Promoting regional identity

The Central Vietnam region possesses unique and distinctive values, especially in terms of culture and heritage, so the development planning process needs to focus on preserving and promoting this system of values.

Da Nang city is urgently finalizing the plan for preserving and promoting the value of the Hoi An ancient town, a World Cultural Heritage site. Photo: SA KHE

Preserving the land of heritage

When mentioning the Central Vietnam Economic Zone, many people will immediately picture an area possessing a rich and unique system of cultural heritage.

This area currently houses 3 World Cultural Heritage sites (Vietnam has 7 World Cultural Heritage sites), along with many intangible cultural heritage sites, World Documentary Heritage sites, and Asia- Pacific regional documentary heritage sites.

This area also has a high concentration of Cham cultural relics, especially in Hue City, Da Nang City, and Gia Lai Province.

Although the system of historical sites and heritage in the Central Vietnam Economic Zone is being preserved quite effectively, it also harbors many risks of damage due to social impacts and climate change, thus urgently requiring a well-planned strategy for the sustainable development of the region in the future.

When mentioning the Central Vietnam Economic Zone, many people will immediately picture an area possessing a rich and unique system of cultural heritage.

This area is home to 3 World Cultural Heritage sites (Vietnam has 7 World Cultural Heritage sites in total), along with numerous intangible cultural heritage sites, World Documentary Heritage sites, and Asia-Pacific regional documentary heritage sites.

This area also has a high concentration of Champa cultural relics, especially in Hue City, Da Nang City, and Gia Lai Province.

Although the system of historical sites and heritage in the Central Vietnam Economic Zone is being preserved quite effectively, it also harbors many risks of damage due to social impacts and climate change, thus urgently needing a well-planned strategy for sustainable development of the region in the future.

Hue and Da Nang are two localities with strengths in heritage tourism. In the photo: The two localities are cooperating to develop the Hai Van Pass historical site. Photo: Xuan Son

The Hue City Master Plan, approved by the Government, identifies Hue as a distinctive heritage city of Vietnam by 2030.

Among the identified breakthroughs in development is the development of a heritage urban system combined with modern, smart cities, based on the preservation and promotion of heritage values.

Alongside this, it is necessary to innovate and improve the effectiveness of preserving the heritage of the ancient capital of Hue, effectively transforming cultural, historical, and natural resources into drivers of growth and development of the cultural industry…

Regarding Da Nang city, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, informed that over the past two years, Da Nang has been actively implementing the planning for the Ngu Hanh Son National Special Scenic Area according to the Prime Minister's approval decision.

In addition, efforts are being urgently made to develop and finalize the Project for the Preservation and Promotion of the Value of the Hoi An Ancient Town World Cultural Heritage Site and the Project for the Planning of the My Son Temple Complex National Special Monument to promote these two world cultural heritage sites.

With the majestic Truong Son mountain range running along its western side, the Central Vietnam Economic Zone is also a region with a rich cultural identity, home to dozens of ethnic groups living together.

Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Tam, Director of the Da Nang Department of Finance, said that among the solutions to promote the socio-economic development of Da Nang city in the coming period, one is to prioritize investment in development and improving the lives of the people, especially ethnic minorities and people in mountainous areas.

We prioritize investment in education, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education.

This also involves increasing investment resources for the preservation of cultural values, cultural development, and ensuring unity within cultural diversity.

Biodiversity enrichment

As the location of a large part of the Central Truong Son ecosystem – which is considered one of the 200 most important ecological regions globally – the Central Vietnam Economic Zone needs a strategy for the sustainable exploitation of this ecosystem in order to coexist harmoniously with nature.

Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An is considered a prime example of marine conservation within a world biosphere reserve in Vietnam. Photo: QUOC TUAN

With the strong support and collaboration of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the provinces and cities in the Central Vietnam Economic Zone have achieved many positive results in increasing forest cover, the reappearance of rare species after many years of absence, and improving the livelihoods of people living in the Central Truong Son mountain range.

Notably, the region's biodiversity is interconnected, stretching from the source to the sea.

Notably, there are two UNESCO-recognized World Biosphere Reserves: the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve (Da Nang city) and the Kon Ha Nung World Biosphere Reserve (Gia Lai).

Da Nang city, in particular, has recorded many "bright spots" in biodiversity conservation.

The population of brown-footed langurs on Son Tra Peninsula, which was only a few dozen individuals 20 years ago, has now multiplied to thousands.

The lush forests in the western region of Da Nang. Photo: ALĂNG NGƯỚC

In Cu Lao Cham, the shift in community awareness regarding the management of marine resources has helped it become a model for marine conservation on an international level.

Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh, General Director of WWF Vietnam, commented that the significant decrease in flood flow rates in the Thu Bon River basin in recent years is also a positive sign in the local efforts to protect forests and conserve biodiversity.

Notably, according to the biodiversity conservation facility planning orientation for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister at the end of 2024, Da Nang has two facilities: Nam Hoi An Safari and the Cu Lao Cham turtle conservation facility.

These two facilities, along with two others planned in Gia Lai province, will serve as centers for breeding and cultivating endangered and rare species, as well as rescuing wild animals for the entire region, contributing to the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in the Central Vietnam Economic Zone.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/phat-huy-ban-sac-vung-3306628.html