eco-tourism, eco-tourism associated with revolutionary historical relics; eco-tourism linked with scientific research…

Identifying difficulties and challenges, the provincial tourism sector has proactively implemented many solutions to restructure tourist source markets, renovate promotion efforts, and attract visitors. At the same time, products are being refreshed toward diversification to increase appeal. Many new destinations have been invested in; the system of tourism facilities and infrastructure has been markedly improved… Thanks to that, the number of domestic and international tourists has recovered and grown rapidly.

After the administrative unit merger, An Giang now has the potential to develop tourism as it possesses hundreds of unique and diverse cultural festivals; it also holds the mystique of mountains and forests and the pristine beauty of sea and islands. This is an opportunity for An Giang to attract visitors to experience and sightsee, with longer stays. The family of Mr. Ngo Thanh Hai, tourists from Ho Chi Minh City, just had a “4 days 3 nights” experience in An Giang, visiting the province’s signature destinations, such as: Mieu Ba Chua Xu nui Sam, Tra Su melaleuca forest, Ha Tien, and Phu Quoc… Thanh Hai shared: “Now, An Giang has a lot of attractive destinations from the mountains to the sea and delicious dishes. Surely, we will return to An Giang to learn about and explore more garden and river tourism… at the earliest time.”

Building friendly destinations and distinctive tourism products

With major strides in transportation infrastructure, economy, and tourism services, Phu Quoc is transforming into an international economic and tourism center, with a series of high-end resorts, modern entertainment complexes, and world-class tourism services that cater to the luxury segment, families, and even young travelers. Each year, the island attracts millions of domestic and international visitors for sightseeing and relaxation. “I think this is a place our family can return to every year. Phu Quoc is very beautiful. I really like the scenery of the beaches and also enjoy the service experiences here,” said Daniel Jason, a British tourist.

An Giang province is focusing resources to develop Phu Quoc into a center of high-quality eco-services, sea and island tourism of national and international stature, aiming to welcome over 3 million international visitors by 2030. This demonstrates the high political determination of the provincial Party Committee, aligning with the orientation of green and sustainable tourism development under the Party Congress’s Resolution, emphasizing the role of tourism as a spearhead economic sector that contributes to economic restructuring, job creation, and improving people’s livelihoods. “Not stopping at existing products, Phu Quoc is also the host of APEC 2027, with a series of strategic projects being vigorously implemented. This will certainly be a lever for the ‘pearl island’ to gradually realize its long-term vision of becoming an international-class tourism center,” said Mr. Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, Standing Vice Chairman of the An Giang Tourism Association.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh, Deputy Director of the An Giang Department of Tourism, said: In the first 9 months of 2025, An Giang welcomed nearly 20 million visitors. Of these, the Phu Quoc special zone received more than 6.5 million arrivals, including over 1.2 million international visitors, with total tourism receipts estimated at over 51,000 billion VND. Notably, the “pearl island” Phu Quoc welcomed around 96,000 Indian visitors and 36,000 Malaysian visitors. “The international Muslim market is coming to Phu Quoc in increasing numbers and is forecast to grow strongly in the near future. Therefore, the Department of Tourism has requested the An Giang Tourism Association and service providers to intensify communication and actively study and approach regulations on Halal certification to serve Muslim guests, thereby increasing the number of Muslim tourists to An Giang,” Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh said. Mr. Tran Van Tan Cuong, Director of Vietnam National Halal Co., Ltd., shared: “Muslim standards are quite specific—from culture, communication and behavior, cuisine, food and beverages, to Halal hotel rooms complying with Islamic law… Based on these standards, enterprises in Phu Quoc welcoming this market need to link up with each other to ensure Halal criteria and serve guests better.”

Building an international-class tourism brand

An Giang strives that by 2030, it will welcome 39.5 million visitors, including over 3 million international arrivals, with total revenue reaching 108,450 billion VND. At the same time, it will be one of Vietnam’s key tourism areas, becoming an attractive destination with a distinctive branded identity. By 2050, An Giang will be a distinctive international-class sea and island destination, a regional green tourism center that ensures sustainable development, develops based on communities, and promotes local historical and cultural values.

According to Mr. Bui Quoc Thai, to fulfill this task well, the provincial tourism sector will continue to innovate promotion and marketing work and position the province’s tourism brand. At the same time, it will strengthen regional linkages with Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta provinces; and enhance international cooperation with ASEAN countries and countries with strong potential tourist markets through international tourism fairs and the APEC 2027 event.

In addition, the orientation is to develop tourism products by harnessing the strengths of resources, seizing outstanding opportunities, and leveraging competitive advantages associated with promoting heritage values and ethnic cultural identity. The sector will strengthen tourism management, focus on ensuring security and safety for visitors, and improve service quality at destinations. It will establish a network of stakeholders participating in green tourism transition; accelerate digital transformation and information technology application; and build a safe, civilized, and friendly tourism environment, contributing to enhancing the reputation and image of An Giang tourism in the Vietnamese and international markets.

The province is intensifying training and development of human resources in both quality and quantity, ensuring a balanced structure of occupations and training levels to meet the requirements of tourism development and international integration. In particular, the province needs to complete the tourism infrastructure system toward synchronization and modernity, ensuring inter-regional and inter-sectoral connectivity, especially convenient transport connections between airports, seaports, and docks with key tourism centers and potential zones and sites…

Reported by Trung Hieu

Translated by Kim Thuan