Natural scenery at Trang An Scenic Complex. (Photo HT)
Vietnam possesses a valuable multi-layered heritage system, creating a mark for each land and being the foundation for sustainable tourism development. In the context of the Law on Cultural Heritage (amended), the Law on Tourism and new decrees being implemented, the requirement is to protect the original values, while at the same time rationally exploiting cultural and natural resources. This requires consistent management orientation, methodical planning and an approach that puts local people at the center of the value promotion process.
Heritage is a resource that creates competitive advantage.
Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration Ha Van Sieu emphasized that heritage is an invaluable resource, carrying the weight of history and cultural depth. According to him, this is a unique capital that creates the difference of Vietnamese destinations in international competition. Therefore, when dealing with heritage, we must absolutely respect the original value, maintaining the originality in all activities of creating tourism products.
According to Mr. Ha Van Sieu's analysis, heritage tourism must be based on the interaction between local people and cultural spaces. When cultural values are preserved and people have a stable livelihood from tourism, they become factors in preserving and spreading heritage. This creates a sustainable cycle, in which development promotes conservation, and conservation creates the foundation for development. Accordingly, technology is an important solution to help connect tangible and intangible, traditional and contemporary values. Technology also supports the construction of a lively, emotional experiential space, while improving the effectiveness of heritage management. In addition, heritage interpretation activities need to be invested appropriately, from museums to performing arts, to increase the cultural depth and attractiveness of the destination.
Among the localities that have successfully promoted the advantages of heritage, Ninh Binh is considered a typical example. Possessing the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage recognized by UNESCO under dual criteria, the province has built a harmonious management model, ensuring that cultural and ecological values are preserved, while creating momentum for green tourism development. Director of Ninh Binh Department of Tourism Bui Van Manh assessed Trang An as a priceless asset of the nation and humanity. After 11 years of being recognized by UNESCO, Trang An has been recognized by UNESCO leaders as a typical model of harmony between nature conservation, cultural conservation and livelihood development for local people. This assessment both affirms the province's efforts and creates a great influence on the strategy of tourism development based on heritage.
Among the localities that have made good use of their heritage advantages, Ninh Binh is considered a typical example. Possessing the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage recognized by UNESCO under dual criteria, the province has built a harmonious management model, ensuring that cultural and ecological values are preserved, while creating momentum for green tourism development.
Mr. Bui Van Manh said that the consistent orientation of Ninh Binh province is to manage heritage based on ecosystem thinking and master planning. In the context of forming new administrative units of the province after the merger, the requirement is to build a unified plan, suitable for the large ecological space, including the limestone mountain system, plains and coastal areas. The province has been implementing a plan to preserve, restore and renovate the special landscape of Trang An-Tam Coc-Bich Dong, while integrating heritage, tourism, infrastructure and urban planning to ensure consistency in management. The important principle is to take conservation as the foundation, development as the driving force, and local people as the beneficiaries. Tourism activities in the core and buffer zones are strictly controlled, the capacity of each cave route and boat dock is monitored by technology to avoid overload. Projects that may impact the landscape must have strict environmental impact assessments.
Regarding development orientation, Ninh Binh identifies green and sustainable tourism as a pillar. Ecotourism, agricultural tourism, and cultural experience tourism are promoted according to the philosophy of “low impact – high value”. The province cooperates with businesses to develop environmentally friendly tourism transport, reduce plastic waste, and prioritize clean energy. Businesses are encouraged to regenerate resources, support ecosystem restoration, and contribute to the preservation of cultural values.
Another important task is to develop local human resources. Ninh Binh regularly organizes training on vocational skills, digital skills, foreign languages, and cultural behavior, helping people deeply participate in the service chain, from boating, tour guides, accommodation to performing arts. This creates a sustainable tourism ecosystem, in which people have stable livelihoods and long-term companionship in preserving heritage. The locality also promotes the application of digital transformation in tourism management. The smart management system helps track the number of visitors in real time, supervise the capacity of each route, and minimize the impact on the landscape. Utilities serving tourists such as automatic tour guides, digital maps, and online feedback are deployed synchronously. Notably, the province effectively promotes the public-private partnership model, attracting business resources in landscape management, infrastructure investment, heritage promotion, and organizing cultural and tourism events. Many programs such as the "Golden Color of Tam Coc-Trang An" Tourism Week and the Trang An-Bai Dinh Festival create great attraction and contribute to enhancing the tourism position of Ninh Binh.
The above results continue to be consolidated when Ninh Binh province implements important decrees such as Decree No. 168/2017/ND-CP dated December 31, 2017, Decree No. 94/2021/ND-CP dated October 28, 2021 guiding the management of tourist attractions, along with the Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy to 2030 and projects on developing cultural industrial tourism. The province has standardized tourist attraction management activities, strengthened safety and environmental sanitation monitoring, built green tourism routes and applied electronic tickets to make exploitation activities transparent.
Foundation for promoting sustainable heritage values
Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thi Thu Hien, Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage, emphasized: The new system of documents including the Law on Cultural Heritage No. 45/2024/QH15 dated November 23, 2024, Decree No. 208/2025/ND-CP dated July 17, 2025 and Decree No. 215/2025/ND-CP dated August 4, 2025 of the Government is a big step forward in perfecting the legal corridor for the work of protecting and promoting heritage. The principles of heritage protection are clearly stipulated: Maximum preservation of the inherent value and form of expression of heritage, no appropriation, no dissemination of incorrect content, respect for religious values and practice spaces, ensuring no elements that reduce value. The new law and decrees also stipulate the rights of cultural knowledge holders in deciding on protected content and practice methods.
Currently, the Department of Heritage has proactively advised on the issuance of legal documents to remove bottlenecks and facilitate heritage conservation and exploitation activities. Notably, the regulations on socialization in the Law on Cultural Heritage and new decrees have paved the way to attract investors to participate in completing service infrastructure at world heritage sites, historical and cultural relics, and scenic spots. Along with that, the Department has strongly implemented the dissemination of laws and professional training for management teams in provinces and cities. This is a measure to help reduce errors in the restoration and rehabilitation of relics and improve management capacity according to new regulations.
Another key task is to guide localities in compiling scientific dossiers of typical relics and landscapes to propose UNESCO for recognition. The Department of Heritage also coordinates with the tourism industry to build cultural tourism products based on performing arts, heritage practices, and connect localities with similar values to form regional tourism routes.
Thus, it can be affirmed that heritage and sustainable tourism are always closely linked. When properly managed and creating conditions for local people to participate and benefit, heritage becomes a resource to create new values, contributing to raising the status of Vietnam tourism in the coming period.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/phat-huy-gia-tri-di-san-gan-ket-du-lich-ben-vung-post925864.html
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