Abstract

The Go Thap Festival is one of the most distinctive religious and cultural events in Dong Thap Province and is held annually at the Go Thap Special National Site. Drawing on documentary research, secondary data analysis, and a cultural studies approach, this article examines the potential and current state of cultural tourism development associated with the festival. The findings identify a multilayered system of values that shapes the identity of Go Thap, including archaeological, historical and revolutionary, folk-religious, community-cohesion, and ecological landscape values. Based on this analysis, the article proposes several directions for the sustainable development of cultural tourism at Go Thap. Heritage conservation, the community’s role as the principal cultural stakeholder, and the quality of visitors’ experiences are identified as three interdependent pillars that must be maintained in balance.

Keywords: Cultural tourism, Dong Thap, Go Thap, intangible cultural heritage, traditional festival.