Trang An heritage - important resource for developing cultural industry

More than 30 years ago, the romantic and peaceful beauty of Trang An was shot in the Oscar winning film "Indochine" by the renowned French director. Since then, Ninh Binh has welcomed an increasing number of foreign visitors.

By 2017, the spectacular beauty of Trang An, Van Long Lagoon and Tam Coc once again were shot in the Hollywood blockbuster 'Kong: Skull Island'.

These have proved the attractiveness and potential of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. It is not only tourist attraction but it also a precious treasure and momentum for Ninh Binh to exploit and develop the cultural industry.

Along with the UNESCO-recognised heritage site of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh boasts numerous valuable cultural and historical heritage sites such as Hoa Lu ancient capital, Phat Diem stone cathedral, Bich Dong pagoda, Bai Dinh pagoda, Thai Vi temple, and various captivating tourist attractions such as Van Long, Tam Coc and Cuc Phuong.

With its outstanding landscape values, numerous cultural and historical relic sites, the Trang An complex has become an ideal destination for movie making delegations, press agencies, photographers and painters, thus helping to spur tourism development, advertise the image of Ninh Binh and develop the cultural industry.

In the past recent years, local sectors and agencies have made efforts to exploit and develop the cultural industry by organising music liveshows, fashion shows, photo tours, photo exhibitions, festivals and experience tours.

Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, said that being aware of the cultural industry's role in socio-economic development, Ninh Binh has issued numerous programmes, plans and projects and carried out synchronically measures. It takes cultural heritages as a foundation to develop the cultural industry in an attempt to turn Ninh Binh into a culture and tourism hub of the Red River Delta and of the whole country.

In order to reach the target, in the past few years, the province has invested into cultural-social development on a par with economy.

In the 2015-2020 period, the province spent 3.37% of its total budget for the culture sector. In the 2021-2025 period, it allocated 20% of its mid-term investment for cultural projects and plans.

Thanks to these, intangible heritages in the province have been paid due attention. In particular, the Trang An complex has been preserved and promoted and soon become an attractive destination for domestic and international visitors, Cuong added.

Trang An is considered as a foundation and momentum for Ninh Binh to exploit the strength of the thousand-year-old-ancient capital, thus realising the goal of turning it into one of the country's cultural industry development centres.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy