The workshop was chaired by Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) with the technical support of the European Union funded Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programne (known as the EU-ESRT Programme).

It was seen as an opportunity for the EU-ESRT Programme to report results obtained from the mission of a team of international and domestic experts to the three Mekong Delta provinces from January 12^th – 27^th, 2015. The mission’s targets were studying and supporting tourism product development as well as destination promotion plan for the region.

Aiming to enhance product competitiveness and public-private dialogue, the EU-ESRT programme initiated and supported Destination Management Organisations in eight Northwestern provinces, three Central Coastal provinces and three Mekong Delta provinces.

Mr. Robert Travers, an international expert on Destination Development and Management of the EU-ESRT Programme said that a key challenge is the chronically short length of stay (just one night). It is seen as an excursion or add-on destination rather than a leisure destination in its own right.

In order to address this, businesses and the Government were urged to come together to adopt a market-led approach, targeting longer staying visitor segments in the domestic and international markets.

Experts at the workshop suggested the industry and Government should work more closely together within the Delta region to create tourism hubs of excellence which can offer unique Mekong Delta experiences.

The region was urged to be different from other parts of Viet Nam, because at the moment the thrust of development is making it just like anywhere else. In addition, they suggested that high quality riverside resorts and lodges, expanded water-based options, better orchard and agri-tourism visits and higher quality homestay are needed to enhance the Mekong tourism products.