Many expectations for the development of the film industry in Ninh Binh

In recent years, with the advantage of being a locality with many beautiful landscapes, Ninh Binh has attracted many domestic and foreign film crews to choose it as a setting for filming famous films, contributing to promoting and introducing destinations, historical, cultural and local tourism values.

Performing traditional costumes at the scientific conference “Dinh Dynasty Costumes and Ancient Costumes”. Photo: Minh Quang

A place where natural scenery is beautiful in every angle

With the desire to build and produce films in Ninh Binh , BHD Company came up with the idea of building the film "Ho Linh Trang Si - Bi Am Tomb of King Dinh", adapted based on folk legends about the tomb of King Dinh Tien Hoang and planned to choose Ninh Binh as the filming location.

At the film premiere, Ms. Ngo Thi Bich Hanh, Vice President of BHD Company shared: Ninh Binh is a locality with poetic landscapes and many interesting stories to exploit for filmmaking and cinema development, especially historical films. The film "Ho Linh Trang Si - Bi An Tomb of King Dinh" was built from stories and during the boat trip to Trang An, we learned more.

Receiving great support, encouragement and motivation from the leaders of Ninh Binh province to businesses, BHD Company is determined to make a film in Ninh Binh. With the theme of history, the film tells the story of heroes, the children of Ninh Binh, so when watching the film, young audiences will understand more about history and love their homeland more.

The film's martial arts director, Johnny Tri Nguyen, said: The first time I set foot in Ninh Binh, I saw that this is a land where every angle of the camera creates a cinematic quality. When participating in filming the film in Ninh Binh, the artist's emotions are pushed up, sublimated by the beautiful natural scenery, which can be exploited to bring authentic images to the film. We will try to bring the image of Ninh Binh closer to domestic and international friends...

Ninh Binh has many famous landscapes and landscapes, which are both tourist attractions and can be used as a backdrop for creating unique cultural products. In addition, Ninh Binh also has a long history and cultural tradition associated with three dynasties: Dinh, Tien Le, Ly. The milestones and historical events of the nation are associated with outstanding figures such as: Dinh Tien Hoang, Dinh Dien, Nguyen Bac, Trinh Tu, Luu Co, Queen Mother Duong Van Nga, Nguyen Minh Khong, Truong Han Sieu... through typical historical periods of Ninh Binh are excellent "input" materials to create cultural products and services with diverse types... to meet the increasingly strong and diverse cultural enjoyment needs of the people.

It is no coincidence that in recent years, Ninh Binh has not only attracted a large number of tourists, but has also been chosen by many domestic and international filmmakers as the setting for their films.

There have been many films that have caused great resonance domestically and internationally such as: The Quiet American, The Two Daughters of the Medicinal Garden Owner, The Hero's Destiny, Kong: Skull Island, The Desire of Thang Long, Tam Cam: The Untold Story, 578-The Madman's Bullets, Come Home, Trang Ti, The Taste of Love, Cheer Up, Brothers... which were chosen by film crews to film in Ninh Binh.

The fact that international film crews, domestic film studios, and Vietnam Television have chosen to film in Ninh Binh shows that the province is fully capable of becoming a filming location for Hollywood blockbusters as well as Vietnamese films to promote the culture, tourism, and people of the ancient capital of a thousand years of civilization to international friends.

Ready to invite film crews

Over the past terms, based on the potential and advantages of possessing unique cultural heritage and beautiful natural landscapes, the Provincial Party Committee has identified tourism as a key economic sector, focusing on promoting heritage resources to serve socio-economic development.

Ninh Binh is increasingly defining its role as an event center of the Red River Delta, with unique festivals and art events, attracting the production of a number of famous films... The province has stepped up the work of preserving and promoting the value of heritage and cultural architectural space along with the fine traditions of the people, the ancient capital of Hoa Lu as a foundation for the development of cultural industry, film industry, and film studio construction.

Along with that, closely coordinate with the Vietnam Cinema Promotion Association to carry out activities to attract and promote film making and gradually build the film industry in Ninh Binh associated with the development of tourism, cultural industry and entertainment industry.

In Decision No. 218/QD-TTg dated March 4, 2024 of the Prime Minister approving the Planning of Ninh Binh province, period 2021-2030, vision to 2050, it clearly states the development target to 2030 as: "strive for cultural industry to account for over 10% of GRDP". And by 2035 "become a centrally-governed city with the characteristics of a Millennium Heritage City, a creative city; a large center with high brand value in tourism, cultural industry, heritage economy of the whole country and the Asia-Pacific region...".

