Bến Tre to develop unique tourism products, make tourism key industry

Bến Tre is seeking to make its tourism an important industry and one of the leading cultural and eco-tourism destinations in the Mekong Delta for visitors.

Visitors at an eco-tourism site in Bến Tre Province. - VNA Photo

Bến Tre is seeking to make its tourism an important industry and one of the leading cultural and eco-tourism destinations in the Mekong Delta for visitors.

Annual tourism revenue is targeted through 2025 to reach from VNĐ2.3 trillion to VNĐ3.2 trillion (US$ 94.2 million to $131 million), with an annual growth rate of between 22 and 25 per cent. 

In this period, Bến Tre aims to welcome around 2.3 million to 3 million visitors per year, of which international tourists will account for 40 to 45 per cent to maintain an average annual growth rate of visitors of 12 - 15 per cent.

Then, through 2030, Bến Tre targets turning tourism into a key industry with sustainable development. It will become an attractive and competitive destination, and one of the leading regions in the Mekong Delta in terms of tourism. 

The revenue goal for this period will be VNĐ3.8 trillion to VNĐ6 trillion and at least 3.2 million to 5 million visits every year, with 46-48 per cent of them being international tourists.

According to the deputy chairman of Bến Tre People’s Committee, Nguyễn Thị Bé Mười, to reach the goal, the province is carrying out solutions such as restructuring its tourism in a more professional and modern way, and creating favourable conditions to attract international tourists to Bến Tre. 

The province is increasing investment attraction and tourism development that focuses on key areas and strengths, as well as developing tourism products and promoting tourism.

Bến Tre Province is facilitating the rapid development of its domestic tourism market and the effective utilisation of international tourists, especially tourists who spend more and stay longer. 

The province is also developing a wide range of tourism products and linking them to other industries and goods, with the motto of “making the tourist experience the central focus”, and making use of local cultural heritage.

Bến Tre Province will effectively cooperate on tourism development with HCM City and other cities and provinces in Mekong Delta. 

Bến Tre is also focusing on the development of community-based, rural tourism, especially tourism products that incorporate rural sceneries, local culture, craft products and craft villages.

It aims to build its tourism brand as the land of coconut, relying on its potential, natural advantages and history to build a safe, attractive, hospitable tourism destination.

Bến Tre's tourism strengths include beautiful and relaxing rural sceneries, favourable weather, tourism models related to coconuts and other types of fruit, and traditional craft villages.

In 2023, local tourism has had a good recovery and tourism has grown through promotion and tourism connection events.

During the year, Bến Tre welcomed more than 2.2 million tourists (397,962 international visits), an increase of 72 per cent over the same period last year.

Revenue was estimated at nearly VNĐ2.8 trillion, up 77 per cent over the same period last year. – VNS

Source: https://vietnamnews.vn/

100th Anniversary of Nguyen Thi Dinh's birthday

“The Deputy Commander of the Southern Liberation Armed Forces is Madame Nguyen Thi Ðinh. Our country alone in the whole world has such a woman in general. This is a glorious thing for the South and our entire nation.” That’s what President Ho Chi Minh said at the meeting commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Vietnamese Women’s Union (20/10/1930 - 20/10/1950).

Madame Nguyen Thi Dinh was born on March 15th, 1920 in a revolutionary family in Luong Hoa village, Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province. At the age of 16, she took part in the revolutionary army and became a member of the Indochinese Communist Party when she turned 18.

Madame Nguyen Thi Dinh and other female delegates The Second Congress of Heroes of Emulation Soldiers in the South (9/1967) (image from public source)

In 1946, at the age of 26, she was a member of a cadre group of zone 8 coming to the North to meet Uncle Ho and reported the resistance situation of Ben Tre and the South to look for weapons. She commanded and brought back a replete ship weapon to the South safely, supported for all the provinces in the South. This was the first ship and also one of a 70-ships-group in the “No number ships” in the Ho Chi Minh street on the sea.

