This project is included in Plan No. 203/KH-UBND, dated December 30, 2022 of the People's Committee of Soc Trang province on the implementation of the Project "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development" in Soc Trang province, under the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, period 2021 - 2030. In early 2024, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with the People's Committee of Chau Thanh district and the Institute for Strategic Studies of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade to conduct a field survey of the project development route; organize meetings to contribute ideas to develop a draft project outline; organize to collect written comments from relevant professional units. Up to now, the draft outline of the Project "Khmer Cultural Heritage Road, Phu Tan Commune, Chau Thanh District associated with tourism development, phase 2025 - 2030" has been basically completed. The total cost of implementing the project is over 28 billion VND, phase 1 (2025 - 2026) is 7.8 billion VND and phase 2 (2026 - 2027) is 20 billion VND.

Dr. Le Cao Thanh - Director of the Institute of Strategic Studies, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, the consulting unit for developing the Project Outline, said: “The objective of the project is to preserve and promote the unique traditional cultural values ​​of the Khmer people in Phu Tan commune; clarify the current status of existing traditional cultural values, including folk dance, traditional costumes, flat rice making, weaving and other craft villages, aiming to combine cultural preservation with tourism development, contributing to maintaining and developing Khmer ethnic culture, improving the material and spiritual life of the local community; at the same time, creating favorable conditions for sustainable tourism economic development in the region”.

The construction of the Project "Khmer Cultural Heritage Road, Phu Tan Commune, Chau Thanh District associated with tourism development in the period of 2025 - 2030" is considered necessary. Because this is an important step to both preserve cultural identity and promote economic development. The project not only helps people change their thinking, actively get rich but also creates a positive spread in the community and society; at the same time, concretizes the goals and tasks of economic, cultural and social development of the locality.

Dr. Le Cao Thanh added: “This project focuses on assessing the current status of traditional cultural values ​​of the Khmer people in Phu Tan commune, including factors such as folk dance, traditional costumes, flat rice making, weaving and other traditional occupations.”

The project will guide the planning of the space to preserve, restore and promote the cultural values ​​of the Khmer community in the area, combining cultural preservation with tourism development, and building a management institution for the "Khmer Cultural Heritage Road of Phu Tan Commune". At the same time, the project will also propose solutions to develop tourism, create jobs, increase income and improve the material and spiritual life of the Khmer community in a sustainable way in the project implementation space.

Comrade Tran Minh Ly - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang emphasized: "Thoroughly implementing the Party and State's policy of socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas; carrying out the task of preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values ​​of the Khmer people associated with tourism development must be based on the perspective of sustainable development and sustainable tourism, focused development, strongly promoting the driving role of local communities and businesses".

The project “Khmer Cultural Heritage Road, Phu Tan Commune, Chau Thanh District” is not only a tourist route, but also a model of sustainable, friendly and rich tourism development. When the people are the main conservation subjects - and also the beneficiaries, the heritage is no longer a “relic” but becomes a dynamic, sustainable and hopeful development driving force in the near future.

Source: https://baosoctrang.org.vn/van-hoa-the-thao-du-lich/202504/xay-dung-con-duong-di-san-van-hoa-dan-toc-khmer-gan-voi-phat-trien-du-lich-2c26760/