Spreading the cultural heritage of the land of martial arts.

From June 1st to July 1st, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Railway Transport Joint Stock Company ( thuộc Vietnam Railways Corporation), will conduct a trial run of a tourist train (with tickets sold) from Quy Nhon station to Dieu Tri station, named "Returning to the Land of Martial Arts," to serve local people and tourists. Notably, the train will feature a cultural and educational carriage showcasing the traditional cuisine and arts of the land of martial arts to visitors.

The launch of the tourist train aims to implement the cooperation agreement between the Provincial People's Committee and the Vietnam Railways Corporation on tourism development, creating new tourism products and spreading the word about the cultural heritage of Binh Dinh province.

  Excitedly enjoying a traditional Bài Chòi card game on a tourist train. Photo: NGỌC NHUẬN

Passengers traveling by boat can enjoy typical dishes of Binh Dinh's culinary culture, such as: spring rolls, sausages, fermented pork rolls, sticky rice cakes wrapped in thorny leaves, coconut milk rice paper, sweet potato rice paper...; immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere of the folk card game played on board; stop to visit the Twin Towers, watch performances of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts and Cham dance; and check in at the ancient beauty of the century-old Luat Le Bridge.

Ms. Pham Thi Ha Linh (a tourist from Dak Lak province) shared: “This is my first time experiencing travel by train, and I found it to be a series of truly refreshing and invigorating emotions. Just the journey of over 10 km from Quy Nhon station to Dieu Tri station gave me a deeper understanding of the history, culture, land, and people of Binh Dinh.”

Not only tourists from afar, but also local residents are very excited. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ho, from Quang Trung ward, Quy Nhon city, expressed: “When we heard about the tourist train, my family immediately bought tickets to experience it; although the trip was short, everyone found it very interesting and fun. I think traveling by tourist train is also a healthy form of entertainment for children during the summer vacation, helping them to learn more about the culture of our homeland, the land of martial arts.”

This is also an opportunity for artists to interact more closely with the audience, promoting the folk art heritage of Bài Chòi and Bài Chòi opera. Artist Đồng Thị Bích Lĩnh, an actress from the Bình Định Bài Chòi Opera Troupe, shared: “I have performed in many different spaces, but performing on a train gives me a feeling of excitement. Not only do we get to introduce the unique traditional art features of our homeland, Bình Định, to tourists, but we artists are even happier to be close to the audience through conversations, photo opportunities, and interaction…”

 

“Following this trial period, we will continue to review and evaluate the options to develop a plan for improving the organization of train tourism products in the future. It's not just about simply enjoying a leisurely train ride, sightseeing, and having fun; we need to ensure tourists have experiences deeply rooted in the culture and history of Binh Dinh, creating a positive impression.” - Ms. DO THI DIEU HANH, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism

With the first stop at the Twin Towers, visitors disembark to explore the ancient, moss-covered Cham towers dating back to the late 12th and early 13th centuries; they can enjoy watching spectacular martial arts performances and savor the cheerful melodies of graceful, diverse, and colorful Cham dances.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet, Deputy Director of the Provincial Museum, said: “The morning performances at the Twin Towers feature martial arts demonstrations by the Binh Dinh Traditional Martial Arts Center, while the evening performances feature Cham dances presented by the Provincial Museum. After watching the performances, visitors can take souvenir photos with the martial artists and performers. Organizing additional martial arts and Cham dance performances enhances the promotion of the historical site and adds to its appeal for visitors.”

Initially, organizing art performances on tourist trains has been positively received by locals and tourists. Going forward, the Binh Dinh Traditional Opera Troupe will be assigned to organize more performances to refresh the program offered on tourist trains.

Meritorious Artist Duong Nu Thuy Dung, Head of the Binh Dinh Bai Choi Folk Opera Troupe, said: “We assign artists and musicians to perform in both the morning and evening according to the boat's daily schedule. Besides the main performance, the traditional Bai Choi folk game, to enrich the program, the troupe will also perform folk songs; duets and solos of lyrical music; and solo performances of traditional musical instruments to entertain tourists.”

Source: https://baobinhdinh.vn/viewer.aspx?macm=18&macmp=18&mabb=357050