Accordingly, in the 12 fields of cultural industry approved by the Government, cinema is one of the key industries, creating an important driving force to promote socio-economic development.

To concretize the Prime Minister's Decision, Ninh Binh province has issued mechanisms and policies to develop the film industry according to the set roadmap and goals. In 2024, the Provincial People's Committee and the Vietnam Cinema Promotion Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in promoting the development of the film industry in Ninh Binh province with a cooperation period of 12 years, from 2024-2035, which is the basis for the province to deploy and implement specific activities to attract filmmaking, organize film art events and develop the film industry in the province.

On December 11, 2024, the Vietnam Film Promotion and Development Association (VFDA) coordinated with the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province to organize the Forum "Film Crew Attraction Index and Film Production Environment in Vietnam". At the Forum, Ninh Binh province was honored to be in the top 10 localities with high film crew attraction index in the PAI index ranking.

In particular, on February 28, 2025, the Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 22-NQ/TU on the development of cultural industries in Ninh Binh province for the period 2025-2035, with a vision to 2050, with the goal of building Ninh Binh into a heritage city, a specialized center for tourism, cultural industry, entertainment of the region, the country and international integration. Cultural industry, together with tourism, becomes a key economic cluster of the locality.

According to the Resolution, Ninh Binh province will perfect the policy in the context of decentralization and delegation of power with the spirit of "local decision, local action, local responsibility" through promoting preferential mechanisms and policies on tax and land, allowing the liberation of all creative capacity, opening up all resources, and quickly commercializing innovative ideas, scientific and technological achievements, etc.

These include policies to support film crews, performing arts, local marketing, support innovative startups, train artisans and human resources in emerging industries, create markets for new products, etc. By 2030, strive to complete the release of at least 5 films filmed in Ninh Binh.

According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, to concretize the goal of developing the cultural industry in the province, in which cinema is one of the 10 key areas, recently, at the events: 2nd Asian Film Festival - Da Nang; Vietnam Tourism - Cinema Promotion Program in the United States; Busan International Film Festival 2024, Ninh Binh province has made impressive introductions to domestic and international filmmakers and is researching and developing policies to attract investors and directors to Ninh Binh, seek creative inspiration, produce films and cultural and artistic programs.

The province has approached, met and connected with agencies, organizations, film producers, directors and influential figures in the international film industry, thereby attracting them to Vietnam in general and Ninh Binh province in particular to produce films. This is also an opportunity to promote and advertise Ninh Binh tourism as well as to survey, learn from experiences, and gradually build film studios to serve cinema and tourism. In scientific seminars held in the province, the development of the film industry in particular and the cultural industry in general is an issue that has received much attention from experts and scientists. The comments have suggested many issues for Ninh Binh.

Historian Duong Trung Quoc, Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, said: Developing the cultural industry is exploiting the value of cultural resources, human resources, natural landscapes... I am very happy that this is becoming a reality in Ninh Binh in many different aspects: not only in a film but more broadly in a space, an ecosystem of historical films on Ninh Binh land, on the space of Trang An heritage; creating an environment, a legal corridor on policies to attract resources to implement the cultural industry on the basis of Ninh Binh's assets, that is an extremely positive, effective approach and completely in the right direction of Ninh Binh province.

For example, organizing a scientific workshop on costumes for a historical film clearly shows the preparation for a very specific project, a specific product with the hope that it will become a good product, ensuring quality. I hope that the film is not only successful but also the beginning, creating the premise for other film projects to be successfully implemented in Ninh Binh...

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Cinema Promotion and Development Association, also said: We have seen that Ninh Binh has all the elements to develop the film industry, because in addition to the scenery and rich history and culture, the important factors are the strategic vision and determination of Ninh Binh province's leaders, the enthusiasm and readiness of businesses and people to participate.

Ninh Binh province has taken initial steps to develop the film industry in conjunction with tourism, cultural industry, and entertainment industry development - a new direction for the locality according to the Strategy for developing Vietnam's cultural industries to 2020, with a vision to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister.

Phan Hieu

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/nhieu-ky-vong-ve-su-phat-trien-cong-nghiep-dien-anh-tai-549430.htm