Heritage sites attract tourists from all over the world

A place to preserve the soul of the land and people of Kinh Bac

In recent years, many foreign tourists have been attracted by the ancient temples and pagodas in Bac Ninh. These are "living museums" that preserve memories of hundreds and thousands of years, bringing people back to their roots, culture and spirituality. A typical example is Vinh Nghiem Pagoda - the Truc Lam Buddhist center that still preserves 3,050 woodblocks of Buddhist scriptures, medical books and precepts; recognized as a Documentary Heritage under the Memory of the World Program in the Asia- Pacific region. Stopping here, visitors can immerse themselves in the sacred, tranquil space, worship the National Treasure - the statues of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam, learn about the unique architecture of ancient structures and experience woodblock printing to explore and feel the unique identity of the relic.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Mai Son introduced Vinh Nghiem pagoda woodblocks to international visitors.

Mr. Hynek Kmonicek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Vietnam said: “I am particularly impressed by the antiquity and unique features of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, the origin and development of Truc Lam Zen - a Zen sect imbued with the Vietnamese national spirit. This Zen sect is a harmony between culture, nature and beliefs, conveying the very unique Vietnamese spirit of religion associated with everyday life”.

From its rich potential, Bac Ninh aims to build heritage destinations and green experiences in tourism development in the coming period. This strategy aims to connect heritage with the new era, creating a difference from other tourist centers in the country.

The relic of Bo Da Pagoda (Van Ha ward) is also the choice of many international tourists. The unique artistic architecture with mossy earthen walls, ancient tower garden, peaceful and serene space of the pagoda brings a sense of relaxation to visitors. Recently, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Bo Da Pagoda along with 10 relics located in Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city were recognized by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage. That affirms the lasting vitality and global stature of Kinh Bac cultural heritage, making Bac Ninh an indispensable destination in the journey to explore Vietnam. In addition, many spiritual works such as: Phat Tich Pagoda (Phat Tich commune); Dau Pagoda, But Thap Pagoda (Tri Qua ward) ... also attract visitors from all over to worship and enjoy.

During the journey to explore Bac Ninh, tourists can also visit and learn about the lives of people in ancient villages and traditional craft villages. From the folk colors of Dong Ho paintings, the simplicity of Tho Ha traditional craft village to the soul of Phu Lang pottery... have opened a door for tourists to explore Vietnamese culture. With passion and creativity, artisans of Dong Ho craft village (Thuan Thanh ward) have "breathed life" into the sheets of diep paper, creating rustic but sophisticated paintings associated with life, imbued with profound and humorous folk philosophy. Living in a family with 3 generations of traditional painting making, Artisan Nguyen Huu Hoa said: "Every year, many international delegations come here to learn about the unique features of the craft village; enjoy watching artisans carve woodblocks, sketch lines and experience printing paintings themselves and then cherish them as gifts. We are very happy to have contributed to spreading the unique features of our homeland to many people."

Not far away, Phu Lang craft village (Phu Lang commune) still retains the appearance of an ancient village with dark brown tiled roofs, small brick-paved alleys and year-round red-fired pottery kilns. This place is famous for its distinctive brown eel-skin glazed earthenware, with delicately carved patterns imbued with the soul of the land and the river. Tourists coming here enjoy following the artisans into the workshop, watching with their own eyes the talented hands of shaping and decorating every detail. Each product here seems to tell a story about the potter's diligence and love for his homeland.

In the homeland of Quan Ho, there are also 35 eco-tourism areas and spots that are also popular with tourists, especially those who want to find a balance between cultural experiences and relaxation. In the past three years, Bac Ninh province has welcomed more than 5 million tourists each year, including about 300,000-500,000 international tourists.

Spreading identity to international friends

In the current trend of exploration, more and more tourists are looking for lands rich in identity and uniqueness. Bac Ninh has beautiful natural landscapes, a long-standing cultural tradition with a rich system of tangible and intangible cultural heritages... creating a diverse and attractive cultural - tourism picture. For example, the sweet and profound Quan Ho folk songs of Lien Anh and Lien Chi Kinh Bac have conquered the hearts of international tourists, clearly feeling the cultural identity and depth of the Vietnamese soul. In addition, Ca Tru melodies, Then singing, water puppetry or traditional festivals of Kinh Bac region are also "spiritual specialties" favored by international friends.

International tourists visit Dong Ho Folk Painting Conservation Center.

Many research experts say that in Bac Ninh, the originality and locality are preserved relatively intact, making the heritage here have a special vitality and attraction. The whole province currently has nearly 1,400 ranked relics, many religious and belief works of national and international significance. In particular, the fact that Vinh Nghiem Pagoda and Bo Da Pagoda have just been recognized by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage opens up a great opportunity to promote the image of Bac Ninh globally. According to comrade Mai Son, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, this event is not only a source of pride for officials and people in the province but also an opportunity and motivation for Bac Ninh tourism to rise up in the general development trend. Bac Ninh will strengthen coordination with Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city to carry out the work of managing, protecting and promoting the value of the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son and Kiep Bac relic and scenic complex; Pay attention to investing funds in the restoration and embellishment of relics as well as continuing archaeological work to discover and supplement relics of real value in order to expand the heritage area; focus on creating unique spiritual and cultural tourism products, spreading the traditional beauty of the nation to the world.

From its rich potential, Bac Ninh aims to build heritage destinations and green experiences in its tourism development strategy for the coming period in order to connect heritage with the new era, creating a difference from other tourist centers in the country. By 2030, the whole province strives to welcome about 12-15 million visitors, including 1.5-2 million international visitors, increasing tourism revenue, making an important contribution to the local economy. Mr. Do Tuan Khoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh, said: Along with attracting tourists, the province aims to spread the image of the Kinh Bac region, rich in culture and identity to friends around the world. Special attention is paid to building cultural and spiritual tourism products, experiencing craft villages associated with Kinh Bac identity. In particular, developing tours: Journey to the Buddhist heritage; traveling along the Buddhist Dharma propagation path of the Truc Lam Buddhist Patriarchs; experiencing Quan Ho, craft villages... connecting community ecotourism. At the same time, promote investment in tourism infrastructure, upgrade the system of international-class accommodation and resort services associated with local cuisine and experience spaces.

In order to attract and conquer international tourists, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh continues to coordinate with localities to promote digital transformation in propaganda and promotion of the potential, heritage values, and traditional cultural identity. The province also strengthens international cooperation, signing tourism linkage programs with countries with a large number of tourists interested in culture and spirituality; improving the quality of human resources, training and fostering a team of high-quality tour guides and interpreters who are fluent in foreign languages. At the same time, implementing a community training program on sustainable tourism, raising awareness, consciousness and responsibility for people in protecting, promoting and spreading heritage values to tourists from all over the world.

Vi Le Thanh

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/mien-di-san-niu-chan-du-khach-muon-phuong-postid425389.bbg