In 1960, she was Ben Tre Provincial Communist Party Secretary and one of the local people’s revolution commanders. She was the direct leader of the first Dong Khoi Movement (17/01/1960) with the main force was women. The victory of Dong Khoi Movement opened a new way for Ben Tre province and Vietnam Revolution later. Then, Uncle Ho has given them the name: “Long-haired communist group/troop”.

She was given different roles by the Communist Party and Government of Vietnam: Ben Tre Provincial Party Secretary, chairwoman of the South Vietnam Women’s Liberation Association, Deputy Commander of the People's Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam,… She was given the rank of Major General in 1974.

After the war and the reunification of Vietnam, she kept a lot of roles: Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalid and Social Affair, Chair Women of Vietnamese Women’s Union, Vice President of State Council.

She died on 26/8/1992. In 1995, she was posthumously awarded the heroic title of the People's Armed Forces. To be rewarded for services rendered to Vietnamese country, Ben Tre has built the Nguyen Thi Dinh Temple in her hometown - Luong Hoa village, Giong Trom district. This is an artistic architecture and a place to remind people of her huge merit. This culture structure attracts a lot of tourists coming to visit, retrieve the past, and thank Madame Dinh and lots of other heroes.

Nguyen Thi Dinh Temple (image from public source)

In the evening of 16/01/2020, Ben Tre solemnly celebrated 60th anniversary of Ben Tre Movement (17/01/1960 - 17/01/2020) and 100th anniversary of the Hero of the People’s Armed Forces - Nguyen Thi Dinh’s birthday (15/03/1920 - 15/03/2020).

Recreate the scene of Dong Khoi Movement 60 years ago (image from public source)

In this ceremony, President of Vietnamese Congress - Madame Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan emphasized that: With 60th anniversary of Ben Tre Movement, Ben Tre local people and Committee Party celebrated solemnly 100th anniversary of the People’s Armed Forces, former Vice President of State Council, Nguyen Thi Dinh - an excellent person in Ben Tre - where Dong Khoi Movement began.

Mr. Phan Van Mai - Provincial Communist Party Secretary, member of Central Communist Party gave a speech to remind everyone of our tradition, he continuously emphasized on the historical value of Dong Khoi Movement and our gratefulness for Madame Nguyen Thi Dinh: “Every time mentioning about Dong Khoi Movement in 1960, we can’t forget Madame Nguyen Thi Dinh, one of the leaders as well as the soul of Dong Khoi Movement in Ben Tre and also the South. Since this movement, Madame Dinh became more and more famous by her unique revolution method: The three attack spearheads (military and politics and enemy, propaganda), especially in her political fighting, military skills of women, of the long-haired warriors. They associated with our guerrilla warfare in American - Vietnam War.”

Ben Tre Communist Party is proud of our heroine of the People’s Armed Forces, Vice President of State Council, Deputy Commander of the Southern Liberation Armed Forces, the leader of Dong Khoi Movement - Madame Nguyen Thi Dinh in 1960. Her life and her revolutionary achievement have been embedded into our Vietnamese golden history and always be remembered. 

Author: Phuong Thy

Translator: Minh Thuy

Companion in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention

Tourism is a synthetic economic sector and it seems vulnerable whenever disease or natural disaster happens. Therefore, in the situation of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) complicated occurring, Ben Tre tourism is trying to inform tourists about some Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) methods to prevent to minimize infected ability, to help them protecting themselves, their family as well as our community.

A lack of tourists in a souvenirs display during COVID-19

According to VNExpress.net, until 13/02/2020, there have been 60161 cases of infection all over the world, including 8243 cases in critical condition and 1365 people in death because of this disease. 27 countries and territories have confirmed having cases of infection. Vietnam has confirmed 15 cases of infection in Vinh Phuc province (10 cases), Thanh Hoa province (1 case), Khanh Hoa province (1 case) and in Ho Chi Minh city (3 cases), but especially China - the biggest tourism market of Vietnam (Northern and North Central of Vietnam) is the outbreak country and currently in the process of spreading most seriously and dangerously.

Concerning Ben Tre, we have not had any cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 ) infection yet. However, the most important mission is to prevent and deal with the danger of the COVID-19 penetration in our province because it has been affected gradually our economy - especially tourism, agriculture,… and also our worried mind because of the complications occurring in many provinces and countries all over the world.

