This is a highly practical academic activity, contributing to improving professional capacity and research skills for Tourism PhD students in the context of tourism development associated with preserving indigenous culture.
The trip was organized under the guidance and accompaniment of lecturers from the Faculty of Tourism and author Nham Hung (Cultural researcher, Southern region).
During the field trip, the delegation stopped in Soc Trang to study the unique cultural, architectural and ecological values through two typical religious works: Bat Pagoda (Ma Toc Pagoda) and Botum Vong Sa Som Rong Pagoda. Bat Pagoda stands out for its fusion of traditional Buddhist architecture and ecological environment, with the presence of a population of bats residing in the pagoda grounds. Meanwhile, Som Rong Pagoda clearly represents the cultural and religious identity of the Khmer community in the South. These observations help clarify the connection between culture, religion and ecology in the orientation of sustainable tourism development in the Mekong Delta.
Delegation visits Botum Vong Sa Som Rong Pagoda (Soc Trang)
The journey continues with the tour program in Bac Lieu, continuing to exploit cultural, historical, renewable energy and spiritual values, expanding multi-dimensional understanding of the potential for sustainable tourism development in the Mekong Delta. The first stop is the Bac Lieu Prince's House, a French architectural work of the early 20th century, associated with the image of Tran Trinh Huy - a symbol of the upper class of the ancient South. With luxurious design, imported furniture from Europe and a lavish lifestyle, this place reflects the East-West fusion and has become a typical urban cultural heritage, attracting tourists by its historical and aesthetic values.
Next, the delegation went to Bac Lieu Wind Power Field, Quan Am Phat Dai (Mother of the South Sea), visited the memorial site of the late musician Cao Van Lau, experienced the space at Cantho Eco Resort, surveyed Con Son with a model implemented by local people...
The delegation visited Bac Lieu Wind Power Field and I performed the art of Don ca tai tu.
The highlight of the trip was attending the scientific seminar “Participation of local government and state management in developing cultural tourism” organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City. Here, the graduate students listened to Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan - Director of the Department share about the potential, orientation, challenges and solutions in developing cultural tourism in the locality. The seminar is an important opportunity for the graduate students 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 attended the discussion at the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City.
Survey team of local tourism models implemented by local people The field trip program in the provinces of the Southwest region (Can Tho, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu) provided the K6 and K7 graduate students with practical opportunities to connect theoretical knowledge with local practice. Through visiting Khmer Theravada Buddhist architectural heritages, the memorial site of the late musician Cao Van Lau, and experiencing unique cultural forms such as Don Ca Tai Tu, folk cuisine and garden activities, the graduate students had the opportunity to deeply identify the cultural identity of the Southern river region.
The trip is also a field exercise, helping graduate students practice survey skills, analyze management models, evaluate the role of the community and identify challenges in exploiting cultural tourism. This is an important foundation for developing critical thinking, raising awareness of heritage conservation and orienting sustainable tourism development - the core objectives of the course. In particular, the interdisciplinary program not only expands professional knowledge but also promotes the spirit of learning, sharing research experiences and strengthening the connection between members.
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