The National Day holiday this year spans 5 days, from August 29 to September 2, creating favorable conditions for many families and groups of friends to plan leisure trips and experiential tours. In addition to beach vacations and sightseeing tours, cultural and historical sites are also drawing strong interest from travelers. Seizing this opportunity, the Can Tho tourism sector and local attractions are rolling out new products and hosting events to attract more visitors during the holiday.

Visitors watch giant catfish, an extra attraction at Bay Bon Fish Raft. Photo: KIEU MAI

Rising interest in cultural and historical destinations

Data from online travel platforms show that Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Hoi An, Da Nang and other locations are among the top choices for many groups of travelers during the holiday. The attractiveness of these places lies not only in their coastal landscapes and resort services, but also in the wide range of cultural, natural and historical experiences.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Han from Ninh Kieu Ward picked Con Dao for this year’s National Day break. According to her, it’s a place with great historical and cultural significance, while also offering beautiful natural landscapes, clean air and is perfect setting for a family vacation.

In recent years, the trend of “returning to the roots” to learn about history and culture through travel has gained growing attention from Vietnamese tourists, particularly during major national holidays. This National Day holiday on September 2nd, destinations with a long-standing historical and cultural heritage such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Ninh Binh, and others remain highly attractive alongside famous beach and nature spots.

Nguyen Trung Nhan of Ninh Kieu Ward shared: “Our group chose Ho Chi Minh City for this holiday due to its numerous historical and cultural events and activities. Meanwhile, flight prices to other places are significantly higher, nearly double the regular rate. Given the cost, we chose somewhere close that we can drive to and still have great experiences for the holiday”.

According to Mr. Nhan, Ho Chi Minh City is home to many relics and destinations that young people like him have yet to explore. As such, the trip serves not only as leisure but also as an opportunity to learn more about traditional values.

New products, better experiences

In response to tourists’ growing interest in experiential travel, numerous attractions in Can Tho have refreshed their offerings to be more interactive and rooted in local culture.

Mr. Vo Nguyen Minh Thai, Director of Business and Communications at Can Tho Eco Resort, noted: “Trends shift every year. We must respond promptly to set our direction and supplement our offerings accordingly. Alongside resort services, we are expanding products tied to local culture, agriculture and traditional villages”.

At Can Tho Eco Resort, experiences such as rowing a boat through fruit orchards, harvesting vegetables, catching chickens, ducks, fish and cooking meals together have attracted many tourists. Guests can pick their own vegetables, melons and gourds from the garden; try making puffed rice and popcorn. For this year’s September 2nd holiday, the resort will open a new experiential area combining education and skill-building for students and young people.

Likewise, at Con Son Agricultural Tourism Cooperative, refreshing products is one of the regular solutions to keep tourists coming back. Ms. Phan Kim Ngan, Director of Con Son Agricultural Tourism Cooperative, said: “We always renew our offerings, with 1 to 2 new products or services every year to draw in visitors. Our products all highlight local cultural identity”.

The cooperative has a team dedicated to assessing and checking the quality of products and services before they are launched for visitors. As a result, each product is carefully reviewed and chosen. This year, the cooperative is introducing summer dishes featuring signature food prepared in traditional ways, while also expanding more craft village experiences. At Bay Bon Fish Raft, visitors can enjoy sightseeing and join in a range of interactive experiences.

At present, travelers want more than just sightseeing and taking photos. They seek to experience local culture more deeply, from visiting traditional craft villages and trying local food to joining night tours, events and community festivals. Based on this trend, the city’s tourism sector urges destinations to keep updating their offerings and deepening experiences, while also working to build events and festivals that embody Can Tho’s distinctive character. According to the plan, the city will organize 1 to 2 large-scale events and festivals per quarter, helping to create more products and boost the destination’s attractiveness.

One of the highlights during this year’s National Day holiday is the 2026 Can Tho Food Week under the theme “Tay Do Cuisine - The Essence of the River Region”, held at Song Hau Park in Cai Khe Ward from August 28 to September 2. The event features over 200 booths set in diverse themed areas such as Vietnamese Culinary Essence, Tay Do Cuisine, Rural Market, Street Food, Tourism Promotion, OCOP Product Showcase and Business, and the Photo Exhibition of Beautiful Can Tho Tourism, alongside various art performances and interactive experiences for visitors.

The week is an opportunity to promote and highlight the distinctive culinary values of Can Tho and the Mekong Delta, and to progressively establish “Tay Do Cuisine” as a signature tourism brand of the city. Through this, visitors can not only taste signature dishes but also have the chance to meet artisans and discover traditional crafts, thereby enriching their journey to explore Can Tho during the National Day celebrations.

AI LAM (Translated by MAI QUYEN)