With the aim of propagating and preventing the danger of the COVID-19 penetration, following the government’s instruction (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ben Tre Province People’s committee), Ben Tre Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has promulgated two documents, consist of:

1. Official correspondence number 206/SVHTTDL-QLDL published on February 5th, 2020 about the urgent Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID - 19) prevention.

2. Official correspondence number 210/SVHTTDL-QLVH published on February 5th, 2020 about using the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID - 19) prevention measures.

According to these documents, Ben Tre tourism information promotion center accompanied with tourist businesses to survey and consult a lot of methods about the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention campaign, as follows:

- For the domestic traveler: Domestic tourist agencies must not organize tour, journey to any Coronavirus disease 2019 infected area (26 infected countries all over the world and 4 infected provinces in Vietnam). During the itinerary, help tourists avoid crowds by not taking them to pagodas, festivals,…. Instead, we encourage tourists to have sightseeing tours to mountains, scenic spots and any kind of ecotourism. Check and update the newest information about tourists’ health to have measures to prevent, isolate and report follow the local health authorities…

Tourists are going to travel by boat in Ben Tre

- Concerning traveler in Ben Tre: Both international tourists and inbound tourists who follow a contract between a travel agency inside our province and a travel agency outside our province as well as private tourists also obey all the listed instruction. But pay attention that we do not accept anybody who has gone to infected area. Ben Tre ecotourism is a safe destination and still opens as normal. 

- Concerning all the tour administrators, operators and staffs: obey all the leaders’ instructions. Do up all the tourist accommodations regularly to destroy all the virus. Remind your colleagues and your tourist accurate information about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to avoid their worried mind. Raise your alert in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention. Do not ignore obeying the instructions for sake of money. 

During the itinerary, remember to remind tourist that they have to provide all the information about their journey and where they had gone whether they have a health problem or not. Cooperate with local health authorities providing information for disease surveillance. Use medical masks correctly and avoid being in the crowds. Do personal hygiene regularly, wash your hands by hand wash correctly, gargle by mouthwash. Do not spit higgledy-piggledy. When you cough, remember to cover your mouth and nose by tissue papers or handkerchief. Put used tissue papers in the wasted basket then wash your hands by hand wash or alcoholic solutions. Avoid contacting people who have temperature, cough, flu,…. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Only eat cooked food. Do not contact any wild animals or pets. Keep checking your health state continuously for 14 days after having contact infected people or living in the infected area (During this time, always wear medical masks and avoid being in crowds…)

Hoping with the consensus of Vietnam tourism, especially Ben Tre tourism, we will soon destroy the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and minimize the economic loss for our country. And we also hope that there won’t be any cases of COVID-19 infection and Ben Tre tourism will develop steadily with the feature: “Ben Tre ecotourism with the criteria: “safety - friendly - quality.” 

Writer: Thanh Son

Translator: Minh Thuy

The brightness since 60 years of Ben Tre Dong khoi’s day

It has been 60 years since the Dong Khoi movement took place, the values and valuable lessons remain intact, deeply absorb in the spiritual cultural life of the people of Ben Tre, and become the great pride of the generations of today and tomorrow. 60th anniversary of Ben Tre Dong Khoi, this is an opportunity to review the glorious tradition and heroic history page. Promoting the spirit as well as recalling the achieved results over the past time, Ben Tre celebrates 60 years of Ben Tre Dong Khoi Day (January 17, 1960 - January 17, 2020). This is the important historic event, bearing the hallmark of the proud history page of Ben Tre people.

