Quang Ninh: Turning heritage treasures into green growth drivers

Possessing more than 640 historical - cultural relics, scenic spots, including 2 world heritages, 8 special national relics; over 360 intangible cultural heritages (including 19 heritages recognized at the national level), Quang Ninh is gradually turning its precious heritage treasure into an endogenous resource for development. With the approach of "dynamic conservation" that both preserves the original and reasonably exploits it in contemporary life, the province has formed an effective heritage economic model, creating momentum for green and sustainable growth.

From their own cultural advantages, associated with Yen Tu heritage, the Dao Thanh Y community living in the area at the foot of Yen Tu mountain, Yen Tu ward has exploited and developed tourism products and models.

Great potential from heritage treasure

In the context of Quang Ninh's strong transformation, the province's massive heritage treasure is not only a source of pride but also an invaluable resource, transformed into a strong driving force for development. The province has taken a bold and creative step: Moving from "static" conservation to "dynamic" conservation. Instead of just preserving heritage in its original form, Quang Ninh is breathing life into them, bringing heritage back to contemporary life, turning festivals, customs, craft villages and historical spaces into tourism products with high economic value. Cultural diversity from coastal, mining and mountainous areas has become a unique strength, creating a rich cultural tourism ecosystem, imbued with the unique identity of this land.

In particular, on July 12, 2025, at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO officially recognized the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscape Complex as a World Cultural Heritage. This is a great honor for Vietnam, especially for the three localities that own the heritage: Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Bac Giang , thereby opening up opportunities to enhance tourism development based on cultural foundations. In recent years, Quang Ninh alone has mobilized more than 3,000 billion VND in socialized capital for Yen Tu to turn the land that used to have only old forests and steep stone steps into a modern cultural - spiritual tourism complex that still retains the ancient spirit. Combining conservation with tourism exploitation to spread the value of "the 4th blessed land of Giao Chau", Yen Tu is famous for its main type of spiritual cultural tourism. Now, when coming to Yen Tu, tourists not only make pilgrimages and worship Buddha, but also enjoy many unique tourism and cultural products, such as: Meditation, health care, performing activities recreating spaces imbued with Vietnamese identity... Every year, Yen Tu welcomes millions of domestic and foreign tourists to visit and worship.

Experts appraise Bach Dang relic (Quang Ninh).

The fact that the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscape Complex became a World Cultural Heritage has opened up many potentials for tourism development. In particular, Quang Ninh units and enterprises are making efforts to build unique tourism products, connecting the World Natural Heritage of Ha Long Bay and Yen Tu Monument and Landscape Complex to maximize the values, strongly promote the brands of the heritages and bring visitors new and unique experiences.

According to Mr. Dao Tung, Deputy Director of Tung Lam Development Joint Stock Company, the company is making efforts to build tourism products connecting Yen Tu Heritage and Ha Long Bay. Along with developing products between the two destinations, we also focus on bringing visitors experiences through activities to explore nature, learn about the culture and history of the two destinations. We are currently linking and working with domestic and foreign travel companies and partners to introduce this product to visitors. At the same time, based on the needs of separate, luxury customer lines to optimize the experience, focusing on personalization factors, meeting the diverse needs of visitors.

Students visit and learn about the values ​​of Yen Tu Heritage.

Ha Long Bay World Natural Heritage has been recognized by UNESCO three times for its geological, geomorphological and landscape values. Since 1996, Ha Long Bay has welcomed nearly 60 million visitors, with total entrance fee revenue estimated at over VND8,600 billion. This is a globally famous destination and an important economic development driver for Quang Ninh.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung, former Director of the Institute of Cultural Research, commented: Heritage economy not only brings benefits in tourism, but also spreads cultural values, creating livelihoods for local communities. Importantly, Quang Ninh has shifted from “static” conservation thinking to “dynamic” conservation, which means both preserving and exploiting reasonably to create new values.

To create a solid foundation for the heritage economy, Quang Ninh has been investing heavily in infrastructure. Spiritual tourism routes in former localities such as Dong Trieu, Uong Bi, Quang Yen, Van Don have been formed, closely connected into a diverse chain of spaces and products. Along with that, the province also promotes the application of digital technology in promoting heritage, building platforms to introduce cultural products, digitizing heritage data and organizing virtual reality experiences. These are efforts to bring Quang Ninh heritage further, reaching out to tourists around the world.

International tourists enjoy exploring Ha Long Bay.

The province is also deeply aware that, in order to develop a sustainable heritage economy, it is impossible to exploit it alone but must build a highly linked value chain. Large heritage spaces such as Ha Long Bay, Yen Tu, Bach Dang are being connected with traditional craft villages, OCOP products and local culinary culture to create unique, multi-experience tourism routes. At the same time, the province has also implemented many policies to encourage businesses to invest in the field of heritage conservation and exploitation, support artisans, develop cultural industries and commercialize products on digital platforms. All these efforts are together creating a brilliant picture, where cultural heritage is not only preserved but also becomes a source of life, a driving force for Quang Ninh to grow strongly.

Create a solid foundation for long-term development

On its development journey, heritage economy is one of the important strategies that Quang Ninh is pursuing to turn cultural and natural values ​​into a driving force for sustainable growth. Although this is a relatively new field, the province has proactively researched, assessed the potential and built an effective exploitation strategy.

However, in addition to impressive results, Quang Ninh is still facing many major challenges in the journey of developing the heritage economy. These include the risk of "raw exploitation" of cultural and natural values, the decline of traditional craft villages, changes in spiritual tourism, or the lack of specific mechanisms to attract businesses and communities to participate in conservation... These are barriers that need to be resolved promptly. Therefore, the province is gradually perfecting policies, promoting inter-sectoral cooperation, enhancing the role of the community and raising awareness of people, especially the younger generation, about the value of heritage. These efforts aim to create a solid foundation for long-term development.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Economic Institute, to turn heritage into economic strength, it is necessary to have a mindset and responsibility to exploit it in the right direction. Quang Ninh has recognized this opportunity early and focused on tourism, promoting its rare advantages with pioneering and breakthrough solutions.

Yen Tu Pine Street with hundreds of years old heritage trees.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang (Institute of International Trade and Economics, National Economics University) also emphasized that Quang Ninh needs to have more breakthrough measures, including building a model of the world's wonder economic ecosystem. This model will focus on enhancing the image of Ha Long Bay and Quang Ninh, attaching importance to developing the heritage economy, while investing in infrastructure and additional service systems to create a comprehensive value chain. This will help Quang Ninh heritage tourism not only retain its identity, but also enhance its competitiveness, attracting tourists and investors at an international level...

Obviously, the heritage economic development model that Quang Ninh is pursuing has been showing specific and sustainable effectiveness. Heritage is not only a spiritual value, but also an important "capital" in the socio-economic development strategy. Accordingly, from the opinions of experts as well as local practical research, for the first time, the draft Political Report submitted to the 16th Quang Ninh Provincial Party Congress has identified heritage economy as a key task, closely linked to the development of culture, people and preservation of local identity. The province also aims to develop cultural industry and promote heritage economy to become a new growth driver. The goal by 2030 is that Quang Ninh will become an international national tourism center, a leading destination in the ASEAN region, associated with world heritages and wonders such as Ha Long Bay, Yen Tu Monuments and Landscape Complex, Van Don Ancient Port, and a system of high-class sea and island tourism services.

In the immediate future, in 2025, Quang Ninh has developed a plan to organize 170 tourism stimulus programs and events, including 24 national and international programs, and 146 local programs. All are built on a unique cultural foundation and exploit the strengths of heritage to create strong attraction. In the first 6 months of 2025 alone, Quang Ninh tourism industry welcomed about 12.1 million visitors, reaching 116% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 112% of the target compared to the growth scenario. Of which, domestic visitors are estimated at 9.8 million; international visitors are estimated at 2.3 million. The number of guests staying is estimated at over 3.7 million, reaching 118% compared to the same period in 2024. Total revenue is estimated at over VND 29,140 billion, reaching 131% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 107% compared to the growth scenario. In the third quarter of 2025, the tourism industry aims to welcome 5.45 million visitors. Total tourism revenue is estimated at about VND 16,500 billion...

Developing heritage economy is not only a way for Quang Ninh to turn cultural and historical values ​​into development resources, but also a way to preserve the memory, identity and soul of the mining land. Each heritage preserved and promoted in the right direction will become a spiritual fulcrum, economic driving force and bridge to bring Quang Ninh to the world, realizing the aspiration for green, sustainable development, harmoniously connecting the past, present and future.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/quang-ninh-bien-kho-tang-di-san-thanh-dong-luc-tang-truong-xanh-20250829145843884.htm