1. Overview of the An Giang Culture and Tourism Festival
1.1. Venue and Timing of the Festival
The Culture, Sports, and Tourism Festival for the Khmer people of An Giang province is a periodically organized event, linked to community living spaces and local cultural centers. In 2025, the festival will take place on the banks of the Cai Lon River, in Go Quao commune, a suitable location for arranging festival activities and outdoor art performances. The riverine landscape contributes to creating a setting close to the traditional cultural life of An Giang residents.
The Culture - Sports - Tourism Festival of the Khmer ethnic group in An Giang province takes place vibrantly on the Cai Lon river space. (Source: Collected)
The festival is held over three days, from November 4th to 6th, 2025, coinciding with the traditional festival season of the Southern Khmer people. This period is linked to the Ok Om Bok Festival, helping cultural activities be placed within the familiar flow of local community life. Choosing a suitable time also creates conditions for tourists to combine attending the festival with their journey to explore An Giang.
1.2. The role of the festival in local cultural life
The Culture, Sports, and Tourism Festival in An Giang is an occasion for ethnic communities to meet, share, and recreate the cultural values that have long been associated with this land. Through rituals, performance arts, folk games, and sports activities, the cultural identity of the Khmer people is clearly expressed in contemporary life. The festival thus becomes a space for connection between generations within the community.
Besides preserving culture, the festival also contributes to strengthening the bond among local people. Activities take place in an open community atmosphere, creating opportunities for different population groups to interact and understand each other's traditions better. For many people in An Giang, this is an opportunity for familiar values to be continued in present life.
From a tourism perspective, the festival is an opportunity to introduce the cultural image of An Giang to domestic tourists. Festival activities, cuisine, and community life make the tour more multi-dimensional. Thereby, local tourism gains a foundation for development linked to indigenous culture.
1.3. The An Giang Culture and Tourism Festival in the context of Mekong Delta tourism
Within the flow of cultural festivals in the Southwestern region of Vietnam, the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Festival of the Khmer ethnic group in An Giang province offers a clear glimpse into community cultural life. Activities such as boat races, folk art performances, and artifact displays help tourists understand more about the Bay Nui region and its characteristic riverine landscape. Experiencing the festival is thus linked to a journey of exploring the Mekong Delta.
Compared to many festivals that are primarily local and internal, the festival in An Giang focuses on connecting culture with tourism experiences. Tourists not only participate in festival activities but also have the opportunity to experience the daily life of the riverine residents. This approach creates a natural intermingling between traditional culture and modern tourism journeys.
2. Outstanding cultural values at the An Giang Culture and Tourism Festival
2.1. Cultural heritage of ethnic groups in An Giang
The heritage introduction activities at the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Festival of the Khmer ethnic group in An Giang province focus on recreating the traditional cultural life of the Khmer community. Rituals such as the Ok Om Bok Moon Worship, traditional costume performances, and artifact display areas allow tourists to access spiritual values linked to community life. Through this, cultural heritage is presented in a context close to local life.
Khmer art performance activities are considered heritage contributing to enriching local cultural life. (Source: Collected)
Besides Khmer culture, heritage in An Giang also reflects the lifestyle of the Kinh and Cham communities who have lived in the area for a long time. These cultural elements are integrated into exhibition areas, performance activities, and experiential activities. The diversity of communities creates a multi-layered cultural picture of An Giang.
2.2. Folk art performance space
The art performance space at the festival is usually arranged outdoors, connecting the main stage and community activity areas. Folk dance and music performances take place throughout, creating a continuous cultural rhythm for attendees. The riverside setting helps highlight the traditional festival atmosphere.
The performance art focuses on the folk genres of the Khmer people, such as Apsara dance, ritual dances in Cung Trang (Moon Offering ceremony), and folk music. The performances are arranged alternately, allowing visitors to easily access and follow them in an open space. Performing in a community setting helps the art retain its closeness.
Besides performances, the program also includes a traditional costume competition and a Khmer folk art festival. Visitors can observe, interact, and learn directly about costumes, musical instruments, and performance styles. This organization makes the art experience more vibrant.
2.3. Traditional cuisine during the An Giang Culture and Tourism Festival
The cuisine at the An Giang Culture, Sports, and Tourism Festival reflects the cultural exchange of the Kinh, Khmer, and Cham communities. Traditional dishes are introduced in an open space, linked to the daily life of local people. Through cuisine, visitors can clearly feel the life of the river region.
By participating in the festival, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy familiar An Giang dishes such as Long Xuyen fish noodle soup, sầu đâu salad, Khmer bánh kà tum, Ô Thum chicken grilled with lá chúc leaves, and dishes made from palm sugar. Each dish is associated with local ingredients and traditional preparation methods. Enjoying cuisine becomes part of the cultural exploration journey.
The cuisine at the festival not only serves dining needs but also tells stories about the relationship between people and their living environment. The way dishes are presented and introduced helps visitors understand local customs and beliefs. The culinary experience thus contributes to completing the cultural picture of An Giang.
3. Experiences for visitors participating in the festival
3.1. Interactive activities and cultural experiences
By participating in the An Giang Culture, Sports, and Tourism Festival, visitors not only observe but also directly immerse themselves in community cultural activities. Experiences such as making traditional handicrafts, participating in folk games, or learning about the daily life of the Khmer people bring a sense of closeness. Direct interaction makes the sightseeing journey more vibrant.
Visitors participate in cultural experiences through traditional festival activities as well as community culture. (Source: Collected)
Experience activities are organized throughout the day, suitable for many participant groups. Visitors can learn how to set up the Thuy Luc stage, observe the preparation process for the Moon Offering ceremony, or participate in community activities. The open space facilitates easy access to local culture for participants.
3.2. Sightseeing Space Combined with Ecotourism
Besides the main festival area, An Giang also boasts many ecological destinations for visitors to combine with their tours. Places like Tra Su Melaleuca Forest offer a natural space characteristic of the Southwestern river region. Combining festivals and ecotourism helps make the exploration journey more balanced.
After participating in cultural activities, visitors can spend time relaxing in a quiet natural space. The river landscape and wetland ecosystem create a relaxing feeling, separate from the bustling pace of the festival. This adds depth to the travel experience.
4. Travel Itinerary After Experiencing the An Giang Cultural Tourism Festival
4.1. Sun World Hon Thom
After participating in the An Giang Cultural Tourism Festival, the journey continues to Phu Quoc, opening up many island experiences within the same destination. Sun World Hon Thom is located in the southern part of the island, within the Phu Quoc special administrative region, An Giang province, suitable for groups who want to combine entertainment, sightseeing, and day-trip relaxation. This destination is known for its coastal entertainment complex, including Aquatopia water park and the Hon Thom cable car.
Aerial view of Aquatopia water park from above. (Source: Collected)
Aquatopia is developed as a themed water park, comprising many game zones for families, groups of friends, and children. The space is arranged into separate functional areas, allowing visitors to choose between gentle experiences or active water games. This is a suitable stop after cultural activities, when the itinerary shifts towards rest and entertainment.
The Hon Thom cable car line is approximately 7,899.9 m long, connecting An Thoi station with Hon Thom island, passing through the Hon Dua and Hon Roi areas. When operational, the project was recognized by Guinness as the longest 3-wire cross-sea cable car in the world, with an average travel time of about 15 minutes. From the cabin, visitors can observe the southern sea area of Phu Quoc and the small islands in the An Thoi archipelago.
4.2. Sunset Town
Sunset Town is a coastal tourist complex in the An Thoi area, Phu Quoc, built in the Mediterranean style with warm-colored houses, open squares, and a sea-facing landscape axis. This space is often chosen for afternoon and evening itineraries, when the sunset light highlights the architecture. The development of a series of night entertainment services adds activities to the South Island area after beach hours.
Spectacular fireworks display in the night sky at the Southern Island entertainment complex. (Source: Collected)
One of the notable points here is the fireworks show twice every night, maintained for 365 days a year. The fireworks displays are often linked to art performance schedules, creating a continuous experience from sightseeing, watching shows to night photography. This activity has contributed to shaping the night tourism product in Phu Quoc in recent years.
At Sunset Town, there is the Symphony of the Sea show taking place at Kiss Bridge and the Kiss of the Sea show at a nearby stage. These two programs combine sound, light, water, and performance effects, suitable for groups of guests who want to add artistic experiences to their itinerary. The highlight of the area is Kiss Bridge, a structure with two branches extending into the sea and creating a gap in the middle, becoming a familiar photo spot since late 2023.
4.3. Bai Sao Phu Quoc
Bai Sao Phu Quoc is located in the southern part of the island, nổi bật with its curved coastline, bright sand, and shallow waters in many sections. This destination is suitable for balancing the itinerary after festival activities, entertainment, and evening performances. According to domestic tourism information, Bai Sao was once mentioned among the beaches with natural landscapes of interest to tourists in Phu Quoc.
The An Giang Culture and Tourism Festival is an occasion for the locality to tell its story through its culture, people, and riverine way of life. Each activity during the festival offers visitors an opportunity to approach local life in a close and leisurely manner. These experiences create An Giang's unique characteristics in the journey of discovering Vietnamese culture.
