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| A view of the Gao Giong cajeput forest in Dong Thap province (Photo: VNA) |
Preservation efforts
Covering a total area of over 1,500 ha, including about 1,200 ha of cajeput, the site is home to a variety of wildlife species.
Director of the Management Board of the Gao Giong cajeput forest Huynh Thanh Hien said the agency focuses on communications campaigns to call on local residents to minimise the use of chemicals to avoid environmental impact and to step up wildfire prevention during the dry season.
To protect flocks of storks and birds seeking shelter, the management board and relevant units have urged residents to refrain from poaching, while working to create a safe and conducive environment with abundant food sources, nesting trees, and water supplies to attract migratory wildlife for breeding.
Tran Van La, head of a forest ranger team under the management board, said his team regularly coordinates with local police and military forces to conduct patrols and inspections both inside and outside the area, preventing illegal forest encroachment, and collecting hunting tools.
The forest’s 40-ha bird sanctuary serves as a habitat for about 100 species of birds and storks, including rare ones.
Eco-tourism development
Tapping the pristine nature and rich ecosystem there, the Gao Giong ecotourism area has been established and opened to visitors since 2003.
Known as a "green oasis" with stunning natural scenery, the mangrove forest in Gao Giong is home to various water bird species, including whistling ducks, wild ducks, and white egrets. Visiting the bird sanctuary in the early morning or late afternoon offers an unforgettable experience for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts.
Visitors to the site can enjoy documentary films, take in panoramic views of the expansive cajeput forest from an observation tower, and participate in an array of activities.
According to Director of the ecotourism area Le Ngoc Kieu Oanh, the site has welcomed about 20,000 domestic and foreign visitors so far this year.
To implement a sustainable management plan for the Gao Giong cajeput forest in the 2024-2030 period and turn tourism into a key economic sector, the People's Committee of Cao Lanh district has submitted a project on eco-tourism development to the provincial People’s Committee for approval.
The project aims to attract over 40,000 visitors by 2030, including over 12,000 overnight holiday-makers, of them foreigners accounting for 30%.
Ho Chi Minh City receives six million foreign arrivals in 11-month period
According to VOV, Ho Chi Minh City, the most populous city and largest financial hub in Vietnam, welcomed approximately six million foreign tourists over the past 11 months, up 20% year on year, thus meeting the target set for this year.
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| Miss Cosmo 2024 beauties tour around major attractions in Ho Chi Minh City |
Meanwhile, the number of domestic holiday-makers also hit 38 million in the reviewed period, up 8.6%, meeting the 2024 target.
The impressive result can be attributed to the city’s efforts in deploying a number of outstanding tourism activities in recent times, including the second Ho Chi Minh City River Festival in early June as well as the introduction of 17 waterway tourism products.
The southern metropolis also organised a range of festivals and tourism promotion events specifically aimed at boosting tourism, including the Ho Chi Minh City stimulus programme 2024 in April and the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) 2024 in September.
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| Ho Chi Minh city sightseeing (Source: vnexpress.net) |
Furthermore, a series of tourism promotion activities were also held abroad, such as a tourism promotion programme at the IMEX Frankfurt 2024 in Germany, and the HCM City Days launched in Osaka, Japan.
For the remainder of the year, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism will collaborate alongside local authorities, including Thu Duc satellite city and 21 districts, to prepare for the fourth Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week which is due to run from December 1 to 8.
Efforts are also underway with the Department of Culture and Sports and the city's Athletics Federation to organise the seventh Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon on December 8.
Vietnamese digital content creators honoured
An award ceremony for the Vietnam iContent Awards 2024 was held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 30, honouring outstanding digital content creators across the country, reported VNA.
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| YouTuber Khoai Lang Thang (centre) receives the “content creator of the year” award at the Vietnam iContent Awards 2024. (Photo: VNA) |
The event, the first of its kind, was organised by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and units, aiming to recognise individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the field, while providing an opportunity for networking, learning, and connection among individuals.
The awards includes 14 categories across four groups, including “inspirational music”, “inspirational TV programme”, “digital phenomenon of the year”, “promising content creator”, “inspirational content creator”, and “channel/page/community group of the year”. However, this year, the categories of “inspirational video” in the group of digital products and “domestic social network of the year” failed to find their winners.
Hoa Sen Group and Sai Gon Xanh won the “organisation for community” title. Artist Quyen Linh and Miss Universe Vietnam 2018 H’Hen Nie shared the “individual for community” award.
Notably, the “content creator of the year” award was given to Khoai Lang Thang, who also received the “most favorite content creator” title.
Khoai Lang Thang, real name Dinh Vo Hoai Phuong, born in 1991, from the southern province of Ben Tre, has a YouTube channel, specialising in travel and lifestyle, with over 2.65 million subscribers.
Speaking at the event, Director General of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information Le Quang Tu Do, who is also head of the organising committee, noted that this is the first time Vietnam has honoured domestic digital content creators.
This is also the first time the three largest digital media platforms in the world - TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube - together with the MIC, have recognised outstanding digital content creators in Vietnam, he said.
Vietnamese band rocks ASEAN - India Music Festival 2024
Famous rock band Buc Tuong (The Wall) represents Vietnam at the ASEAN - India Music Festival 2024 that is taking place in New Delhi from November 29 to December 1, reported VNA.
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| Members and fans of rock band Buc Tuong (The Wall) at the ASEAN - India Music Festival 2024. (Photo: VNA) |
The festival is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs of India on the occasion of 10 years of India's "Act East" policy. It brings together 10 bands from the 10 ASEAN member states and five others from host India.
As the first to perform, the Vietnamese band rocked the outdoor stage at Purana Qila, one of the oldest forts in Delhi, with its famous songs.
Opening the event, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita affirmed that music is a common language that inspires, heals and connects people.
This festival highlights the cultural bond that India and ASEAN have built over the years. It is a celebration of how music transcends borders and strengthens the ties between ASEAN and India in their shared journey of development, he said.
The ASEAN-India Music Festival 2024 gives the audience a rare opportunity to experience the rich and diverse sounds of both regions at one location./.