Mekong Delta – The mysterious jewel of Asia
The Mekong Delta is the southernmost region of Vietnam, formed from layers of alluvial sediment that have built up over various eras of changing sea levels. This region is famous for its vast waterways, sprawling fruit orchards, and abundant produce, characterized by its generous and straightforward people. The Mekong Delta is home to national parks and bird sanctuaries, featuring countless species of birds, as well as diverse flora and fauna.
Mekong Delta
In addition to its natural beauty, the Mekong Delta hosts traditional folk festivals and unique art forms, such as cải lương (a traditional form of southern Vietnamese opera), various lyrical and folk songs, and performances by the Khmer community. The region possesses significant potential for development, being one of the largest and most fertile deltas in Southeast Asia and the world. It is a major center for the production and export of food, seafood, and fruit in Vietnam, contributing approximately 50% of the country’s rice production, 95% of rice exports, nearly 65% of aquaculture output, 60% of fish exports, and around 70% of the country’s fruit.
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Firstly, the Mekong Delta boasts one of the largest landscapes and ecosystems in the world, ranking third after the Amazon Delta in Brazil and the Ganges Delta in India. It is also a rare wetland and biodiversity hotspot on the planet. The Mekong Delta is the lower course of the Mekong River, featuring two major branches that split into nine smaller ones flowing into the sea, along with numerous rivers, canals, and a dense network of waterways. Interspersed within this network are several mountain ranges and caves, such as That Sơn, Sam Mountain, and the limestone mountains in Kien Giang. Additionally, there are islands like Phu Quoc, Hon Khoai, as well as vast mangrove forests like those in U Minh Thuong, U Minh Ha, and the Duoc forests in Ca Mau. These features provide valuable conditions for developing community-based ecotourism.
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Secondly, the Mekong Delta is rich in natural resources, characterized by rice cultivation and fruit orchards, alongside a complex system of rivers and abundant aquatic resources. There are also pristine islands with few inhabitants that can be explored. These resources present significant advantages for developing community-based tourism in the Mekong Delta, transforming traditional agriculture into agricultural tourism rich in local identity.
Thirdly, the Mekong Delta is home to over 17 million people, representing a diverse range of ethnicities, religions, and beliefs (including Buddhism, Christianity, Cao Dai, and traditional worship of local deities). The population is arranged along the banks of the rivers, contributing to the unique cultural feature of “Floating Markets,” which embodies the distinct cultural identity of the riverside communities in the southwestern region of Vietnam.