Effectively exploiting local historical and cultural values

As a land rich in tourism potential with a rich history, culture and beautiful natural landscapes, Gia Vien district has the land of Co Vien with legends about the childhood of King Dinh Tien Hoang, Thanh Nguyen Temple in Tien Thang commune - a place to worship Zen Master Nguyen Minh Khong, a national teacher of the Ly Dynasty famous for his medicinal remedies to save people, to Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve...

Implementing the strategic orientation on tourism development of the province, Gia Vien District Party Committee has issued a specialized Resolution on tourism development associated with development, preservation, promotion of local cultural values and green tourism with the goal of creating a satellite tourism service chain connecting the heritage of Trang An, Bai Dinh, Van Long...

The District Party Committee has determined to focus on building infrastructure as well as establishing the operation of tourist areas in the direction of professional service, in order to attract tourists to famous landscapes and use services in the area.

Exploiting local cultural values, the District People's Committee has directed the organization and implementation in many forms, including developing community tourism clubs, both to retain tourists to experience the locality and to enrich the homeland's identity, creating a good effect on the people.

According to the People's Committee of Gia Vien district, exploiting cultural, historical factors and local strengths, with the goal of building a garden of indigenous medicinal plants, the district has developed a project to preserve and develop medicinal herbs associated with the festival of Thanh Nguyen Temple and eco-tourism in the area.

Based on the collected data on medicinal recipes, the story of Duc Thanh Nguyen's use of medicinal herbs and the results of a survey of medicinal herbs growing wild in limestone mountains, the district built a master plan to develop herbal raw materials with hundreds of precious plant species.

Mr. Vu Van Chu, Chairman of Gia Vien District Oriental Medicine Association, shared that thanks to the propaganda from district and commune officials, we better understand the "double" benefits from the model of developing tourism products and services that combine historical and cultural values.

With our family's knowledge and experience, we proactively participated in the district's project and the effectiveness has been proven in practice, both preserving our ancestors' medicinal profession and contributing to the development of local tourism.

The above model was soon replicated, forming raw material areas, and linking to form cooperatives. According to Ms. Hua Thi Hang, a member of Sinh Duoc Cooperative in Gia Sinh commune, thanks to the guidance of the Party Committee and government, and dedicated technical guidance from agricultural officials, the cooperative has now expanded its area to more than 7 hectares, growing chrysanthemum, perilla, honeysuckle, mugwort, and pennywort, etc. to provide raw materials for the production of soap, salt soaks, bath salts, and shampoos, which are popular in the market. The cooperative also links with some localities outside the province to promote, introduce, and expand the market for product consumption.

After experiencing the herbal products of the cooperative, Ms. Lucie Erbenova, a French tourist, shared that this is a purely organic product made from medicinal plants and she bought some to bring back to her country as gifts for friends and relatives; at the same time, she also expressed her intention to possibly do business with this product in her country.

The community tourism model at Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve is also a testament to the active participation of the people when the Party Committee and the Gia Vien District government oriented, encouraged and supported. In 2018, Van Long became the 9th Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance) in Vietnam.

Van Long currently holds two natural records of Vietnam: the place with the largest number of Delacour's langurs in Vietnam and the place with the largest natural painting in Vietnam.

Taking advantage of the potential and advantages of Van Long, Van Long Ecotourism Service Cooperative has exploited and developed a sustainable tourism model, gradually attracting domestic and foreign tourists.

Besides raising livestock and cultivating rice, farmers are mobilized to participate in tourism business, welcoming and taking tourists to explore the ecosystem in Van Long.

This model not only helps increase livelihoods, create more jobs and income for people but also contributes to preserving and spreading local cultural identity.

Director of the Cooperative Tran Xuan Quang said that every month and every quarter, local Party cells, organizations, cadres and Party members often organize volunteer activities, strengthen self-managed tourism teams and groups, guide and help people identify and exploit the unique cultural values of the locality. Thanks to that, many people, especially those directly involved in tourism services, have raised awareness, signed commitments and implemented civilized lifestyles in tourism activities, protected landscapes, environment, and preserved natural resources of the community.

According to Chairman of Gia Vien District People's Committee Pham Van Tam, in the period of 2020-2025, total revenue from tourism activities in the district is estimated to reach 5,438 billion VND, an average of more than 1,000 billion VND/year, the average year after year increased 1.96 times compared to the previous year.

Accordingly, Party committees and authorities at all levels, especially at the grassroots level, focus on raising awareness and creating social consensus. The district organizes extensive dissemination among cadres, party members and people to join hands in developing tourism, preserving and promoting the historical, cultural and heritage values of the locality.

HOANG LAM-VAN LUA

Source: https://nhandan.vn/khai-thac-hieu-qua-gia-tri-lich-su-van-hoa-dia-phuong-post887157.html