A new direction for historical tourism.

When forests are integrated with tourism infrastructure, resistance war relics are transformed, becoming vibrant experiential journeys where the past and present intertwine, opening up new avenues for historical tourism in Thai Nguyen.

Tourists visit and take souvenir photos at the hut on Khau Ty hill.

The leaf-strewn paths leading to historical sites such as Ban Ca, Na Pau, and Khuoi Linh, with their bamboo huts and ancient forest trees, seem to recount the arduous yet heroic resistance struggle of the nation.

That space is not only a historical site, but also a living classroom for young people. Many schools and organizations have chosen the ATK (Anti-French Resistance Zone) as a place to organize extracurricular activities, recruit new members, and conduct political activities, so that they can stand under the canopy of the forest, look back at the past, and better understand the value of peace and independence.

Having led his students on this experience, teacher Nguyen Doan Long from Hoang Ngan Secondary School, Phu Dinh, shared: "I am delighted that my hometown is becoming more modern and prosperous. Since the merger, the Dinh Hoa Revolutionary Base Area and the Cho Don Revolutionary Base Area have become one, opening up new routes for tourists visiting the Capital of the Resistance."

Today, ATK (Vietnamese Resistance Zone) is not just about visiting historical sites, but also aims to develop integrated tourism : historical, ecological, cultural, and community-based. In localities such as Khuon Tat and Ban Quyen, the stilt houses of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups are being renovated into homestays.

After visiting the historical sites, tourists will stop to eat, drink, and sleep amidst the vast forest. At night, under the light of lanterns, the sounds of the Tinh lute and Then folk songs resonate, allowing visitors to feel the atmosphere of ancient Viet Bac. A hot meal prepared by the ethnic people, with sticky rice with wild vegetables, grilled chicken, and herbal wine, makes the experience even more complete.

Descending from So Pass along National Highway 3C, tours linking the Dinh Hoa and Cho Don Revolutionary Base Areas, combining visits to historical sites with forests, villages, streams, and waterfalls, are being offered by many travel agencies. Especially with the improved transportation system, tourists can now comfortably explore the forest valleys and hills without worrying about slippery dirt roads or motorbikes sliding downhill.

National Highway 3C leads to the Cho Don Revolutionary Base Area.

Returning to the Cho Don Revolutionary Base Area (ATK) is always a special journey, making writer Phan Thai, Head of the Prose Branch of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Association of Literature and Arts, incredibly proud: "At the ATK, we truly feel history through the breath of the mountains and forests. Every time I lead a group on a field trip for creative writing, I see the ATK opening up new layers of meaning. We pass by huts and historical sites, listen to the locals tell stories, and almost everyone feels a stirring within. Some find details they've been waiting for for years. Others spontaneously write a few lines of poetry about Viet Bac. These mountains and forests have a very strong power to awaken creative inspiration."

Mr. Chu Van Uyen, Head of the Culture Department of Nghia Ta commune, said: "This is not just a one-way journey to the past, but a journey of feeling: the scent of the forest, the sound of flowing streams, the smoke from the kitchens of stilt houses, the sound of the Tinh lute… all blending into the rhythm of life, making visitors feel like they are reliving memories and understanding more about the value of peace. In recent years, the Cho Don ATK Historical Site has been invested in and upgraded. We hope that the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to pay attention to investing in and building infrastructure commensurate with the potential of the historical site, thereby linking tours to become a regional tourism chain that attracts tourists to visit."

Nguyen Manh Thuong, Head of the Management Board of Special National Historical Sites in Thai Nguyen Province, proudly stated: "Today, the Thai Nguyen Revolutionary Base Area (ATK) has expanded and is honored to have two Special National Historical Sites along with hundreds of other historical relics associated with the revolution. This is a great potential and advantage for developing historical tourism. Alongside preserving history, we are advising on the development of a 'living heritage' model, where people directly participate in community tourism, homestay services, local guides, food and beverage services, cultural experiences, and historical education. This is a sustainable approach that will help ATK become a highlight on the tourism map of Northern Vietnam."

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/du-lich-thai-nguyen/202512/huong-di-moi-cho-du-lich-lich-su-18f592e/