Links create momentum for Bac Ninh tourism to take off

BAC NINH - Tourism is a key economic sector, contributing to spreading cultural values, attracting investment, and promoting socio-economic growth. However, to realize that aspiration, connection is considered the key.

Exploiting potential

Before the merger, both Bac Giang and Bac Ninh were localities with rich tourism potential, especially cultural and ecological tourism. Bac Ninh, with its position as the cradle of Quan Ho folk songs - a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, is a land of outstanding people, preserving thousands of historical-cultural relics, folk festivals with rich identities such as Lim Festival, Do Temple Festival, Dau Pagoda, Phat Tich Pagoda, Ba Chua Kho Temple... Bac Ninh is also an attractive destination with famous traditional craft villages such as Dong Ho painting village, Phu Lang pottery village, Xuan Lai bamboo village... Bac Giang possesses great advantages in eco-tourism, resorts and spirituality, with places such as Tay Yen Tu, Suoi Mo, Khe Ro primeval forest, Cam Son lake, and a system of pagodas such as Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Bo Da Pagoda - prominent destinations in the spiritual tourism journey of the Northeast region. The two provinces have great complementarities for tourism development. Bac Ninh has cultural depth, Bac Giang has natural and ecological strengths.

Tourists visit the woodblock exhibition booth of Bo Da Pagoda.

In reality, tourism is a highly interdisciplinary and inter-regional economic sector. A successful tourism product often requires smooth coordination between many localities and businesses. For tourism to develop sustainably, linkage is extremely important. Reviewing the results of the past (before July 1, 2025), Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces (old) have carried out many linkage activities to build and connect tours, routes, tourist attractions, and organize events to introduce, promote and attract visitors.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thuy, Director of Bac Ninh Center for Culture and Tourism Promotion, said: The units regularly organize tours to survey tourist destinations, inviting representatives of many travel agencies in the province and neighboring provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Lang Son, etc. to participate. Thereby, the provinces and cities exchange information and link to build new directions in tourism development in each locality; effectively exploit the value of tourism resources of the region; build new tourism products, form many tours and tourist routes. Some tourist areas and destinations that attract many visitors include: Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological tourism area, Vinh Nghiem pagoda, Bo Da pagoda, Suoi Mo, Yen The uprising sites, Ven village community tourism site, Do temple, Dau pagoda, Phat Tich pagoda, Ba Chua Kho temple, etc.

At Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological tourist area, tourism linkage is actively implemented by the unit. Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Director of Operation of the tourist area, said that the unit has signed about 70 contracts with travel agencies committed to bringing tourists here. According to the contract, in 3 years (2023-2025), travel agencies when organizing tours to bring tourists to the tourist area will receive discounts on cable car tickets and food services from 10 to 27% depending on the number of guests and the time. At the same time, coordinate and link with many units to organize major cultural and sports events here.

Advice for a breakthrough

Although initial results have been achieved, in order for tourism in the new Bac Ninh province to truly become a driving force for socio-economic development, according to many experts, the province needs to develop a comprehensive tourism development strategy with a long-term vision. In particular, clearly defining the position of tourism in the economic development strategy; key tourism products (cultural - spiritual tourism, ecological - resort tourism, community tourism, craft village tourism, etc.); key tourism centers; investment incentive mechanisms and tourism infrastructure development.

According to Mr. Tran Quoc Dung, Director of Dinh Anh International Tourism and Trade Company Limited, the connection of cultural heritages, tourist areas and spots (spiritual, ecological) of Bac Ninh province will create more diverse and attractive tours. For example, tourists can both tour the mountains and rivers of Tay Yen Tu, enjoy Quan Ho on the Cau River, visit Dong Ho painting village, Phat Tich pagoda... This is the combination of nature - culture - experience, enough to keep tourists longer.

In particular, the active participation of travel businesses, investors, and communities in the tourism value chain is a necessary condition to create quality products and professional services. “We cannot do tourism alone without the support of the private sector. Inviting large corporations to invest in resorts, tourism-cultural-entertainment complexes, community tourism models, ecological agriculture... should be considered a key direction,” said Mr. Phung Quang Thang, Vice President of the Vietnam Tourism Association.

At the same time, pay attention to developing unique and branded tourism products. Bac Ninh tourism needs to create iconic, non-duplicated products that can represent this land. Invest in quality, effectively exploit the pilgrimage tourism route following the footsteps of Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong, connecting Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem Pagoda - Bo Da Pagoda; expand Quan Ho cultural space, combine traditional folk song performances, experience at craft villages, Kinh Bac cuisine; Cam Son Lake - Khe Ro forest eco-tour, combine resorts, sports, experience rural life... The harmonious combination of tradition and modernity will be the long-term direction to develop Bac Ninh tourism sustainably.

Another very important issue is the need to invest in synchronous transport infrastructure and services. Expand and upgrade connecting routes between key tourist destinations; build toilet systems, parking lots, tourist information centers; invest in bus routes connecting within the province and inter-province to serve tourists. Promote digital transformation and promote tourism. Use digital technology to build a digital map of Bac Ninh tourism; apply information lookup; book tours, tickets, and services online. At the same time, promote tourism images on social networking platforms, cooperate with international media to expand influence. Pay attention to training, fostering human resource development and raising public awareness about tourism development.

Phuong Ngan

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bg2/dulichbg/lien-ket-tao-dong-luc-cat-canh-cho-du-lich-bac-ninh-postid421162.bbg