Tourists enjoy and exchange Quan Ho folk songs at Do Temple. Photo: N.HUU
Lots of growth potential
Located on the southern bank of the Duong River, in Song Ho Ward, Thuan Thanh Town, Bac Ninh Province (about 16 km from Bac Ninh City) and very close to Hanoi, for a long time, Dong Ho painting village with a history of over 400 years has been one of the famous tourist destinations that not only attracts visitors in terms of time and distance, but also a space of the countryside, from paintings to the simple daily life of the people here.
To get to Dong Ho painting village, visitors can follow National Highway 38, cross Ho bridge, turn right onto Thien Duc street, follow the dike for about 2 km to get there; or from Hanoi , visitors can take bus route 204.
Here, visitors can immerse themselves in the traditional culture of craft villages, along with customs, festivals, and familiar images of old rural life such as flocks of chickens, flocks of pigs, mouse weddings, and coconut gatherings...
In particular, visitors are directly guided by artisans in the process of making paintings to better understand the unique features of the painting printing technique and the technique of creating colors from natural plants. In addition, visitors can also immerse themselves in the space of the ancient Tranh communal house and the Dong Ho Folk Painting Conservation Center, which is built on a massive scale with traditional landscapes and architecture.
Here, visitors can visit the exhibition house to hear about the history of the birth and development of Dong Ho painting, immerse themselves in Quan Ho folk songs performed by artisans as well as take beautiful photos with many unique and impressive architectural angles and check-in points.
When it comes to experiencing craft villages, visitors cannot miss Phu Lang pottery village, which was formed in the 14th century, located on the banks of Cau River, in Que Vo town, recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. Currently, the Vietnam Museum of History still preserves and displays a number of Phu Lang pottery products dating from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Phu Lang pottery has the advantage of natural, durable and unique glaze, rustic, rough but strong pottery shape, containing the pristine beauty of the soil and bold sculpture. The outstanding feature in Phu Lang pottery decoration is the use of the embossing method in the form of carving, which Phu Lang people often call double carving with the themes: Four sacred animals, Nghe, crane, tiger face, longevity character, Hoi Van, lotus petals, water waves...
Phu Lang pottery village was once at risk of extinction, but now, with more than 200 kilns always burning, the craft has revived. For potters, making a living from their craft is precious, so even though the work is hard, their love for the craft remains unchanged.
Besides, Phu Lang pottery village is not only a place to keep the traditional craft village alive, it is also an attractive tourist destination for those who love to explore traditional lifestyle culture.
When visiting Phu Lang pottery village, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the pottery making process from kneading clay, shaping, applying patterns to firing the pottery - this process requires a lot of effort and dedication from the craftsman.
Not only stopping at observing, visitors can also directly participate in creating products in their own style. This is an extremely unique experience, helping visitors understand more deeply the ingenuity and talent of the artisans.
In addition to the pottery making experience, Phu Lang pottery village also offers visitors peaceful rural landscapes. Small alleys with poetic, rich Vietnamese qualities, beautifully arranged kilns, beautifully displayed Phu Lang ceramic products with vivid, rustic yet sophisticated patterns and motifs, all create a space imbued with the traditional art of Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac homeland.
According to statistics, Bac Ninh currently has 1,589 relics (of which 5 relics are ranked as special national relics, 206 national relics, 466 provincial relics); 19 artifacts and groups of artifacts are recognized as National Treasures.
Bac Ninh also has 4 heritages recognized by UNESCO including: Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs, Ca Tru, Huu Chap tug of war rituals and games, and the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship; 8 intangible cultural heritages included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
In addition, there are 599 traditional festivals held annually by communities; 120 craft villages, including 62 traditional craft villages; preserving and conserving a variety of folk performing arts such as: Tuong, Cheo, Trong Quan, water puppetry, folk games...
To further promote the potential and strengths, Bac Ninh is currently prioritizing investment in tourism services, based on the strengths of the province's tourism resources to create a system of quality and unique tourism products, meeting the needs of tourists; developing "green" tourism products, prioritizing the development of cultural tourism, community tourism, river tourism, eco-tourism and rural agricultural tourism.
