Connecting cultural – historical – spiritual tourism

Following the administrative merger, Tuyen Quang has gained major opportunities to harness cultural, historical, and spiritual values tied to tourism. This approach not only preserves ethnic identity but also unlocks potential for socio-economic growth and traditional education.

The sacred Lung Cu National Flagpole at the northernmost point of the country.

The province currently has 719 historical-cultural relics and scenic sites, including 213 at the national level and 289 at the provincial level. Three sites are recognized as Special National Relics: Tan Trao, Kim Binh, and Na Hang – Lam Binh. In 2024, the Tan Trao Special National Relic welcomed over 950,000 visitors, creating jobs and sustainable livelihoods.

According to Do Trung Kien, Head of the Provincial Tourism Management Board, heritage tourism plays a strategic role in promoting awareness and preservation. Key destinations such as the Vi Xuyen National Martyrs’ Cemetery, Lung Cu Flagpole, and the Vuong Family Mansion have become crucial “links” in the heritage tourism chain.

Tuyen Quang also promotes heritage alongside spiritual spaces and ethnic traditions. Many festivals have been revived, including Thanh Tuyen Festival, Long Tong Festival of the Tay, Fire Dance of the Pa Then, Gau Tao of the H’mong, and the Ancestor Worship Festival of the Lo Lo. Ancient temples, pagodas, and shrines, along with intangible cultural heritage such as folk songs and dances, have been integrated into tourism products.

Thanh Tuyen Festival affirms the province’s unique cultural tourism product attracting visitors.

Professor Le Hong Ly, Chairman of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, emphasized that ethnic communities in Tuyen Quang continue to preserve a rich cultural treasury, from language and costumes to performing arts. Promoting these values not only encourages community preservation but also affirms Tuyen Quang as a distinctive cultural and spiritual destination.

Between 2025 and 2030, the province aims to make tourism a key economic sector, with Tan Trao striving to meet the criteria of a National Tourism Site. Thanh Tuyen Festival and the Buckwheat Flower Festival aim for international recognition, while the UNESCO Global Geopark title of Dong Van Karst Plateau will continue to be promoted.

With the orientation “using culture to develop tourism, and tourism to preserve culture,” Tuyen Quang’s tourism image has gained international recognition, named by CNN among the world’s Top 10 most attractive destinations, and honored as Asia’s Leading Emerging Destination in 2023 and Asia’s Leading Cultural Destination in 2024.

Hoang Ha