Southeast Vietnam: A "golden" geographic location and rich cultural heritage

Possessing a "golden" geographic location and a wealth of cultural heritage, Southeast Vietnam is regarded as a promising land for professional, modern, and high-quality tourism development with strong competitiveness in the region.

A Hub for Key Economic Regions

Southeast Vietnam comprises Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and the provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, and Tay Ninh. Among these, HCMC is the largest metropolis in the country, serving as the economic leader and attracting a large population and tourist influx. This concentration creates significant demand for tourism services while also providing a substantial domestic visitor base for the surrounding areas.

Additionally, Dong Nai province, with its robust industrial growth, attracts a considerable workforce from other regions. This dynamic fosters a vibrant domestic tourism market and high demand for leisure activities.

HCMC is the largest metropolis in the country, serving as the economic leader and attracting a large population and tourist influx.

Easy Connectivity

Southeast Vietnam enjoys seamless connectivity with other provinces and international markets. To the west, the region links to Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia through the Trans-Asian Highway network. To the east, ports such as Saigon, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Thi Vai serve as vital trade gateways, attracting international visitors and promoting coastal tourism. With the upcoming Long Thanh International Airport, the region's connectivity to global markets will be significantly enhanced.

Southeast Vietnam boasts powerful connections both domestically and internationally.

Diverse Terrain

Experts recognize Southeast Vietnam as a land of impressive geographic diversity. The region features a 350-kilometer coastline with stunning beaches (Vung Tau, Long Hai, Con Dao), pristine forests (Can Gio Mangrove Forest and national parks like Nam Cat Tien in Dong Nai, Con Dao in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bu Gia Map in Binh Phuoc, and Lo Go-Xa Mat in Tay Ninh), majestic mountain ranges (Mount Dinh in Vung Tau and Mount Chua Chan in Dong Nai), and a network of rivers and lakes (Saigon River, Vam Co Dong River, Dong Nai River, Dau Tieng Lake, Tri An Lake, and Thac Mo Lake). This natural canvas not only provides unique tourism experiences but also opens up opportunities to develop innovative tourism products to meet the growing demands of visitors.

Vung Tau Beach.

Rich Cultural Heritage

With over 300 years of formation and development, Southeast Vietnam holds unique cultural traits and an abundant repository of historical and cultural relics. These form the basis for creating cultural tourism products and experiences tied to both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. According to Tran The Thuan, Director of Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Culture and Sports, the city is home to 185 historical and cultural relics, including 60 nationally recognized special relics. Iconic landmarks such as the Independence Palace, Nha Rong Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Ben Thanh Market have become major tourist destinations.

In Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, a diverse array of historical and cultural sites and intangible heritage thrives. Highlights include traditional festivals such as the Phi Yen Memorial Festival, the Tran Hung Dao Memorial Festival, Nghinh Ong Festival at Thang Tam Temple, the Five Elements Lady Temple Festival, the Double Ninth Festival, Dinh Co Festival, and the Tran Family Memorial Festival at Long Son Big House. These festivals vividly showcase the unique cultural interplay of Vietnam's three regions—North, Central, and South.

Can Gio's Nghinh Ong Festival.

Moreover, Southeast Vietnam boasts a rich system of traditional craft villages scattered across its provinces, such as Phuoc Hai fishing village, An Ngai rice paper village, and Vung Tau shell craft village (Ba Ria-Vung Tau); Bien Hoa pottery village, Tan Trieu pomelo village, and Ta Lai brocade weaving village (Dong Nai); and Trang Bang rice paper village and Gò Dầu shrimp salt making village (Tay Ninh).

Building on its geographic and cultural strengths, Southeast Vietnam has leveraged these advantages to establish and develop numerous destinations and tourism products to serve visitors. Each locality offers signature attractions that reflect the region's unique identity and people. With relentless efforts, Southeast Vietnam is poised to become one of the leading tourism centers in the region and the world.

According to the Regional Development Plan for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050, the tourism sector in Southeast Vietnam is set to develop in a professional, modern, and high-quality direction, with strong competitiveness within the region.