Tourists visit Dong Khoi Ben Tre Historic Site (Photo: TTXTDL)

According to the plan, the 60th Anniversary of Ben Tre Dong Khoi Day will take place at 20:00 on January 16, 2020 in An Hoi Park, Ben Tre City with about 5,000 delegates. In the framework of the ceremony, there will be welcome activities such as: "Flower Boat Festival" on Ben Tre River; Organizing exhibitions introduce the 1960 Dong Khoi movement, the achievement of the "New Dong Khoi" movement for 60 days (November 17, 2019 - January 17, 2020). The province chooses 60 works, products, associated with the preliminary review of 5-year to fulfill Directive No. 16 of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Communist on launching the emulating movement "New Dong Khoi"; organizing a fireworks show in Ben Tre city; Coordinating to organize a national workshop on Dong Khoi; exchanging and meeting historical witnesses telling the story of Dong Khoi movement 1960 and arranging the first week about Culture, Sport and tourism at MCN district.

On November 22, 2019, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ben Tre province coordinated with the Management Board of Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism to organize the opening ceremony with the theme "Journey to Ben Tre Coconut Tourism (Son Tay Town, Hanoi Capital). The event exhibited period of Dong Khoi Ben Tre movement and over 23 years of construction and development of Ben Tre Province (1997-2020) from November 22, 2019 to the end of February 2020 to promote the culture and tourism of Coconut Land in Hanoi. In addition, an exhibition of Dong Khoi Ben Tre will be displayed at Ben Duoc Temple - Cu Chi Tunnels Relic from January 9, 2020 to the end of March 2020 to promote and introduce the achievements to people and friends in Vietnam and abroad to understand about the history of the Dong Khoi movement in 1960 and the heroes of Ben Tre.

Ben Tre attends the event at Vietnam National Village of Ethnic Culture and Tourism (Photo: TTXTDL)

The celebration has a practical and important significance of the province, in order to review the historical values that Dong Khoi movement. We are proud of the people of the Coconut Land who carries out the sacred mission to build the motherland. Ben Tre committee party continue to study, work according to the ideology, morality, Ho Chi Minh style, try to promote the revolutionary tradition. Many "Dong Khoi" movements have been implemented in the process of industrialization and modernization of the country, aimed at the goal of strong and prosperous people, fair society and civilized democracy. The Youth of Dong Khoi homeland to deserve heroes who have sacrificed blood and loves for the freedom of the nation making the glorious victory of the 1960 Dong Khoi being worthy 8 golden words "Hero of Dong Khoi, defeated the US and defeated puppet".

Dong Khoi movement is the pride of the people of Ben Tre. As the next generation, we need to promote the heroic traditions of our ancestors to keep the Dong Khoi torch continue to shine in the construction and defense of the country./.

Author: Bảo Trâm

Translator: Phương Thy

Ben Tre diversifies tourism products

The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre has served over 472,000 tourist arrivals, including nearly 200,000 foreigners, since the beginning of this year, a year-on-year rise of 12%.

The tourism sector earned approximately VND342 billion (US$15 million), up 25% against the same period last year.

According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the increases were attributed to efforts to build and upgrade business establishments and create new tourism products and services.

Tran Duy Phuong, the department’s deputy director, said to make tourism one of the spearhead sectors of the province by 2020, Ben Tre will continue investing in infrastructure serving tourism, especially in rural areas, together with diversifying tourism products and improving service quality at tourist sites.

In 2018, the locality will work to improve the quality of existing products and exploiting new ones such as orchard, trade village, spiritual and cuisine tourism.

It will also step up dissemination to improve public awareness of the role of tourism as well as the province’s tourism development orientations.

In the time ahead, the province continues calling on competent investors to participate in tourism projects, particularly in the coastal districts of Ba Tri, Binh Dai and Thanh Phu.

Ben Tre can be found in the lowest part of the Mekong River basin, about 85 kilometres south of Ho Chi Minh City. It is also known as the paradise of coconut since there is a lot of coconut planted there.

Source: VNA

Announcement of Office Relocation

We are pleased to announce that we will be moving into new office from May 25th, 2013.
The new office premise is located in the address as follows:
Office-Name: Ben Tre Tourist Information Promotion Center

• Old address: No. 45 Dong Khoi Street, Ward 3, Ben Tre City, Ben Tre Province
• New address: The 2nd floor, 108/1,  30/4 Street, Ward 4, Ben Tre City, Ben Tre Province
• Tel: 075. 8511 480 - Fax: 075. 38 38 813

Please, contact us any time!
Best regards!