World Cultural and Natural Heritage Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex: 6 years of a memorable journey

Trang An - a place that is still strange not only to international tourists but also quite unfamiliar to domestic people before 2014. However, after being recognized by UNESCO as the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex as the first "dual" heritage of Vietnam, along with the tireless efforts of local authorities, the Department of Tourism and the companionship of Xuan Truong Enterprise, Trang An has become an attractive destination, a "red" address on the world tourism map.

The inclusion of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in the World Heritage List in 2014 not only affirms the policy of paying attention to preserving cultural values ​​and natural landscapes associated with tourism development of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee through the terms is completely correct, but is also the result of a whole process of preserving, conserving and promoting heritage values ​​of generations of Ninh Binh people, the help and attention of the Government, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and ministries, branches at the Central level, experts, and scientists at home and abroad. The Trang An scenic complex has a total area of ​​12,252 hectares, a combination of a beautiful natural environment with a perfect blend to create a perfect picture of traditional rural life, with gardens and rice fields interspersed with small villages connected by trails, along with a network of rivers, streams and canals, creating a work with many colors, diversity and always changing, enhanced by the image of local farmers and fishermen performing traditional jobs, making the picture even more vivid.

The Sao Khe River winds around the limestone mountains creating the majestic scenery of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex.

Pagodas, Temples, and Palaces leaning against cliffs with ancient, mossy, and profound tiled roofs create a sacred cultural element of spiritual beliefs containing indigenous values ​​in harmony with the landscape. Trang An contains evidence of the interaction between humans and the environment, demonstrating human adaptation to changing geographical conditions and the harshest environments in Earth's history, especially the climate changes that occurred at the end and immediately after the last ice age. Archaeological studies and reconstructions of the ancient environment have revealed a series of cultural developments and activities of ancient people in close relationship with geological evolution and traces of prehistoric people living here over 30,000 years ago. By the 10th century, in Hoa Lu valley, Trang An residents continuously developed their cultural identity in close harmony with the natural landscape. They built the capital, built citadels, and closed off Hoa Lu valley to revive culture, established the first three dynasties in an independent feudal system, and laid the foundation for Dai Viet civilization.

In recent years, Trang An has risen to become a "red" address, one of the most attractive destinations on the world tourism map.

Up to now, after more than 6 years of being recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, in order to continue to affirm the commitments and responsibilities in the work of identifying, managing, preserving, embellishing, promoting the value and transferring the Heritage to future generations in accordance with the spirit of the World Heritage Convention, on the principle of harmony between conservation and promoting the value of the Heritage, contributing to tourism development, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee have issued many documents directing all levels, sectors, and local authorities in the Heritage area to do a good job of managing and preserving associated with promoting the value of the Heritage. Regulations and plans on management and protection of the Heritage have been seriously implemented by all levels and sectors, achieving high results. At the same time, the competent authorities have proactively advised and proposed solutions for management and conservation associated with sustainable and responsible tourism development. Therefore, the awareness of protecting, preserving and promoting the value of Heritage among cadres, party members and people of all walks of life has been clearly raised.

Regardless of whether domestic or foreign tourists come to Trang An, they cannot help but be amazed by the breathtaking beauty of the ancient capital.

The coordination between departments, branches, local authorities and businesses operating in the tourism sector is increasingly tight; security and order, environmental sanitation, tourism infrastructure are ensured and maintained; tourism culture and civilization have been improved, the quality of human resources and service and reception of guests have basically become professional; tourism promotion work has always been focused on, diversified in content and form, taking traditional cultural values ​​and unique natural landscapes to build the image and brand of tourism at Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. The Heritage title has truly played the role of a nucleus, a center for promoting tourism development not only in the province but also in the whole country, contributing to affirming the position of Ninh Binh tourism on the world tourism map. To better manage, preserve and promote heritage values, under the attention and close direction of the leaders of the Ninh Binh Provincial Department of Tourism, the Trang An Landscape Complex Management Board has promoted propaganda, dissemination and strict implementation of State regulations, UNESCO requirements and recommendations and provincial regulations in managing, preserving and promoting heritage values; creating consensus and raising awareness for people living in the Heritage area. Maintain relationships with agencies of the World Heritage Center, UNESCO Hanoi Office, and the Vietnam UNESCO Committee to exchange information on heritage management and conservation. The Department of Tourism has done a good job of advising the Provincial People's Committee in developing a conservation plan for the Heritage area, focusing on planning and developing types of community tourism associated with agriculture , farmers, rural areas, resort tourism, and ecology in the buffer zone of the Heritage. Develop mechanisms and policies to support and attract domestic and foreign investors, organizations and individuals to carry out scientific research projects, projects to restore and embellish historical and cultural relics, invest in facilities serving heritage conservation and tourism development...

Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex seen from above

On the other hand, the Management Board of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex strengthens the inspection and supervision of the management, conservation and promotion of Heritage values, propaganda, promotion and interpretation of Heritage based on the globally recognized outstanding values. At the same time, analyze and clearly identify potential domestic and international markets to implement separate promotion strategies; continue to organize training courses, foster, improve capacity, professional qualifications, and skills for cadres, civil servants, public employees, and workers on Heritage management and conservation associated with tourism; closely coordinate with local authorities to continuously promote propaganda work to help people strictly comply with regulations on Heritage management and conservation... Article 5 of the 1972 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage states: "...Member States shall apply a general policy to make cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of the community...". With a sense of responsibility towards a national and human heritage, units in the field of culture and tourism have been and will continue to make greater efforts to fulfill their commitment with the highest goal of managing, preserving and maintaining the outstanding global values ​​of the heritage to pass on to future generations, promoting the values ​​of the heritage site sustainably and effectively to serve socio-economic development, improve the lives of local people, and meet the requirements and standards of a World Heritage site. Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/di-san-van-hoa-va-thien-nhien-the-gioi-quan-the-danh-thang-trang-an-6-nam-mot-hanh-trinh-ghi-dau-319245.html