Can Tho: Let "cake and fruit" become a cultural icon, boosting tourism

DNHN - When someone mentions this land, people frequently sing it: “Cần Thơ gạo trắng nước trong/ Ai đi đến đó lòng không muốn về” - The old folk song encompassed the entire meaning of a rich river region, with products and an ecological environment that draw tourists from all over the world.

Surprisingly, when people visit Can Tho, they frequently think of eating cakes and fruits! This land, as given by nature, not only provides sweet fruits in four seasons, but everyone here, from sisters to mothers, is skilled and ingenious. Food for snacking or filling is delicious and appealing to the eyes, mouth, and nose, with cakes ranging from simple to sophisticated. 

Panorama of Marina and Can Tho pedestrian bridge at night (Source: Internet).
Panorama of Marina and Can Tho pedestrian bridge at night (Source: Internet).

Can Tho is known as the "Western Capital," with attractions such as Ninh Kieu Wharf and Cai Rang Floating Market. Names like Lung Cot Cau Garden, My Khanh Garden, and Fruit Garden Can Tho Vam Xang tree, Can Tho durian garden, Vu Binh fruit garden, Rach Ke garden, Muoi Cuong cocoa garden, Phong Dien fruit garden are well-known for a variety of fruits like plums, mangoes, rambutans, durians, mangosteen, longan, guava, pomelo,... Visitors can enjoy and purchase a variety of fresh fruits here.

You'll want to sample a wide variety of fruit cakes if you visit the West.

It's not just a matter of nostalgia for the fruit gardens or the delicious food that makes "don't want to go home" so strong. From the West, it is the singing voice on the vast river, the standing posture of the garden girls picking fruits and their charming smiles that evoke nostalgia in visitors. 

The judges scored not only delicious but also the delicate decoration and ingenuity of the artisans (Source: CA)
The judges scored not only delicious but also the delicate decoration and ingenuity of the artisans (Source: CA).

Can Tho recently collaborated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to hold the 9th Southern Folk Cake Festival, 2022, to stimulate the province's tourism industry. This year, Can Tho welcomed nearly 1 million people to participate in activities at the Folk Cake Festival and Don Ca Tai Tu Festival (with 56,000 guests staying), generating a total revenue of approximately 380 billion; and 71,500 visits to offer incense to Hung Temple. 

The colourful beauty of traditional cakes (Source: SGGP)
The colourful beauty of traditional cakes (Source: SGGP).
The colourful beauty of traditional cakes (Source: SGGP).

To quote a tourist, "The Southern folk cake festival allows me to experience many typical flavours of Southern culinary culture, especially folk cakes, find about childhood memories and have the opportunity to learn traditional culture of the nation" Ms Nguyen Thi Hang.

Promote connections with picnic travel companies in and around Can Tho.

Participating in the Southern Folk Cake Festival allows folk cake villages to promote links with picnic travel companies both inside and outside of the city to build tours such as at some home-grown tourist attractions, Ecotourism, and craft villages have programmes to invite visitors to visit, experience, try to make, and enjoy folk cakes with artisans. 

Ha Chau strawberry garden in Phong Dien district, City. Can Tho (Source: Internet)
Ha Chau strawberry garden in Phong Dien district, City. Can Tho (Source: Internet).

According to Mr Nguyen Minh Tuan, Deputy Director of Can Tho City's Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the city's tourism industry has recently recovered, and the number of visitors to Can Tho has increased. high, leaving an imprint on the country's tourist map. This event promotes and introduces the South's culture, land, and people, resulting in beautiful images, stimulating tourism, and attracting tourists. Currently, many fruit gardens in Can Tho are combined with hotels and homestays. This organisation provides tourists with more options when visiting Tay Do.

Mr Tuan also stated that the Department has created an event plan to attract visitors from now until the end of 2022. Tourism highlights in localities such as Tan Loc Fruit Garden Festival on the 5th day of the lunar calendar in Thot Not district, cultural highlights in Binh Thuy district, ecological festival in Phong Dien district in September, Vietnam tourism day in Cai Rang district, Ninh Kieu lantern festival at the end of the year... are the main focus of activities.

Mr Nguyen Doi Hien, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee, stated that the National Don Ca Tai Tu Festival and the Southern Folk Cake Festival took place under unusual circumstances, following a prolonged period of the Covid-19 epidemic. The festival, on the other hand, has 207 stalls (including 135 stalls of folk cakes, 49 stalls of regional specialities and tourism; 23 food stalls). The folk cake contest drew 175 artisans from 31 units, with 97 cakes from all over the country. There are also 21 Don ca tai tu art troupes from provinces and cities, as well as 31 units and groups of folk artisans making cakes, with nearly 800 artists and artisans participating with careful planning and enthusiasm.

"The festival has contributed to honouring the creative labour-process of folk bakers, creating conditions for artisans to connect with domestic and foreign businesses, and building brands to promote the value of traditional cakes step by step." Mr Hien described intangible culture, Don Ca Tai Tu, and traditional Southern Banh-making art as reaching out to the world.

My Dung

 

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