Ninh Binh works to fully tap Trang An heritage's values for sustainable development

The Trang An Landscape Complex holds outstanding cultural, historical and natural values with the magnificent beauty. Trang An is created by the harmonic combination of rivers, mountains, sub-merged caves, and pristine fauna and floral.

The heritage site also boasts outstanding cultural and historical values. Notably, historical works with artistic architecture such as Hoa Lu ancient capital, Noi Lam temple, Nhat Tru pagoda or traditional festivals such as Hoa Lu festival, Bai Dinh festival, Thai Vi temple festival. It is also famous for specialities, such as goat meat, fried rice, Tong Truong fish, and shrimp sauce.

Historian Duong Trung Quoc, who is among the first persons to take part in building files for Trang An seeking UNESCO's recognition, said after 10 years of being recognised as a world heritage, Trang An has changed dramatically. It has become a priceless resource, and a momentum for luring more and more tourists to Ninh Binh.

The outcome was attributed to Ninh Binh's selection of a suitable method of managing and preserving the heritage's values effectively. Especially, the province has upheld the heritage's values in socio-economic development, thereby creating livelihoods for local residents.

The model has also contributed to protecting and promoting intangible values of Xam singing and water puppet in service of tourists.

During her tour of Trang An, Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Audrey Azoulay hailed Ninh Binh for applying a model that has seen the coordination of the State, enterprises and local people in developing the economy and tourism sustainably while preserving the nature. The model should be multiplied to fully tap the heritage values.

In the past few years, Trang An has offered chances for Ninh Binh to develop sustainably and expand cultural and economic exchanges with other countries in the world.

At the same time, cultural and natural values in Ninh Binh have affirmed their roles as important pillars and momentums in building Ninh Binh's culture and people to meet the requirements of international integration.

Trang An has made great impacts on tourism growth and diversified livelihoods for local residents with higher incomes.

Besides, tourism activities in the heritage area has brought in numerous profits in terms of preservation and community development, thus contributing to protecting natural resources, culture and history through the participation of local people.

By participating in tourism activities and being introduced to local historical relic sites, people will learn more about their history and tradition, thus enhancing their awareness to protect these values.

Bui Van Manh, Director of the Department of Tourism, said right after receiving UNESCO's title, Ninh Binh has strictly implemented the organisation's recommendations.

The province has restructured the apparatus, supplemented human resources, improved the quality of workforce who engage in managing the heritage, built and issued legal documents and regulations to protect the world heritage, devised a planning scheme and invested financial resources to protect and upgrade the heritage in a bid to reduce and prevent negative impacts on the heritage.

In particular, Ninh Binh has paid due attention to developing infrastructure, services, tourism and scientific research, thereby helping to raise the awareness of protecting and promoting heritage values in Ninh Binh, and contributing to the process of construction and development in the country and the province. 

Historian Duong Trung Quoc said that in order to fully tap the heritage's strengths and to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, Ninh Binh needs to build a suitable tourism development strategy, diversify tourism products, in which giving priority to developing tourism products associated with the heritage's values, and develop tourism in combination with community culture and ensuring the community's benefits. 

According to a representative of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, Ninh Binh needs to better implement community-based heritage protection policies.

To that end, the Trang An management board must create close cooperation between management agencies, local administration, and local community by popularising legal documents and regulations.

At the same time, it is necessary to raise the responsibility of the community, authorized agencies, administrations at all levels and the entire political system in protecting, preserving and promoting the heritage's values.

It also needs to review the contents of legal documents and regulations in order to meet heritage preservation requirements and ensure benefits of the local community.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy