City of Heritage

Ninh Binh province aims to become a centrally-governed city by 2035, characterized as a "millennium heritage city and creative city" in the world, with the Trang An heritage site at its center.

The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, is being developed into the center of the Millennium Heritage City. Photo: Truong Huy

Building heritage brand value

In 2014, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex ( Ninh Binh ) was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, the first "dual" heritage site in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. This created new opportunities and impetus for Ninh Binh to implement a development model that harmoniously integrates heritage restoration and preservation with green growth, and integrates into the network of heritage cities.

With its unique cultural values, building an urban model based on preserving and promoting heritage values ​​is considered the right strategy for Ninh Binh to achieve sustainable development, elevate its status, and affirm its distinct identity.

Recognizing the unique potential and strengths of the locality, Ninh Binh province has developed a strategic direction, a long-term vision, and aspirations for the future. This involves transforming heritage into assets, resources, and driving forces for development in the new context.

Mr. Pham Quang Ngoc, Chairman of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee, stated that Ninh Binh is determined to realize its development aspirations by effectively addressing key issues such as: innovating thinking about the preservation and development of local heritage; preserving and promoting heritage so that its values ​​truly live on in the material and spiritual lives of the people and become a resource and driving force for local socio -economic development, bringing a better life to people in heritage areas.

"With the goal of building Ninh Binh into a 'National Tourism Center with Global Value,' Ninh Binh province is focusing on developing tourism as a key economic sector with its own brand and image, linked to the potential and value of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu and the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. This is a major challenge, requiring high responsibility from the Party Committee, government, businesses, and the community in Ninh Binh," Mr. Ngoc shared.

At the ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site (2014-2024), held in April 2024, government leaders emphasized that, after 10 years of recognition, Trang An has become a symbol of Vietnam's responsible commitment to implementing the UNESCO convention on the protection of world cultural and natural heritage. They also urged Ninh Binh province and all levels and sectors to proactively and actively integrate and cooperate internationally in the conservation, preservation, and promotion of the value of this global heritage, especially with UNESCO, and to strongly promote the cultural image, people, and nature of Ninh Binh to domestic and international friends, as well as Vietnamese expatriates abroad.

Towards a world-class millennium heritage city.

Following the approval of the Ninh Binh Urban Master Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 218/QD-TTg dated March 4, 2024, Ninh Binh province has implemented solutions to develop the urban area while sustainably preserving its heritage values. Specifically, the goal by 2035 is to transform Ninh Binh into a centrally-governed city with the characteristics of a millennium heritage city and a creative city; a major center with high brand value in tourism, cultural industries, and heritage economy for the whole country and the Asia-Pacific region; a leading center in the country for modern transportation engineering; and a center for innovation and entrepreneurship for the southern provinces of the Red River Delta.

The goal is to build the brand of the Millennium Heritage City as a symbol of future development, focusing on quality and aesthetic criteria, and affirming the position of the Trang An Cultural and Natural Heritage Site and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu in the future.

The ancient capital of Hoa Lu, known as the "Stone Capital," is serene and majestic. Photo: Truong Huy

At the Ninh Binh Provincial Planning Conference for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (held on May 28, 2024), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his confidence that, with the achievements made in recent years and especially in the coming years, with the orientation of the plan, along with the concerted efforts and high determination of the entire political system, the close support and coordination of ministries, sectors and localities, the support of the people and businesses, and the assistance of international friends, Ninh Binh province will continue to leverage its strengths, rise strongly, develop rapidly and sustainably, and become a growth pole of the southern provinces of the Red River Delta. At the same time, it aims to become a centrally-governed city, civilized, modern, smart, and with its own unique identity, on par with a heritage city and a creative city in the world.