The upcoming holiday is also a good time for discovery of Tra Su cajuput forest in the southern province of An Giang.

The forest is located at Tinh Bien district, 10 km from Vietnam-Cambodia border and 60km from Long Xuyen city. This is a flooded forest that features the typical ecosystem of the Mekong Delta, which can be seen clearly during the flooded season. The forest is dressed up with the appealing look of the green carpet of duckweed covering the whole large area.

Covering 850 hectares with a very rich ecological ecosystem, Tra Su offers a marvelous beauty of immense wetland, emerald-green duckweed carpet and dense cajuput forest. Visitors will be overwhelmed by the forest’s magnificence while penetrating inside. Lines of cajuput trees along the waterway make the vista more alluring.

Melaleuca flowers bloom in Tra Su Forest

Tra Su Forest is covered by the white color of Melaleuca flowers all the time. After each wave of Malaleuca flowers fades, the other wave blooms endlessly, shimmering like a Garden of Eden. The mild fragrance of Malaleuca flowers is there all year. The place has become a haven for insects.

The footprints of tourism have been imprinted on green roads in the forest, however, with humble and cautious steps showing a deep respect for nature. The forest rhythm of life seems to be exposed to the visitors and even become more vivid and lively.    

Vietnam’s longest bamboo bridge is a must-visit site in Tra Su forest. Stepping on each span of this unique 10-kilometer bridge, you will be immersed in the nature of white cajuput flowers with a delicate scent, which is far different from the busy city life.

Don’t forget to try some local specialties in a small hut at the center of forest, including grilled chicken with honey, hotpot of Mekong’s fishes and sesban flower, fried or roasted fishes… Local foods are often cooked and served with many tropical herbs and vegetables.

“The upcoming holiday - April 30 to May 1 - is considered a springboard for the peak of summer tourism. We can see that the market is warming up and the upcoming holiday promises to mark a promising return of Tra Su tourism," said a representative of the Board of Directors of Tra Su Melaleuca Forest Park.

Climb hills and go through caves

Tuc Dup Hill, located in Tri Ton District, An Giang Province, is popular for its its historical values. On the occasion of the April 30 - May 1 holiday, this is a must-visit site where visitors can enjoy the intact national aura on every corner of the hill.

With a height of only 300m, Tuc Dup Hill has an obstacle and dangerous geography with rough cliffs forming caves getting though each other like a bee hive. The hill is hailed as an “eternal fortress”, where fierce fighting has been vividly described in movies. It has become an inspiration for poetry. The hill rises majestically, storing such natural treasures as caves shrouded in clouds and streams, and cultural and historical treasures.

Tuc Duc boasts a wartime treasure with valued objects donated by residents and veterans, creating a priceless asset. From a macroeconomic perspective, developing sustainable tourism in association with the historical and cultural values and traditions will reinforce the trend of tourism and meet the demand of travelers. Tuc Dup is one of the places which have enough artifacts and documents to serve research, education, archeology and geology.

Glorious stories are still continuing in peacetime. Tuc Dup is famous for exploration tourism. Visitors can explore Vietnam’s longest granite cave and embark on an adventure to the “US$2-million hill.”

Tuc Dup also boasts multiple gorgeous check-in sites such as Dreamy Hill, God Fish Stream, Fairy Stone Stream, Love Bamboo Bridge and zoos. Beneath the hill lies an unspoiled lake with green water shadowed by trees.

Seize the opportunity

After a long time of difficulty, the tourism industry is on the way to recovery to soon return to the peak as it was in 2019.

Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee - Nguyen Thanh Binh - said the number of tourists to An Giang would have surpassed the milestone of 10 million visitors per year without the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

In 2022, An Giang’s tourism sector will try its best to regain what was missed. It is expected that the number of 10 million visitors/year will soon be the "starting line" for the province’s smokeless industry to gain new achievements.

This is a reasonable goal based on the province’s favorable conditions such as natural conditions, wise decisions by provincial leaders, and visionary advice from local agencies to create the best conditions for investors. 

Vu Hoang