Experience making Dong Ho paintings at the Dong Ho Folk Painting Conservation Center. Photo: B.LONG
Diverse tourism products, spiritual culture, resort
Nowadays, many tourists are very fond of the agricultural and rural tourism model because of its reasonable cost, the ability to relax, immerse themselves in a fresh and peaceful space, and enjoy fresh and safe fruits right in the garden and buy them as gifts for friends and relatives...
In Bac Ninh, we can mention Quan Ho Tourist Area in Hoa Long Ward, Bac Ninh City with resort and eco-tourism; experience and explore cultural values, especially Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Songs connected with Ba Chua Kho Temple Cultural - Festival Tourist Area (Bac Ninh City), Nhu Nguyet Frontline Historical Tourist Area...
In addition to experiencing making Dong Ho paintings and Phu Lang pottery, tourists can also visit many famous craft villages such as Dong Ky and Phu Khe wood carvings, Da Hoi iron forging, Dinh Bang phu the cakes, Dai Bai bronze casting, Xuan Hoi bamboo and rattan weaving...; or join agricultural and ecological tours such as: Green farm (Tien Du), Thu Thuy (Tu Son city)...
Mr. Nguyen Trung Khue, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province, assessed that the combination of traditional and modern elements, spirituality and experience is creating a new attraction for Bac Ninh tourism, attracting domestic and international visitors. In 2024 and the first months of 2025, the growth rate of visitors to Bac Ninh increased to 40%/year.
According to the orientation to 2030, one of the four tourism product lines that Bac Ninh prioritizes to develop is tourism activities that truly experience the cultural heritage space of craft villages and original Quan Ho villages: Ancient houses, folk games, learning to sing Quan Ho folk songs, learning a trade. Developing a high-tech agricultural tourism model - tourists experience farming combined with entertainment and relaxation.
“To diversify products, the province has researched and restored the Quan Ho village culinary culture space, initially forming culinary service packages in Quan Ho villages or places with community tourism activities, and organizing a pilot in Diem area, Bac Ninh city.
Continue to develop OCOP products associated with tourism activities; research and plan to develop night food streets in Bac Ninh City and Tu Son City; guide travel companies to build and form model tours, routes and tourist destinations; guide the art and skills of preparing dishes imbued with traditional culture, creating novelty for tourists, especially international visitors.
At the same time, the Project to build a pilot OCOP tourism product in the period of 2023-2025 with a total budget of more than 60 billion VND, focusing on agricultural tourism, craft villages and cultural heritage. The province also aims to develop green, sustainable tourism, imbued with the cultural identity of Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac", said the Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province.
In addition to visiting craft villages, learning about historical and cultural relics, festivals... many models of agricultural farm investment combined with sightseeing, taking check-in photos, and shopping for agricultural products have been formed in the districts.
Typical examples include the Delco Farm high-tech agricultural farm in Thuan Thanh town; the perilla growing model in greenhouses in Luong Tai district; the Ngam Mac safe vegetable cooperative in Gia Binh district; the Center for experimental production of high-tech agricultural applications, and the Liem Anh Farm in Tien Du district...
Also according to Mr. Nguyen Trung Khue, based on the unique cultural foundation and rich heritage system of Kinh Bac region, the province also promotes experiential tourism, exploring history and culture through visiting relics such as Do Temple, Dau Pagoda, Phat Tich Pagoda, But Thap Pagoda, Kinh Duong Vuong Tomb and participating in traditional festivals such as Lim Festival, Dau Pagoda Festival, Do Temple Festival...
The provincial tourism sector has been and is continuing to advise on the development and expansion of tourism models associated with agriculture and rural areas; organizing activities to promote and advertise rural tourism destinations and products inside and outside the province; developing community tourism associated with new rural construction; integrating the promotion of community tourism destinations with tourism programs and events in particular and cultural, artistic and sports activities in general; guiding and encouraging organizations and individuals to exploit and develop rural tourism; guiding localities to implement plans to preserve, restore and exploit traditional cultural values to serve the development of rural and community tourism...
According to Culture Newspaper
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/bac-ninh-thuc-day-phat-trien-du-lich-nong-thon-2025060215462818.htm
Comment (0)