This is a highly practical academic activity that contributes to enhancing the professional capacity and research skills of postgraduate students in Tourism in the context of tourism development linked to the preservation of local culture.
The trip was organized under the guidance and support of lecturers from the Faculty of Tourism Studies and author Nham Hung (cultural researcher specializing in the Southern region of Vietnam).
During their field trip, the delegation stopped in Soc Trang to study the distinctive cultural, architectural, and ecological values through two representative religious structures: Doi Pagoda (Ma Toc Pagoda) and Botum Vong Sa Som Rong Pagoda. Doi Pagoda stands out for its blend of traditional Buddhist architecture and ecological environment, with the presence of a bat colony residing within the pagoda grounds. Meanwhile, Som Rong Pagoda clearly demonstrates the cultural and religious identity of the Khmer community in Southern Vietnam. These observations help clarify the connection between culture, religion, and ecology in the sustainable tourism development orientation of the Mekong Delta region.
The delegation visited Botum Vong Sa Som Rong Pagoda (Soc Trang).
The journey continues with a tour of Bac Lieu, further exploring cultural, historical, renewable energy, and spiritual values, expanding a multifaceted understanding of the potential for sustainable tourism development in the Mekong Delta. The first stop is the Bac Lieu Prince's House, a French-style architectural work from the early 20th century, associated with Tran Trinh Huy – a symbol of the upper class of Southern Vietnam in the past. With its luxurious design, imported European furniture, and extravagant lifestyle, this place reflects the East-West fusion and has become a typical urban cultural heritage, attracting tourists with its historical and aesthetic value.
Next, the group visited the Bac Lieu Wind Farm, the Quan Am Buddha Statue (Mother of the South Sea), toured the memorial area of the late musician Cao Van Lau, experienced the atmosphere at Cantho Eco Resort, and surveyed Con Son Island with a model implemented by the local people themselves…
The group visited the Bac Lieu Wind Farm, and I performed traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music.
A highlight of the trip was attending the scientific seminar "The Participation of Local Government and State Management in Cultural Tourism Development," organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City. Here, the researchers listened to Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of the Department, share insights on the potential, orientations, challenges, and solutions for developing cultural tourism in the locality. The seminar was an important opportunity for the researchers to access practical information, thereby shaping their in-depth research thinking on the role of the government in planning and managing sustainable cultural tourism in the context of digital transformation.
The delegation participated in a seminar at the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City.
The delegation surveyed local tourism models implemented by local residents. The field trip program to the Southwestern provinces of Vietnam (Can Tho, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu) provided postgraduate students of classes K6 and K7 with a practical opportunity to connect theoretical knowledge with local practice. Through visiting Khmer Theravada Buddhist architectural heritage sites, the memorial site of the late musician Cao Van Lau, and experiencing unique cultural forms such as traditional folk music, folk cuisine, and rural life, the postgraduate students were able to deeply understand the cultural identity of the Southern riverine region.
The trip also served as a field exercise, helping graduate students hone their surveying skills, analyze management models, assess the role of the community, and identify challenges in cultural tourism development. This is an important foundation for developing critical thinking, raising awareness of heritage preservation, and guiding sustainable tourism development – the core objectives of the course. In particular, the interdisciplinary program not only expanded professional knowledge but also fostered a spirit of learning, sharing research experiences, and strengthening the bonds among members.
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