Can Tho organizes river festival for the first time

It is expected that at the end of December 2025, Can Tho will hold its first river festival. This is a festival that the city's leaders have "cherished for many years".

The above information was announced by Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, at the meeting between city leaders and tourism businesses in 2025. The event was organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City on the afternoon of October 15.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, informed at the conference

PHOTO: THANH DUY

At the conference, Mr. Sam Long Giang, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City, said that in the first 9 months of 2025, the city welcomed more than 9.3 million tourists. Total revenue from tourism was more than 8,000 billion VND, reaching 80% of the yearly plan. Investment promotion activities, development of service infrastructure, trade and tourism were promoted. Notably, newly registered tourism businesses increased by 40.6% over the same period.

The above signals are encouraging, but Can Tho tourism is considered to have many limitations compared to other cities such as Nha Trang, Da Nang ... despite having a typical river culture. Therefore, sharing with the leaders of Can Tho City, tourism businesses have proposed many ideas and recommendations. In particular, how to create attraction for Cai Rang floating market, having typical river tourism products are issues that receive much attention.

Speaking at the conference, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep said that Can Tho's tourism potential is still very large but its potential and advantages have not been fully exploited. Ms. Diep frankly acknowledged that part of the reason is the management agency. Typically, after the merger, tourism information data (new tours, new routes) has not been updated in a timely manner. The connection and linkage of travel agencies and accommodation businesses have not been as expected.

Cai Rang Floating Market

PHOTO: THANH DUY

Ms. Diep believes that if Cai Rang floating market fades away, Can Tho's tourism footprint will also disappear. Because this unique market is not only famous in Can Tho, domestically but also known to many international friends. The city has rebuilt a new project on preserving and promoting Cai Rang floating market. This time, which items are invested by the state and which items must call for private investment are all specified.

Besides, city tourism still has many issues to ponder. Can Tho is known as a river city but there are no river tourism products. This has many reasons, the most obvious of which is that the planning of ports, wharves, and river beaches has not been completed, so not many businesses come to invest.

The Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City informed that to stimulate tourism, from now until the end of the year, the city will have many attractive events related to river culture. In particular, at the end of December, the city will organize the river festival for the first time. This festival has been "cherished for many years" by the city leaders but has not been able to organize. Up to this point, the preparation work for the festival has basically been completed, except for the funding mobilized from socialized sources.

Also in December 2025, the city will hold an important event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the military-civilian Tet at Cai Rang floating market. The organizers will use barges to make floating stages, expected to be open to visitors for 3 consecutive days.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/can-tho-lan-dau-to-chuc-le-hoi-song-nuoc-185251015184457807.htm