Quang Ninh Province digitizes the management of Yen Tu World Cultural Heritage Site.

The Management Board of Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Site (Quang Ninh) is strongly implementing technological solutions to modernize management, enhance the visitor experience, and aim to build a smart tourism ecosystem at this special national historical site.

The beauty of Yen Tu lies in the majestic mountains blending with the ancient and serene charm of its system of hermitages, temples, and pagodas. Photo: Minh Duc/TTXVN

Mai Vu Tuan, Head of the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, shared: "The application of information technology in service management is an inevitable trend. Notably, the electronic ticketing system is being researched and perfected to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional method. This system allows for identity verification of visitors, supports online payment, and allows for advance bookings. This is considered a fundamental solution for managing and regulating visitor flow and preventing congestion at key tourist attractions in the Yen Tu mountain region."

Alongside the "zero-fee" policy, an electronic monitoring system is also being piloted. Currently, the unit has applied AI (artificial intelligence) camera technology and is moving towards using chip-embedded Citizen Identity Cards to control entry and exit. This helps to create an accurate database of visitors, including their names and visit times, providing strong support for ensuring security and order. In particular, it is expected that in 2026, facial recognition technology (FaceID) will officially be put into operation, allowing visitors to be identified as soon as they pass through the gate without the need for manual screening procedures.

Regarding experiential services, Yen Tu is shifting from a traditional guided tour model to a personalized experience through technology. Through QR codes at historical sites, visitors can access multimedia content to listen to audio explanations, view images and videos , and experience VR360 virtual reality. To realize this goal, the Management Board is focusing on building a multilingual digitized database system to meet the unique needs of visitors from various countries.

The Head of the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board affirmed that the team of tour guides is also being restructured to become those directly producing digital content. Instead of accompanying each tour group as before, experts will focus on building a comprehensive heritage database to provide to tourists through smart devices, ensuring the accuracy and vividness of historical and cultural information.

Watching the sunrise at Dong Pagoda, Yen Tu. Photo: Thanh Van/TTXVN

The vigorous implementation of digital transformation in 2026 not only concretizes the directives of Quang Ninh province and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, but also affirms Yen Tu's position in heritage preservation linked to sustainable tourism development in the digital age.

Recently, at its 35th (and final) session, the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council passed a resolution to offer free admission to the Yen Tu historical site from now until the end of 2028. This is to express gratitude to the people, monks, nuns, Buddhists, and tourists who have made significant contributions to the protection, preservation, and development of the heritage site's documentation. The practical basis for this policy stems from the fact that the Yen Tu historical and scenic site complex was recently recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site on July 12, 2025. Free admission not only fulfills the aspirations of the people but also serves as a catalyst to promote the image of Yen Tu – the "ancestral land" of Truc Lam Buddhism, a place closely associated with the religious life of Emperor Tran Nhan Tong.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/quang-ninh-so-hoa-trong-quan-ly-di-san-van-hoa-the-gioi-yen-tu-2026021208220087.htm