(AG Provincial E-Portal) - In 2024, An Giang Province welcomed approximately 9.1 million tourists, marking a 7.06% increase compared to the previous year and achieving 101% of its annual target. Total revenue from tourism activities is estimated at 10,250 billion VND, a significant 73.73% increase year-on-year, reaching 165% of the planned target. These accomplishments underscore the local tourism sector's concerted efforts in adapting to the evolving context.
Throughout the past year, An Giang’s tourism offerings have not only diversified but also improved in quality. Notably, in 2024, the "Colorful Floating Village" at the confluence of the Chau Doc River became the province’s newest tourist attraction, drawing a large number of young visitors. Alongside this, two Cham villages—Chau Phong (Tan Chau) and Da Phuoc (An Phu)—have begun developing community-based tourism, supported by local Cham residents.
The province's prominent tourist sites have seen continued investments in infrastructure upgrades and service innovation. Noteworthy experiences include trekking at the Cam Mountain Tourist Area (Tinh Bien), exploring nature and enjoying local specialties at Tra Su Melaleuca Forest Tourist Area (Tinh Bien), paragliding at the Ta Pa-Soai Chek Sports Tourism Area (Tri Ton), and water sports at the Con En Tourist Area (Cho Moi).
To promote the beauty of An Giang's landscapes and culture, the province has organized numerous events, such as the 200th Anniversary of the Completion of the Vinh Te Canal, the Mekong Connect Forum, the Southern Folk Cake Festival - An Giang, and the Traditional Culinary Space of An Giang. Traditional festivals like the Sam Mountain Ba Chua Xu Festival, the Bay Nui Ox Racing Festival, and the Quan Co Tran Van Thanh Festival were also meticulously held.
An Giang participated in various national tourism events and fairs, including the National Tourism Year (Dien Bien), Vietnam International Travel Mart (Hanoi), Nha Trang Sea Tourism Festival (Khanh Hoa), Red Ceramic and Green Economy Festival (Vinh Long), and the Regional Specialty Fair of the Mekong Delta (Vinh Long), among others
In addition, the province has intensified its digital tourism promotion efforts. In 2024, An Giang launched a Smart Tourism System, encompassing a Smart Tourism Portal and a Smart Tourism Application for smartphones. The Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism organized the "Beautiful An Giang Tourism Photos" contest, while the Trade and Investment Promotion Center hosted the "Creative An Giang Tourism Video Clips" competition, attracting numerous participants from within and beyond the province. These initiatives have generated diverse and high-quality works that showcase various perspectives of An Giang tourism and effectively promote the province's unique charm.
To enhance the quality of tourism services, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, along with the Trade and Investment Promotion Center, regularly conducted training sessions. These sessions covered diverse topics, including the application of Industry 4.0 technologies in destination marketing, tour guiding skills, beverage preparation techniques, utilization of local resources for tourism, and the development of agricultural and rural tourism. Participants included district-level cultural officers, employees of tourism businesses, operators of tourist sites, and local households engaged in tourism activities.
A standout achievement in 2024 was the UNESCO recognition of the Sam Mountain Ba Chua Xu Festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This accolade, granted during the 19th UNESCO Session in the Republic of Paraguay on December 4, marks the second heritage recognition in the Southern region of Vietnam and the first for a specific locality (following the shared recognition of Don Ca Tai Tu across 21 provinces and cities).
Currently, An Giang has six certified tourist destinations (one national tourism area, one provincial tourism area, and four recognized tourist sites), 100 accommodation establishments (including one four-star hotel, six three-star hotels, and several other star-rated establishments), and 26 travel agencies (nine domestic, 16 international, and one representative office).
Overall, 2024 marked a robust recovery and acceleration for An Giang tourism. The figure of 9.1 million visitors is nearly on par with the pre-COVID-19 milestone of 9.2 million tourists in 2019. Looking ahead to 2025, the province aims to welcome 10 million visitors. To achieve this goal, the An Giang Provincial People's Committee has restructured its Tourism Development Steering Committee, led by Mr. Ho Van Mung, an alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. The Steering Committee has outlined specific tasks and solutions to meet the demands of the new context.
Author: Yen Luong
Translator: Kim Thuan
