Golden opportunity to develop tourism in Quang Tri

Quang Tri - a land located in the "central region" with a heroic history, endless losses in the wars to protect the Fatherland, is now vividly recreated through the film "Red Rain". The tragic, realistic images, the 81-day and night battles to protect the Citadel in 1972, have not only touched the hearts of domestic audiences, but also opened a new page for the tourism industry in Quang Tri - where tourists come not only to visit beautiful scenery, but also to find memories, to understand history and appreciate peace.

Cinematic effects of memory

When the movie “Red Rain” was released, many audiences were moved to tears. The story of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during 81 fierce days and nights in Quang Tri Citadel is not only a historical film, but also an emotional “invitation” for Vietnamese people and international friends to return to this land. From the screen to real life, the wave of tourists flocking to Quang Tri after the movie is likened to a “cinematic effect of finding memories”.

If the Central region is considered the narrowest strip of land in Vietnam, then Quang Tri is the narrowest place in the Central region, where "an inch of land is an inch of blood". Along Highway 1A, places such as the Citadel, Hien Luong Bridge, Ben Hai River, Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery, Lao Bao Prison, and Vinh Moc Tunnels have become destinations of great spiritual value.

In particular, the destinations of Quang Tri Citadel, Thach Han River, Truong Son Cemetery, and Hien Luong Bridge will become the center of "return" tours in 2025 with hundreds of thousands of domestic and foreign visitors visiting the Citadel. They not only come to visit but also to burn incense in gratitude, release flower lanterns on Thach Han River, and listen to stories about the soldiers in their twenties who remained behind.

The great effect of "Red Rain" makes tourists want to come and "touch" the tragic milestones of the nation, to see with their own eyes the place where the most fierce battle took place in the summer of 1972.

From screen to real life, a wave of tourists flocked to Quang Tri after the movie Red Rain. The movie is considered a cinematic effect that brings back memories. (Photo in the movie Red Rain)

In early October 2025, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri province coordinated with the Quang Tri Tourism Association to organize a survey program "Red Rain - Journey of Quang Tri Memories" from the Memorial House of General Vo Nguyen Giap, through Vinh Moc Tunnels, the Memorial Site of General Secretary Le Duan, to Quang Tri Citadel and the flower-releasing wharf on Thach Han River. These are all typical "red addresses", attracting a large number of tourists on their journey of gratitude and return to the source in Quang Tri. Each location is like a film line opened in real life, helping tourists "touch history".

“Red Rain” has opened a new direction for Vietnamese cinema and tourism in general, and Quang Tri in particular: bringing relics into films, then bringing films back to relics. Scenes filmed at the Citadel, Thach Han River, Truong Son Cemetery… are realistically depicted, evoking national pride. From screen to real life, Quang Tri Citadel is being vividly recreated as a “memory film set”.

It is these images that make tourists want to come, take real photos, hear the real sound of the Citadel bells, to feel the continuity between the past and the present. From then on, the "return journey" tours are no longer short trips, but spiritual journeys - where young people learn life lessons, and the elderly find peace in their memories. From movies, audiences step into real life, turning emotions into actions, turning cinematic memories into vivid travel experiences.

Many international delegations from the US, Japan, Korea, Laos, Thailand, etc. came here for friendship exchange programs, planting “ peace ” trees, and offering incense in memory. Many veterans who had fought in the war returned, bringing flowers and tears. Tourism not only brings in revenue but also acts as a cultural bridge, helping to heal the wounds of war.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Mai, a tourist from Hanoi, shared her emotions after visiting the Citadel: “When I stood in the middle of the sacred space, hearing about the 81 days and nights of fire and smoke, I shed tears. The movie “Red Rain” helped me understand more, but only when I got there did I clearly see the loss and sacrifice of many generations. When I walked next to Hien Luong Bridge - the symbol of division and unification of the country, I felt like I was living in a part of the heroic history of the nation.”

