Visitors to Ma Village community-based tourism site in Thuong Xuan District, Thanh Hoa Province.

The destinations, such as Lam Kinh, Ho Dynasty Citadel and Pu Luong from Thanh Hoa, Kim Lien village, Con Temple and Pu Mat from Nghe An and Dong Loc T-junction and Huong Pagoda in Ha Tinh, are familiar but still chosen by both locals and visitors for pilgrimages and spring trips, to pay gratitude to the ancestors and pray for national peace and prosperity.

Joining spring festivals

Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vuong Thi Hai Yen said, since the beginning of 2023, festivals, spiritual and community tourism activities and diverse ecosystems, in the upland area of Thanh Hoa Province, have attracted many tourists. In January alone, the province welcomed 497,000 visitors, up 130.7%, and earned a total tourism revenue of 512 billion VND, a year-on-year increase of 169.3%.

Lam Kinh Special National Historic Site, the hometown of national hero Le Loi, is one of the destinations that attract a large number of tourists. According to statistics, since the beginning of 2023, about 80,000 travellers have visited the relic, double the same period in 2022. Especially, the management board has invested in and put into operation, an automatic interpretation system at 18 sites, as well as updated information and images related to the heritage via the MobiFone Smart Travel app, opened the main door of Lam Kinh Palace and created an ancient Tet space under the banyan tree to serve tourists.

From Nghe An Province to Lam Kinh Special National Historic Site, Principal of Thanh Chuong 3 High School Le Van Quyen said: “Stemming from the demand of students, the school has organised extra-curricular activities, creating opportunities for students to learn about historical, cultural, architectural, and artistic values of Lam Kinh heritage.

Although Huong Tich Pagoda Festival in Ha Tinh Province opened on January 29, since the early days of the new year, thousands of visitors, monks and Buddhists flocked to the pagoda. According to Nguyen Van Canh from Bien Hoa City, in the southern province of Dong Nai, visiting Huong Pagoda, he can not only immerse himself in the spiritual and cultural space but also enjoy the charming scenery with good service quality.

Head of the Management Board of Huong Tich Pagoda Tourist Area Vo Thanh Chung said: “Since the beginning of the year, more than 70,000 visitors have come to Huong Tich Pagoda, a sharp increase compared to previous years. Thanks to the adequate preparation of facilities, the services, security work and reception have been always thoughtfully performed”.

On the occasion of the 2023 Lunar New Year holiday, many tourist attractions in Nghe An Province have attracted a large number of visitors. Do Quang Hai (53) from Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, said in the early spring, the family often goes to the relic sites in Nghe An and Ha Tinh Provinces, including President Ho Chi Minh’s hometown, Emperor Quang Trung Temple and Dai Tue pagoda, to pray for peace, health and prosperity.

Director of Kim Lien Special National Historic Site Nguyen Bao Tuan said, since the beginning of January, the relic site has welcomed nearly 7,000 delegations with nearly 85,000 domestic and international tourists, including many high-ranking delegations from the central agencies.

Students learn about the historical and cultural values of Lam Kinh Relic Site.

Towards four-season travel

According to Deputy Director of Nghe An Provincial Department of Tourism Nguyen Manh Loi, in addition to the areas and attractions that have attracted visitors all year round, such as Kim Lien and Truong Bon National Monuments, Emperor Quang Trung Temple and Ong Hoang Muoi (The Tenth Prince) Temple, the department launched the caravan tour to discover the western route of Nghe An Province. Accordingly, visitors were brought to Nghe An during all seasons of the year. For example, travellers can conquer PuXaiLaiLeng peak to hunt clouds and admire the beautiful scenery of peach and plum gardens in Muong Long Commune during the spring. Besides, autumn and winter tourism products have been invested in and expanded, such as Nam Anh Persimmon Garden in Nam Dan District, on Mat tourist area, the sunflower field, Phu Quy flower valley and Truong Gia Trang flower hill in Nghia Dan District. In addition, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) tourism form is one of the products that have been interesting in large hotels and convention centres throughout the province. In particular, Cua Lo Coastal Town and Vinh City are ideal places for MICE tourism activities.

According to the Deputy Director of Ha Tinh Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Tran Sang, Ha Tinh possesses many fine sand beaches, clear blue water and a gentle sea. Especially, the province has a favourable transport infrastructure that easily connects beaches with relics and landscapes in other areas such as Ke Go Lake, the monument dedicated to late Party General Secretary Ha Huy Tap (in Cam Xuyen District), Dong Loc T-junction, Huong Tich Pagoda (in Can Loc District), the monument dedicated to late Party General Secretary Tran Phu (in Duc Tho District), Hai Thuong ecological zone, Son Kim hot mineral spring (in Huong Son District) and the relic site dedicated to great poet Nguyen Du (in Nghi Xuan District).

Realising that great potential, over the past years, the province has paid great attention to the investment in building infrastructure for coastal localities, especially in terms of technical infrastructure, towards gradually connecting sea tourism with tourist centres of the province, region and provinces of Laos and northeastern Thailand.

Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vuong Thi Hai Yen said, tourism development is one of six key programmes that the provincial Party Committee has paid great attention to, aiming to effectively exploit historical and heritage resources, scenic spots and tourism advantages in geographical regions.

In addition to the organisation of a variety of events, support for art troupes to perform at tourist attractions and effective promotion of investment projects, that have been put into operation, the authorities at all levels have overcome difficulties and obstacles and accompanied enterprises to speed up the implementation of key tourism development projects. Thanh Hoa aims to build more golf tourism products, MICE activities, healthcare tourism and adventure tourism, to prolong the stay of tourists, especially international arrivals.

Mai Luan, Thanh Chau, Ngo Tuan - Translated by NDO