The 3rd Forum on Tourism Development Linkage of Ho Chi Minh City and 13 Provinces and Cities in the Mekong Delta - 2024 with the theme "Tourism in the Mekong Delta, towards green and sustainable tourism development" has 4 main programs: Famtrip introducing tourism products of the Coconut Land; exhibition space for digital transformation of tourism and OCOP products of travel agencies of provinces and cities and tourism service providers in Ben Tre; discussion on the topic "Start-up and innovation in tourism - Inter-regional connection" and signing of strategic cooperation for tourism development between Ben Tre province and Saigontourist Group.

Speaking at the forum, opinions were raised on the current situation, necessity and recommendations on the linkage of regional tourism development between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta. In the past, this linkage was sometimes and in some places not really tight, mostly leaving tourism businesses to "swim on their own", the role of state management agencies in some localities was still vague, there were no mechanisms and policies to promote the development of regional linkage.

The Mekong Delta has great potential and prospects for developing green tourism and eco-tourism, but it needs to be sustainable and avoid duplication of products between localities. Last year, many localities attracted many tourists from near and far; including tourists from Ho Chi Minh City such as: An Giang welcomed 8.5 million visitors, Can Tho nearly 6 million visitors, Ben Tre more than 2.2 million visitors, Ca Mau more than 2 million visitors.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism implements the Program of tourism development cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta in 2024 with the following contents: cooperation in state management of tourism, cooperation in tourism product development, cooperation in tourism promotion, cooperation in tourism human resource development, cooperation in investment promotion for tourism development and participation in tourism activities of localities in association with specific contents and activities taking place in provinces and cities in the region.

The forum on tourism development linkage between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta is held every two years, rotating in localities in the linkage region. This is an opportunity for localities, organizations, businesses, experts and state management agencies to meet, exchange, share and set goals for the coming time. Thereby, further strengthening the linkage, cooperation in tourism development and reaching consensus on specific and practical solutions and action plans on regional linkage for tourism development between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta.

Mr. Vo Van Phong, Director of C2T Ben Tre Tourism Media Company Limited shared: "At this time, the connection is about new products, new experiences or new business models. The biggest challenge is climate change, drought and salinity, changes in tourism products; including climate change adaptation and that experience is not only about local culinary culture but must have sustainable products, including environmental issues. The story of waste and climate change is a hot topic at the moment. For sustainable tourism, there need to be 3 pillars: economic pillar, community pillar and the third is restructuring and redesigning to upgrade the product to a more environmentally friendly product".