Lesson 1 - The Culture of the Land of Agarwood Facing Opportunities and Challenges

VHO - Khanh Hoa - the land of "Agarwood and Bird's Nest" - is not only blessed by nature with some of the most beautiful bays in the world, but also boasts a diverse and unique cultural heritage. Recognizing this immense endogenous resource, Resolution 80 of the Politburo has opened up a crucial strategic corridor, a turning point, creating a "launching pad" for the culture of the Agarwood region in particular and Vietnamese culture in general to unlock its potential and achieve breakthrough development.

Unique cultural activities at the Po Nagar Cham Towers National Special Monument

In the course of history, the merger of Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan has opened a new chapter for the South Central region, forming a strategic cultural and tourism center where the blue ocean meets millennia-old cultural heritage. This new development space not only brings opportunities and strong impetus for development but also poses numerous challenges.

To concretize Resolution 80 of the Politburo and Resolution 30 of the Government, the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee has issued a strategic action program, officially elevating culture from a "supporting" role to a leading pillar. The locality has identified the unlocking of cultural values ​​related to the sea and islands, tourism cities, and the unique identity of the land of agarwood, while developing well-rounded individuals, as the core endogenous resources for sustainable development.

By promoting the cultural industry, digital transformation, and heritage preservation linked to the marine economy , Khanh Hoa hopes to create a strong shift from the real world to the digital space. This is a decisive leverage to realize the goal of making the province a centrally-governed city, a smart coastal city, and a major tourism and service center of the country.

A "gold mine" of thousand-year-old heritage.

Khanh Hoa is considered a "gold mine" of heritage with its incredibly rich system of historical sites and scenic spots. The most prominent is the Po Nagar Cham Towers, a special national historical site, along with 28 national-level and 241 provincial-level historical sites that have been classified.

The Po Klong Garai Tower relic attracts a large number of tourists.

In terms of intangible cultural heritage, Khanh Hoa proudly boasts three UNESCO-recognized heritage sites (Bai Choi art, Don Ca Tai Tu folk music, and Cham pottery art). Currently, the local cultural sector is actively working to complete the dossiers to elevate these heritage values ​​to national and international levels.

The allure of this region stems primarily from its vast system of Cham architectural heritage, often described as a unique "open-air museum." The connection between the majestic Po Nagar Tower on the Cai River in Nha Trang and other famous ancient tower complexes such as Po Klong Garai, Hoa Lai, and Po Rome in Phan Rang creates a journey of discovery that spans space, time, and the depth of Cham culture.

Besides the towering structures that have stood the test of time, the treasure trove of intangible cultural heritage here is the vibrant "soul" of the region. This includes the reverent and lively atmosphere of the Katê Festival, the resounding rhythm of the Paranưng drums, and the humanistic beauty of the Fishing Festival of the local fishermen.

Cham Bau Truc pottery art

In particular, the pride of this land is further strengthened when the Cham pottery art is recognized by UNESCO and inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Along with that, the pristine and rustic charm of the Raglai people's culture in the western mountainous communes has created a diverse and multi-layered identity.

This convergence has given rise to a rich system of traditional craft villages. It is a synergy between Bau Truc, the oldest pottery village in Southeast Asia; My Nghiep weaving village with its exquisite brocade silks; and Khanh Hoa's renowned bronze casting and agarwood crafting art.

All of this creates a cultural and economic value chain, transforming raw materials like clay and precious wood into works of art that bear the distinct mark of the local culture.

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Mr. Le Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Khanh Hoa province, shared that, based on Resolution 80-NQ/TW, in the coming time, the Khanh Hoa cultural sector will focus on realizing key tasks: persistently building national values ​​and standards for Vietnamese people in the new era, while resolutely revitalizing social ethics and the culture of Khanh Hoa people to eliminate backward customs in the locality.

Cham dance at Po Klong Garai Tower

In particular, promoting the development of the cultural industry through the application of digital technology will transform local resources into high-value economic products, contributing to promoting the image of the country to the world.

The harmonious blend of preserving traditional heritage and absorbing the best of humanity is the key to Khánh Hòa's sustainable development and its affirmation of its position as a leading cultural destination in the new era.

When will many valuable heritage sites truly realize their full potential?

The Standing Committee of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee noted that, despite possessing a vast cultural treasure, the development of this sector has not yet been commensurate with the existing advantages and the requirements of the new era. Cultural and spiritual life in some areas remains monotonous; the gap in cultural enjoyment between urban, rural, mountainous, and ethnic minority areas is slow to narrow.

The historical site of Cau Da (Bao Dai's Palace) has been in disrepair for many years and its value has not been fully realized.

Investment resources, cultural institutions, and cultural workers are not yet meeting the requirements; the preservation and promotion of heritage, the development of the cultural industry, digital culture, and the cultural market still face difficulties; some cultural products have not yet gained widespread influence, and the contribution of culture to socio-economic development remains limited.

In particular, many valuable heritage resources are being neglected or only partially invested in, leading to inefficient exploitation and serious waste of resources.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Pham Minh Nhut, Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Tourism Association, said that the "One Route - Many Destinations" cultural tourism model currently only connects physically through transportation infrastructure, but has not yet created a core tourism value chain.

The lack of culturally rich and diverse products has created a "gap," diminishing the inherent appeal of a world-class tourist destination.

According to observations by Culture reporters, many large-scale historical and cultural relics in Khanh Hoa province are still unable to fully realize their potential, causing serious waste of local tourism resources.

Despite its great potential to become a cultural tourism hub, Dien Khanh Ancient Citadel remains deserted due to poor infrastructure, lack of supporting services, and the absence of professional tour guides.

A prime example of this situation is the Cau Da (Bao Dai Palace) landmark on Canh Long Mountain. Once a symbol of elegant architecture and a historical witness, this structure has fallen into disrepair over the years due to an unfinished renovation project. A destination that was once the pride of Nha Trang residents is now severely degraded, operating only minimally, leaving many tourists disappointed.

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Alongside it is the Dien Khanh Ancient Citadel – one of the few citadels in Vietnam that still retains its unique Vauban architecture. Despite possessing great potential to become a cultural tourism hub, this national-level historical site remains neglected due to poor infrastructure, lack of supporting services, and the absence of professional tour guides.

Most concerning of all, the Khanh Hoa Provincial Museum – considered the "soul" of the agarwood heritage of this region – has been deteriorating for many years. The cramped facilities and lack of depth in the exhibition space make this key cultural institution completely overshadowed by the historical significance it holds.

Numerous ruins lie scattered throughout the Hoa Lai Tower National Special Monument Complex.

As a result, more than 12,000 valuable artifacts are currently "lying dormant" in storage facilities under suboptimal preservation conditions. The lack of a modern exhibition space not only wastes a vast treasure trove of knowledge but also deprives millions of domestic and international tourists of the opportunity to explore the cultural identity of Khanh Hoa.

Clearly, without a breakthrough solution soon, these heritage "treasures" will remain dormant in storage. As a result, Khanh Hoa's culture will continue to suffer from unbalanced development, inadvertently neglecting its core foundations.

Reviving cultural "repositories" so that they become a driving force for socio-economic growth is a strategic problem that Khanh Hoa needs to find a satisfactory solution to in the new phase.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/bai-1-van-hoa-xu-tram-truoc-thoi-co-va-thach-thuc-234135.html