During the flood season, the vast, waterlogged fields of localities in Dong Thap province offer many unique tourist experiences.

From exploring the waterways and enjoying local produce to immersing oneself in the activities of the local people, each tourism product offers a unique way for visitors to experience the beauty of nature, culture, and the lives of the people in the land of lotus flowers.

From setting fishing lines and clearing brush to attending the flood season market
Setting nets, fishing with hooks, setting traps, dismantling fish farms, etc., are exciting activities for tourists visiting the Tram Chim National Park (Tram Chim commune, Dong Thap province). These activities are organized from August to November every year, as this is the most beautiful time of the flood season.

Along both banks of the Muoi Nhe canal in subdivision A1 (Tram Chim Tourist Area), dozens of rat traps have been set up for tourists to experience. The traps are made from dry branches and placed on high mounds of earth; food for the rats is scattered inside to lure them to take shelter.

"Before dismantling the brushwood, locals wrap a net around the pile of brushwood and then proceed to dismantle it. The rats trapped inside the net are then caught by hand by tourists. The dismantled pile of brushwood is then placed next to another pile to lure rats into sheltering there again, and the net is collected for reuse. After dismantling the brushwood, tourists can enjoy dishes made from the natural products they harvested themselves. The harvested field rats are brought to the resort's restaurant to be prepared into traditional dishes, served free of charge according to tourists' needs", said Tien, Head of the Brushwood Rat Dismantling Team at Tram Chim Tourist Area, introducing the brushwood rat dismantling experience at the resort.

According to Mr. Tien, the flood season experiential services are highly appreciated by tourists because of their novel model. Activities such as boating through the forest, clearing brush, setting traps, fishing with hooks, and catching rats create a sense of excitement for tourists. These activities also provide livelihoods for the people in the buffer zone - the members who directly guide tourists through the experiences. Members of the group also participate in educating tourists about environmental hygiene, protecting rare animals, and preserving biodiversity.

Each experience at Tram Chim National Park during the flood season offers a unique feeling as visitors immerse themselves in the flooded mangrove forests and the daily lives of the people living in the riverine region.

"What impressed me most about Tram Chim was the beautiful scenery. Traveling by boat on the canals, from the forests to the vast rice paddies, gave me a feeling of closeness to nature. The friendliness and enthusiasm of the locals, and the fun of participating in clearing brushwood and setting fishing lines, were also factors that I enjoyed. Through these experiences, I learned more about the livelihoods of the people during the flood season, making the trip not only about admiring the beautiful scenery but also about experiencing the life of the people in this riverine region," said Phan Thi Xuyen, a tourist from Cao Lanh ward.

In Hong Ngu ward, the vast expanse of waterlogged fields provides a space for locals and tourists to experience the unique riverine culture of the border region. Following the success of the "Hong Ngu - The Colors of the Border Region" experience, the locality maintains a floating border market in Binh Hoa neighborhood every Saturday and Sunday to create a highlight for local tourism.

Amidst the vast expanse of water, locals and tourists can enjoy rustic dishes made from seasonal produce, take motorboat tours, and especially participate in the traditional "bathing in the flooded fields" activity - a quintessential Western Vietnam cultural tradition during the flood season.

Participating in the flood season tourism experience for the first time, Nguyen Thi Diem Kieu, a student at Dong Thap University, felt the lively and exciting atmosphere of the locals. The recreational activities were well-organized to suit the flood season, and the people were very friendly. Kieu said she would return with friends to experience these activities again, and take commemorative photos together because of the unique and interesting aspects, the strong regional identity, and the peaceful scenery of the border region during the flood season.

Enhance experiences and interactions to improve the quality of tourism products
With the goal of giving tourists a close connection with nature, experiencing the real life of people in the buffer zone of Tram Chim National Park, and creating a regular livelihood for the people, Tram Chim Tourist Area has provided financial support to groups clearing brushwood to purchase tools for experiential activities, contributing to spreading the cultural values and natural beauty of the Tram Chim area.

According to Pham Duc Hoa, Director of Tram Chim National Park, previously, the park simply offered boat tours to admire the forest's ecological landscape. Through research, the park is now developing seasonal tourism products, creating new experiences for visitors and providing a stable livelihood for people in the buffer zone of Tram Chim National Park.

During the flood season, the tourist area is implementing experiential activities such as casting nets, setting fishing lines, placing traps, setting eel traps, clearing rat and fish traps, and picking wild vegetables, etc. Tourists have responded very positively to these experiential activities, and the local people in the buffer zone, acting as guides and participating in these activities with tourists, also benefit by providing services and products to visitors.

Through this, the interaction between locals and tourists becomes closer, and locals are able to generate revenue from services. The tourist area also collaborates with the local community to review and standardize the various stages of the experiential program to better serve tourists, Mr. Hoa informed.

For the border ward of Hong Ngu, the flood season is not only a season of water, but also a season of experiences and new opportunities for the locality to develop tourism products.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Yen, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hong Ngu Ward, said that the series of experiential activities was organized with the desire to bring the flood season closer to the people and tourists, so that when coming to Hong Ngu, each person can not only admire but also enjoy, experience, and feel the unique values of this land. The locality hopes that each activity is a way of telling a story about the homeland: the market tells the story of the products, the boat tells the story of life on the river, the traditional dishes tell the story of memories, and the smiles of the people of Hong Ngu tell the story of friendliness and hospitality.

The Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the ward shared that, starting from things close to the people, Hong Ngu will gradually build cultural and tourism products with a unique mark, creating beautiful experiences during the flood season, helping to spread a beautiful image of Hong Ngu, contributing to building a civilized, green, friendly and sustainable locality associated with green tourism.

In the first eight months of 2026, Dong Thap province welcomed approximately 5.5 million visitors, including 432,000 international tourists. Total tourism revenue was estimated at 2,900 billion VND. Tourism infrastructure and agricultural, community-based, and traditional craft village tourism products were expanded, contributing to the promotion of the service sector and the local image. The province will improve the quality of tourism products by enhancing experiences and interactions for visitors at tourist attractions.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Thap province, said that in the coming time, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will focus on implementing synchronously Resolution 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture, and the province's programs and plans to concretize the viewpoint of cultural development associated with human development, socio-economic development, tourism, cultural industry and digital transformation.

The sector will accelerate the digitization of heritage sites; striving to complete the digitization of 100% of national relics, special national relics, and Phase 1 of the Dong Thap Cultural Digital Map Project, making it easier for tourists to search, learn, and build their travel experiences online. The sector will continue to innovate and improve tourism products, shifting from a primarily sightseeing and learning approach to one that enhances experiences and interaction. Tourists will not only visit to see relics, traditional crafts, or attend festivals, but can also directly hear stories, experience traditional crafts, enjoy cuisine, participate in cultural activities, and learn about community life.

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