Mr. Michael Thompson, a British tourist, shared that he watched the movie “Red Rain” with subtitles at the cinema and decided to visit Vietnam: “I wanted to see with my own eyes where the movie was filmed. Here, I clearly felt the miraculous vitality of a country that has experienced war but still maintains a spirit of peace and humanity.” Those feelings are not only personal feedback but also proof of the humanistic value that Quang Tri tourism is aiming for: tourism that touches the heart.

Memories of war - desire for peace

According to tourism experts, Quang Tri has a golden opportunity to develop historical and spiritual tourism. To attract tourists, the province has built specialized tourism routes such as "Reminiscence of the old battlefield and comrades", "Legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail", "Central Heritage Road"..., creating a chain of regional tourism products with historical and cultural depth. New projects such as: "War Memory Space - Peace Road", "Ancient Citadel Gratitude Night", "Thach Han River Flower and Light Festival" promise to become tourism highlights in the near future.

The province is promoting the construction of the National Museum of "Memories of War and Thirst for Peace", with a total estimated investment of 1,000 billion VND, in the period of 2026 - 2030. This museum is a place to preserve memories of war but also a cultural and tourist project of national and international scale. In the coming time, Quang Tri will upgrade the "Festival for Peace" to a national festival, and at the same time invest in developing other relic brands such as: Vinh Moc Tunnels, Gio An ancient well system... These are addresses that not only bring historical value but also have the potential to develop into attractive destinations.

If there are more tours such as “Red Rain Footprints”, Citadel Night Tours - where visitors can both visit and listen to stories through 3D projections and surround sound recreating the atmosphere of the resistance war, it will certainly attract more tourists. According to tourism experts, it is time for historical sites in Quang Tri province to invest in 3D film systems, virtual reality to recreate battles, fire coordinates... and build interactive interpretation centers where veterans or their descendants tell war stories.

Besides the golden opportunities, Quang Tri tourism industry also faces many challenges. Without proper planning, the massive development can reduce the solemnity of the relics. To turn the "Red Rain" effect into a sustainable driving force, Quang Tri province needs to focus on the following solutions: Standardizing historical tourism products; issuing regulations on explanations, tour guides, and codes of conduct at relics; building film studios and cinema museums; preserving props and restoring filming scenes to serve tourism and education. Quang Tri province needs to invest in infrastructure, transportation, and upgrading routes to relics to facilitate international tourists.

Tourists visit red addresses in Quang Tri. (Source: Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri)

Quang Tri province needs to strengthen international communication and connect film, music, cuisine and relics by continuing to cooperate with film studios and directors to create more works about history and places. When film is invested in the right direction, tourism will have more valuable material to promote.

Mr. Ho Van Hoan, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri, said that Quang Tri has determined a unique direction for tourism development. That is to develop historical and cultural tourism associated with the message "Memories of war - Aspiration for peace". Tourists come here not simply to visit, but to listen, feel, show gratitude and relive the heroic history of the nation.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri province encourages businesses and local communities to join in building a model of “storytelling relics using technology”. With virtual reality technology, visitors can witness historical battles. Veterans can become “historical narrators” in special tours. Every inch of land here is a page of history and each tour is a story about courage and the desire for peace.

Quang Tri - the land that has marked the ups and downs of the nation's history is gradually transforming strongly, becoming an attractive destination on the Vietnamese tourism map. On the foundation of rich historical war relics, Quang Tri is striving to turn past memories into a driving force for development, aiming to build a sustainable tourism foundation rich in cultural and humanistic values.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri, in 9 months, Quang Tri province welcomed more than 8.4 million visitors (up 17.7%), of which international visitors were more than 376,000 (up nearly 35%). Total revenue reached 9,679 billion VND, up 35% over the same period in 2024. It is expected that in 2025, about 9.5 million visitors will come to Quang Tri and the province is aiming for more than 15 million visitors by 2030.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/co-hoi-vang-phat-trien-du-lich-quang-tri.html