Hung Yen develops tourism in conjunction with the preservation of cultural heritage.

Following the administrative merger, Hung Yen province boasts numerous outstanding cultural heritage sites, and its tourism product structure has become more diverse. Identifying cultural and spiritual tourism as its core product, Hung Yen tourism has many favorable opportunities for breakthroughs.

Rich cultural heritage system

When visiting Hung Yen , you have the opportunity to explore Chuong Pagoda, known as "the most famous scenic spot in Pho Hien." Amidst the lingering incense smoke, the history of the pagoda becomes even more mysterious.

Chuong Pagoda boasts a harmonious blend of "inner courtyard, outer enclosure" and "four waterways converging," harmonizing from the triple gate to the Mother Goddess shrine. The pagoda's construction is linked to the legend of a golden bell floating on a raft in a turbulent river. The villagers of Nhan Duc hamlet discovered it, helped pull the bell ashore, and contributed labor and resources to build the pagoda to worship Buddha.

Tourists visiting Keo Pagoda (Vu Tien commune, Hung Yen province)

Located nearly 50km from Chuong Pagoda, A Sao Temple (in A Sao commune) is a place of worship for National Hero Tran Quoc Tuan (Hung Dao Dai Vuong) and his two generals Yet Kieu and Da Tuong. According to historical records, in 1288, during a military campaign against O Ma Nhi's army on the Bach Dang River, Hung Dao Dai Vuong's war elephant got stuck in the mud on the banks of the Hoa River. Everyone tried to pull the elephant out but failed. He had no choice but to leave the elephant behind. The elephant, with tears in its eyes, looked at its master, let out a mournful cry, and slowly sank into the ground. Grieving for the war elephant, Hung Dao Dai Vuong drew his sword and pointed it at the river, vowing: "If I do not defeat the Mongol invaders in this battle, I swear I will never return to this riverbank again."

Mr. Nguyen Tien Bang, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of A Sao Commune, said that A Sao means "the district of the Tran Dynasty," associated with the folk song: "The first was born in Kiet Bac - the second was born in A Sao." Building on this tradition, the Party Committee, government, and people of A Sao Commune focus on preserving cultural identity associated with the traditional A Sao Temple festival. The annual festival includes typical events such as the procession of the sacred statue and the tug-of-war with written characters. For many years, A Sao Temple has become a place for traditional education , with many schools coming here to organize tug-of-war competitions and quizzes about the history of the Tran Dynasty, contributing to a steadily increasing number of visitors.

According to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hung Yen province, the province currently has 3,716 historical sites, including 6 special national historical sites and clusters of historical sites, 284 national-level historical sites, 884 provincial-level historical sites, and 10 national treasures. Besides tangible heritage, Hung Yen also has 29 national intangible cultural heritage sites, more than 1,152 traditional festivals, and 257 craft villages. This demonstrates the rich history, profound culture, and enduring vitality of the local communities.

Ms. Bui Thi Luong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hung Yen province, said: “After the merger, the structure of tourism products in Hung Yen has become more diverse and abundant. Cultural and spiritual tourism remains the core product, while the province is promoting craft village tourism, beach tourism, eco-tourism, community tourism and river tourism.”

Developing tourism in conjunction with preserving cultural heritage.

Recognizing culture as a driving force for socio-economic development, Hung Yen province has implemented numerous cultural innovation programs linked to tourism, festivals, traditional crafts, and intangible cultural heritage. The province encourages community participation in cultural activities, both preserving traditions and creating new products suitable for the modern era. Cultural communication and education programs are intensified through schools, social media, video clips, exhibitions, etc., helping people, especially the younger generation, access and express diverse cultures, becoming active participants in the preservation process.

Along with that, Hung Yen also focuses on preserving, restoring, and renovating historical relics. During the period 2021-2025, the entire former Hung Yen province invested 1,158 billion VND in the restoration of 210 relics. At the same time, the budget of the former Thai Binh province also allocated over 88.5 billion VND for the restoration of many relics such as: Choi Temple, Ha Dong Temple, An Co Temple, Lang communal house, Phuong Cap communal house, Tinh Xuyen communal house, Nhue communal house, etc.

In 2025, Hung Yen province is expected to welcome 3.9 million tourists, including 71,000 international visitors; total tourism revenue is estimated at 1,700 billion VND. Currently, the province's urban and tourism infrastructure is developing rapidly with modern urban areas such as Ecopark, Ocean Park, Wonder City, etc., creating a foundation for Hung Yen to organize many large-scale cultural and entertainment events.

Mr. Nguyen Quy Phuong, Head of the International Relations and Tourism Promotion Department (Vietnam National Tourism Administration), commented that Hung Yen needs to continue promoting creative cultural programs associated with festival tourism, craft village tourism, and cultural heritage; at the same time, forming interconnected tourism routes, developing on-site experiential tours, and expanding regional linkages to create a chain of multi-experience products for tourists.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/hung-yen-phat-develop-tourism-close-to-the-preservation-of-cultural-heritage-20251212095524168.htm