Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex – Convergence of global heritage values

Dubbed as the “Outdoor Geological Museum”, the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (Ninh Binh) not only has a unique and beautiful natural landscape, containing many historical and cultural values, and biological diversity, but is also special because of its outstanding global value in geology, geomorphology, the magic, mystery and majesty of the natural world… creating a unique traditional culture and beliefs of the indigenous people.

Responding to the National Tourism Year 2021 - Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh with the theme "Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of a thousand years", Trang An Festival - Festival of Saint Quy Minh Dai Vuong is an affirmation of traditional cultural values that are preserved and conserved, the beauty in the customs and practices of Trang An residents, an opportunity to connect heritages to preserve and pass on heritage to future generations...

Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex has outstanding global value in geology and geomorphology.

Global priceless archive

Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex was recognized by the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage on June 25, 2014, becoming the first mixed heritage site in Southeast Asia. Trang An Heritage Site stands out in Southeast Asia and the world, containing rich archaeological evidence that is still preserved in its original state, mainly snail shells, clam shells, animal bones, pottery, stone tools, kitchen floors, rope-twisted pottery and human remains. This is an invaluable archive showing the adaptation of prehistoric people to important environmental changes lasting more than 30,000 years, at least since the last Ice Age. During this time, they experienced some of the most severe geographical and climatic changes in the history of the earth. Besides, historical and cultural relics such as temples, pagodas and palaces also contribute to supplementing and consolidating many archaeological documents.

Trang An in particular and Ninh Binh in general have become attractive destinations for domestic and foreign tourists in recent years.

The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is also the most outstanding representative of the world's limestone karst tower landscapes and is unparalleled on a global scale, demonstrating more clearly than anywhere else on earth the final stages of the long-term karst evolution process in a humid tropical monsoon climate with high rainfall that has been favorable for karstification to develop and create the unique landscape here. Trang An has unique geological features containing supernatural phenomena and spectacular landscapes including karst cones, karst towers, sinkholes, basins, swamp ridges, water caves, underground rivers and caves along with sediments, stalactites... A feature of great scientific significance with modern landscapes containing many types of classic karst landscapes, is the presence of bell-shaped peaks, cones, spectacular karst towers and transitional karst mountains linked together by sharp ridges like walls, creating closed valleys with diverse shapes, connected by caves, underground rivers in the central part or the existence of open valleys on the edge of the Trang An limestone massif with independent karst towers, next to sand dunes deposited during the formation of the Red River Delta.

Coming to Trang An, no matter what season of the year, visitors will still be overwhelmed by the beauty that nature has bestowed on this ancient capital.

Mr. Bui Viet Thang, Director of the Trang An Landscape Complex Management Board, said that Trang An is characterized by the interaction between humans and the environment and is a global invaluable resource for studying the process of adaptation and landscape change in the context of environmental change. “Trang An has outstanding global geological significance that is highly appreciated by leading geologists and geomorphologists in the world, demonstrating more clearly than anywhere else on Earth the stages of karst landscape evolution in a humid tropical environment. Even more wonderful, this is where natural forests still grow and develop over the landscape, ensuring that the natural processes operating in the karst area can continue to develop and develop more biodiversity in the future,” said Mr. Bui Viet Thang.

Connecting Heritages

In 2021, Ninh Binh is honored to continue to be selected by the Government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to host the National Tourism Year. The 2021 National Tourism Year program has 38 activities held in Ninh Binh province and 104 response activities of 27 provinces and cities across the country. As one of the main activities within the framework of the 2021 National Tourism Year program organized by Ninh Binh province, Trang An Festival (also known as Saint Quy Minh Dai Vuong Festival) is a traditional festival taking place at Trang An eco-tourism area in Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex.

National Tourism Year 2021 is held in Ninh Binh with many special activities

According to legend, Duc Thanh Quy Minh Dai Vuong was one of three brothers - three generals who were canonized (Duc Thanh Tan Vien, Duc Thanh Cao Son and Duc Thanh Quy Minh), who had the merit of defending Son Nam pass (one of the four towns of Hoa Lu Tu Tran) to protect the country during the reign of King Hung Due Vuong (the 18th Hung King). He was a "superior god", granted royal decrees by many dynasties, worshiped by people everywhere, and became the village tutelary god in many places according to folk beliefs. Promoting traditional cultural values, meeting the needs of people and tourists looking back to their roots, through traditional rituals, Trang An Festival expresses wishes and prayers for a peaceful life, favorable weather, good crops. At the same time, continue to arouse pride and love for the homeland and country for the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, a thousand years of history, contributing to raising public awareness in preserving, conserving and promoting the unique cultural values of Trang An Festival in particular and the outstanding global values of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in general, promoting sustainable tourism development. In the context of the complicated development of the Covid-19 epidemic in many countries around the world, the Organizing Committee of Trang An Festival 2021 strictly implements epidemic prevention measures. Every citizen and tourist attending the festival must strictly follow the Prime Minister's instructions on epidemic prevention and control; implement the 5K message of the Ministry of Health : Regularly wear a mask during the entire visit, regularly disinfect hands, do not gather in large crowds when not necessary, keep a safe distance, and must declare health according to regulations. Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/quan-the-danh-thang-trang-an-hoi-tu-gia-tri-di-san-toan-cau-323346.html