Heritage storyteller

Among the heritage spaces imbued with the historical imprint of Thanh land, there are people who tirelessly sow emotions and breathe life into the past through each story. They are the on-site tour guides - the "storytellers" of heritage, who have been contributing to spreading the cultural and historical values ​​of their homeland to visitors from near and far.

Tour guide Hoang Thi Hien - "heritage storyteller" at Lam Kinh National Special Relic Site.

At the World Cultural Heritage of the Ho Dynasty Citadel, there are days when hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists come to visit. In the ancient space, stories about the king who founded the Ho Dynasty, about the strategic vision in choosing land to build the citadel or the unique citadel-building techniques of the ancients... are told by tour guides with an emotional voice and proud eyes. Ms. Trieu Thi Huong - a tour guide who has been with the Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage Conservation Center for 15 years, shared: "I was born in Xuan Giai village, right at the South gate of the Ho Dynasty Citadel. This is my luck to be able to "tell stories" about the heritage with all my pride and knowledge". According to Ms. Huong, for each tour guide, it is not only necessary to have a solid grasp of historical knowledge, but also to understand the psychology of tourists, know how to inspire, create a connection between the listener and the story they tell. For groups of students, tour guides always try to make the explanation content easy to understand and lively. As for international visitors, it is necessary to incorporate cultural and architectural elements and compare them with contemporary works so that they can see the outstanding value of the Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage.

If the Ho Dynasty Citadel brings an impression of the intelligence and creative hands of ancient people, the Lam Kinh National Special Relic Site is a place that contains historical spirit and gratitude to ancestors. Every Lam Kinh festival in the 8th lunar month, thousands of tourists eagerly attend, immersing themselves in the sacred space to commemorate the national hero Le Loi and the Lam Son insurgents. There, the tour guide team becomes the "storytellers", helping visitors deeply feel the patriotism and indomitable will of their ancestors. They not only introduce the tomb of King Le Thai To, Dragon yard, Bach bridge, the main hall or the heritage forest... but also evoke in visitors national pride and admiration for the ancestors who founded the glorious dynasty in history.

For Ms. Hoang Thi Hien, tour guide at Lam Kinh Historical Site, each explanation session is a time to "pass on the fire". "I was born and raised in Tho Xuan (old) and have been a tour guide at Lam Kinh Historical Site for 16 years. Growing up surrounded by stories about the national hero Le Loi and the Lam Son uprising, and then working as a "storyteller", I feel very proud every time I tell stories about this land. When working as a tour guide, I not only tell tourists about history, but also want them to feel the Lam Son spirit and humanity in each story. There are guests who are moved when listening to historical stories. That is the moment that makes me love my job and heritage even more" - Ms. Hien shared.

Along with the relic sites, the Provincial Museum is home to more than 30,000 documents and artifacts of historical, cultural and archaeological value - vivid evidence of the long-term development of Thanh land. There, the tour guide acts as a bridge between the heritage and the public. Tour guide Thuy Dung shared: “What makes every "storyteller" at the Provincial Museum feel happy is when they see the passionate eyes of students and visitors when they listen attentively to the explanation. To make each story more attractive, my colleagues and I always try to learn and improve our knowledge, especially applying digital technology in explanations, bringing new interactive experiences to visitors”.

In the context of increasingly strong tourism development, improving the quality of tour guides at relic sites in the province is one of the key tasks. In recent years, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has regularly organized training courses on professional skills, explanation skills, and application of information technology for tour guides. Recently (October 22-23), Thanh Hoa province organized a competition for tour guides in the North Central region in 2025. Thereby, it aims to create an environment for tour guides to share experiences, improve knowledge... contributing to gradually standardizing the province's tour guide team and promoting the image and tourism brand of localities. Heritage conservation centers and relic management boards in the province also pay special attention to improving the quality of tour guides; At the same time, innovate the method of explanation, promote the application of digital technology, virtual reality experience, helping visitors feel more deeply the historical and cultural values.

In the journey of sustainable tourism development, heritage “storytellers” are the bridge between history and modernity, between heritage and community. They not only preserve memories through words, but also pass on pride and love for heritage to future generations. And it is from their love for their profession and their homeland that Thanh heritage is not only preserved, but also “lives” forever in the hearts of every citizen and tourist like a beautiful story that never ends.

Article and photos: Hoai Anh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nguoi-ke-chuyen-di-san-269625.htm