(VOVWORLD) - As most cultural, festive and entertainment activities have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Quang Ninh has taken this time to restore and renovate its many cultural and historical relic sites while creating more unique tourism products.
 Terraced fields in Luc Hon commune, Binh Lieu district, Quang Ninh province, boast for their magnificient view. (Photo: VOV) |
Located in the west of Cao Xiem Mountain, terraced rice fields in Quang Ninh province’s Binh Lieu district have been recognized as a provincial heritage. During the harvest time, visitors can enjoy the beautiful golden rice fields dotted with colorful costumes of Dao, San Chi, and Tay ethnic people.
“My first impression of Binh Lieu is that it has magnificent mountain views. Here I found the beautiful scenery that I’ve read in books since I was small. It’s wonderful that we can come here and enjoy the stunning landscape; the golden terraced rice fields, and the light fragrance of ripened rice. No words can describe my feelings being here,” said Ngo Thi Ly, a tourist from Cam Pha City, Quang Ninh province.
Most of Binh Lieu’s population is ethnic minorities. Thanks to this unique feature, Binh Lieu authorities have built up several cultural villages and restored a number of cultural activities, including Then singing, playing the Tinh musical instrument of the Tay ethnic people, and the Soong Co singing of the San Chi people, which are all considered unique tourism highlights of the locality.
“We’ve improved information sharing and opened training classes for the local people who will be directly involved in developing tourism in Binh Lieu. We will continue to use our advantageous tourist products such as the terraced fields, reed fields, and the 'So' flower or camellia oleifera flower festival. A lot of visitors are coming during autumn and winter even though it is the off season for many other tourism hot spots in Vietnam,” said Nguyen Thi Tuyet Hanh, Chairwoman of Binh Lieu district’s People’s Committee.
 The opening ceremony of the “Yen Tu - Back to the Land of Buddhism in Autumn” 2020 festival. The festival will be held annually. (Photo: VOV) |
The 3rd festival of Yellow Camellia Flower Tea will be organized this weekend in Ba Che district, along with a ceremony to recognize the Mieu Ong – Mieu Ba heritage site as a national relic site. On this occasion, the Ban Vuong festival, an important event for the Dao ethnic people to commemorate the ancestors who gave birth to them, will be reenacted.
“The festival aims to better preserve and promote the relic sites as well as the local ethnic people’s traditions and customs. Activities at the Ban Vuong festival include folk singing and dancing and exchanges among Dao ethnic artisans,” said Dinh Thi Vy, Deputy Chairwoman of Ba Che district’s People’s Committee.
The development of Yen Tu relic site is another prime example. In the past decade, a total of 130 million USD has been poured into upgrading the infrastructure and services and restoring Yen Tu. A series of activities to draw Buddhist pilgrims to Yen Tu during the autumn of 2020 to pay tribute to King Monk Tran Nhan Tong was a great success.
“I was moved reaching Yen Tu as I can feel a unique and sacred atmosphere there. The site has been restored and is more beautiful and convenient but still kept its sacredness. This is a great trip for any Buddhist pilgrim,” said Nguyen Thanh Nga, a visitor from Hanoi.
There more than 630 historical and natural relic sites in Quang Ninh, 120 of which have been listed in tours to the province. Pham Ngoc Thuy, Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, told VOV, “We expect a lot from the cultural sector to boost tourism. This requires comprehensive changes in the mindset of both people and state agencies. We have to do our best to maintain our traditions on our way to create new tourism opportunities.”
Historical relics and intangible cultural heritages are precious resources for Quang Ninh to create a specific trademark and unique values for its tourism sector.