Awakening the heritage

Editor's Note: The southernmost region of Vietnam possesses many unique cultural and historical values, deeply rooted in its own identity. However, alongside famous historical sites, there are still many valuable heritage assets that have not been properly recognized and utilized. How to ensure that these heritage assets not only remain memories but also become a vibrant resource for local tourism development is a major concern today.

Báo Cà Mau•09/04/2026

Listen to the historical sites tell their stories.
Returning to the historical site of the Dien Bien Phu Victory
The Lung Lá Provincial Party Committee Base - The Thể House historical site

Article 1: The "dormant" Heritage of the Southernmost Point

Ca Mau has many cultural and historical relics that are quietly "dormant," despite their precious value. The fact that these relics are not being effectively exploited, lack tourists, and lack vitality is a reality worth reflecting on, highlighting the need to re-examine how heritage is preserved and promoted.

The "memory repository" needs to be renewed.

Following the merger of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces on July 1, 2025, the management of historical sites in the area is carried out according to Decision No. 663/QD-UBND dated March 11, 2026, of the People's Committee of Ca Mau province. The province currently has 112 classified historical sites, including 3 special national historical sites, 24 national historical sites, and 85 provincial-level historical sites.

Among them, there are 3 special national historical sites: the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the Sea (Ben Vam Lung, Phan Ngoc Hien Commune), Cai Chanh Base (Ninh Thanh Loi Commune), and Vinh Hung Archaeological Site (Chau Thoi Commune). Besides these, there are many other notable sites such as: Tan Hung Temple (Ly Van Lam Ward), Hong Anh Bookstore (An Xuyen Ward), Ho Chi Minh Memorial Temple (Chau Thoi Commune), Hon Khoai Memorial Temple for the 10 heroic martyrs of the uprising (An Xuyen Ward), the Memorial Area for Traditional Music and Cao Van Lau (Bac Lieu Ward), Noc Nang Historical Site (Gia Rai Ward)... These are all places of significant historical importance, for traditional education , and for scientific research.

The Ca Mau Provincial Museum is entrusted with managing 27 historical sites, including directly managing 3 special national historical sites; the remaining 19 sites are managed through a coordination mechanism with local authorities and relevant units.

Most of the historical sites in the province are currently managed directly by the People's Committees at the commune level and related units, in accordance with the actual conditions of each locality. The decentralization of management according to Decision No. 663/QD-UBND of the Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee is an important basis for clarifying responsibilities, improving management efficiency, and promoting the role of local communities in the conservation and promotion of the value of historical sites. At the same time, this mechanism also strengthens coordination among different levels, sectors, localities, and communities, contributing to the protection and preservation of cultural and historical heritage in Ca Mau.

According to Mr. Le Minh Son, Director of the Ca Mau Provincial Museum, the province's biggest challenge lies not in a lack of resources but in its ability to transform heritage values into experiential products that meet public needs.

The provincial museum, which houses and displays artifacts and documents reflecting the history of the formation and development of the southernmost region, is considered the local "treasure trove of memories." However, its exhibition space is not truly attractive, and it lacks a large-scale antique exhibition area. Many valuable artifacts remain in storage and have not been widely showcased. The application of technology in exhibitions is still limited compared to modern museum trends.

Mr. Do Van Nghiep, Chairman of the History Club of the Provincial Museum, shared: "Promoting historical knowledge through relics and artifacts is of great importance, contributing to bringing new awareness and a new vision to present and future generations. Therefore, the Provincial Museum needs to be comprehensively renovated to become a place where the past is told in a vivid and accessible way."

Provincial leaders visited the cluster of reliefs at the Temple of the 10 heroic martyrs of the Hon Khoai uprising.

According to experts, in the context of the booming development of experiential tourism , historical sites should not only be exhibition spaces but also become cultural and historical educational spaces where tourists can interact, explore, and gain a deeper understanding of local identity.

Journalist, artist, and Master of Arts Nguyen Kim Phien, Director of the UNESCO Center for the Preservation of Vietnamese Fine Arts and Cultural Heritage, emphasized that historical sites wishing to attract visitors need to innovate their display methods, enhance experiential activities and historical education, especially targeting students.

Lack of connectivity and promotion hinders tourism development.

Many historical and cultural relics in the province have not been effectively exploited for tourism development. These include: the National Historical Monument of the Wire House and Hong Anh Bookstore (An Xuyen ward), the Provincial Party Committee Base at Xeo Duoc (Phu My commune), the Lung La - Nha The Provincial Party Committee Base (Luong The Tran commune), the evidence of American-puppet regime crimes at the Hai Yen - Binh Hung Special Zone (Phu Tan commune), and the Memorial Area of Folk Artist Nguyen Long Phi (Uncle Ba Phi, Khanh Hung commune)... These are all valuable sites, but the number of visitors remains limited.

Many locals say that tourists visiting Ca Mau mainly focus on popular eco-tourism destinations such as Dat Mui, Hon Da Bac, and wind farms, while historical and cultural sites are less well-known. Furthermore, some sites lack stable opening hours, and information is limited, making them difficult to access even for locals.

Along with limited promotion and introduction efforts, monotonous exhibition content, and a lack of interaction that fails to meet the increasingly sophisticated experiential needs of tourists, the historical sites in Ca Mau are scattered, with many located far from the center, and the transportation and service infrastructure is not yet developed synchronously. The linking of these sites into tour routes has not been effective, resulting in the resources not being transformed into an attractive itinerary.

Armed forces personnel visited and learned about the history of the Hai Yen - Binh Hung Special Zone (Phu Tan commune).

Furthermore, investment resources for the restoration and expansion of historical sites are modest. The application of technology in exhibitions and promotion has not met requirements, directly affecting the accessibility for tourists. In addition, the human resources serving at the sites are limited, not adequately and professionally staffed, leading to infrequent visitor receptions...

If properly planned and organized, these historical sites could become important "pieces" in the province's tourism landscape. According to Mr. Le Minh Son, first and foremost, a change in perception and approach is needed: heritage is not only an object of preservation but also a resource for development. When the perspective changes, the approach must also change, from preservation to responsible exploitation.

Therefore, the current difficulties need to be resolved soon so that cultural and historical relics in Ca Mau can truly become attractive destinations, contributing to the promotion of tourism and socio-economic development of the locality.

Hoang Vu