Tourism potential of Bac Son

Diverse tourism potential

The Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy to 2020, with a vision to 2030, approved by the Prime Minister, has identified seven tourism regions in Vietnam. The Viet Bac War Zone, comprising six provinces: Cao Bang , Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Ha Giang, and Tuyen Quang, is one of these seven national tourism regions.

With its rich and glorious revolutionary history, the Viet Bac War Zone preserves more than 1,000 historical and cultural relics and scenic spots, including revolutionary relics and landmarks associated with Vietnam's history during the resistance war against the French, which have profound significance in many aspects.

Bac Son District, located in Lang Son Province, is part of the Viet Bac War Zone tourism region. Historically, the Bac Son Uprising on September 27, 1940, against the Japanese and French, is one of the most significant revolutionary events of our people. This was the first armed uprising under the leadership of the Party, making an important contribution to the preparation and building of forces for the later uprising to seize power. Currently, Bac Son District has 29 historical sites and relics, including one special national-level historical site (comprising 12 relics) and three national-level relics.

In the photo book "Bac Son - Land of Gold, a Thousand Experiences" - a product of the provincial-level science and technology project "Research on building and developing unique tourism products of Bac Son district, Lang Son province" edited by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thi Phuong Thai, Thai Nguyen University, it is stated: "The entire district lies on a limestone arc undergoing karstification, creating fascinating natural landscapes. World Travel Magazine selected Bac Son valley as one of the 10 most beautiful karst valleys in the world." "Karst topography is a wonderful gift that nature has bestowed upon the people of Bac Son. Not only does it create an attraction in terms of ecotourism, but the karst caves, fields, lakes, and wells also have high archaeological and cultural value."

Bac Son is one of the cradles of ancient Vietnamese people. In 1924-1925, archaeologists H. Mansuy and M. CoLani discovered the first site that provided evidence of the presence of a culture belonging to the early Neolithic period, arising within the Hoa Binh culture, dating back approximately 10,000 years. The "Bac Son culture" was named after this site and possesses many characteristics and universal values.

Bac Son is also a land of diverse cultures, home to many ethnic groups: Tay, Nung, Kinh, Dao, Mong... living together. The Tay ethnic group accounts for 80% of Bac Son's population, so they can be considered the main custodians of Bac Son culture.

Over generations, the Tay people in Bac Son have created a rich system of tangible culture including traditional stilt houses, communal houses, temples, shrines, etc., and intangible cultural values such as: Then singing, Luon singing, Shi singing, Long Tong festival, Na Nhem festival, customs of eating, living, dressing, production experience, behavior, folk beliefs, etc.

Na Nhem is the most famous traditional festival of the Tay people in Bac Son, held annually on the full moon of the first lunar month. With its ritual of smearing faces and dressing up, it is a ceremony to worship the gods Cao Son, Quy Minh, King Mieu Tinh, and King Cao Quyet, associated with the legend of fighting invaders to defend the village and the country. The festival also attracts attention with its ritual of worship and procession of phallic symbols – a symbol of fertility beliefs very common in agricultural communities.

In Bac Son, tourists can learn about customs and traditions, enjoy traditional dishes, folk music, and characteristic folk dances of ethnic minority villages... combined with visiting scenic spots, immersing themselves in daily life with the locals, having fun at highland markets, and shopping for local products…

Promoting tourism to become a key economic sector.

According to Ms. Duong Thi Thep, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, the District Party Committee and government have identified Bac Son as having diverse potential for developing various tourism products such as: cave exploration and research tourism; revolutionary tradition learning tourism at historical sites; biodiversity forest research tourism; lake sightseeing; cultural tourism; and experiential tourism… Among these, archaeological tourism, historical tourism, and cultural tourism are important resources that not every locality possesses.

The responsibility of local Party committees and authorities is to lead and direct efforts to unleash and develop these resources, gradually transforming tourism into a key sector in the district's economic structure by 2025, as outlined in the Resolution of the District Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term.

According to Ms. Do Thanh Loan, Head of the Culture and Information Department of the district, the department has advised the district to issue and implement the Tourism Development Project for the period 2017-2020, with a vision to 2025.

After 5 years of implementing the Project, Bac Son district now has 9 tourist destinations including 3 community tourism destinations; 2 eco-tourism destinations; 4 historical and cultural tourism destinations, and 29 tourism accommodation establishments including: 1 hotel, 10 guesthouses, and 18 homestay businesses.

Currently, Bac Son district is focusing on developing two key tourism areas: Bac Quynh commune, which preserves many cultural values of the Tay people, and Chien Thang commune, which has the potential for developing eco-tourism and experiential tourism. Tourism products are developed based on optimally exploiting the values of cultural heritage, architecture, customs, and diverse cultural traditions of the community, linked with conservation to attract tourists; encouraging local people to participate in, develop, and benefit from tourism activities.

In the process of implementing the Resolution of the District Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term on tourism development, in addition to the local determination, the support from the Central Government and Lang Son province through mechanisms and policies is very important.

Ms. Do Thanh Loan, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Bac Son District, happily stated that, following the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the lead agency of Project 6 "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development" in the National Target Program for socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period 2021-2030, Phase I from 2021-2025, the district has registered and received approval for a project to preserve traditional craft villages, with an investment capital of 6 billion VND.

This is the first time a tourism development project linked to cultural preservation has received significant, focused investment from the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The Department of Culture and Information hopes that the successful implementation of this project will serve as a foundation for ethnic cultural identity to support and promote tourism development," Ms. Loan shared.

In Lang Son province, since December 2020, the Provincial People's Council has issued a Resolution stipulating policies to support the development of community tourism in the province for the period 2021-2025.

Accordingly, organizations, households, and individuals participating in activities and businesses in recognized community tourism destinations; in areas where the Provincial People's Council and Provincial People's Committee have approved plans and projects for community tourism development according to the province's approved tourism development plan; meeting the business conditions as prescribed by law; and having a written commitment to conduct community tourism business for at least 5 years from the time of receiving investment support, with confirmation from the local government, will be eligible for support policies for building infrastructure and technical facilities at community tourism destinations.

Through various solutions, Bac Son is striving to transform itself into an attractive "Land of Gold - A Thousand Experiences" destination for domestic and international tourists.

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