Cần Thơ charts ambitious tourism boost in expanded development zone

On 6 July, the city of Cần Thơ convened a conference to outline a new tourism strategy after widening its administrative boundaries. Officials highlighted that the broader space now includes river, sea, cultural, spiritual, ecological and resort assets, offering a basis for higher‑value tourism products.

The first half of 2026 saw 7.5 million visitors, a 19% rise year‑on‑year, including more than 382 000 international arrivals, and tourism revenue reached over VND 6.6 trillion, up 21%. Despite these gains, leaders warned that many offerings lack differentiation, infrastructure and service quality remain insufficient, and average stay and spend per visitor are still low.

To address these gaps, the city plans a visitor‑centric approach: investing in flagship projects such as an international cruise‑ship port, expanding air links, applying AI and digital tools, promoting green and circular‑economy tourism, and enhancing human‑resource training. The conference called for “solutions to build distinctive tourism products, attract strategic investment, and develop tourism linked to digital transformation, green transition and circular economy.” Coordination with Ho Chi Minh City and other Mekong Delta provinces will also be intensified to raise the city’s profile on Vietnam’s tourism map.