Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa to offer joint tourism programme

Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa local authorities have been working on a joint tourism programme to lure more visitors as they both have possessed great natural and historical values, the Nhan Dan (People) online newspaper reported.

Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa to offer joint tourism programme

Trang An landscape complex in northern Ninh Binh province has recently been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage, while Thanh Hoa province is also planning to host for National Tourism Year 2015.

Both these provinces have been endowed with the world heritages, including Ho Dynasty Citadel in Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province and the Trang An landscape complex in Ninh Binh province, which have brought these provinces great competitive advantage.

Ninh Binh is home to a number of ancient worship places including the century-old Phat Diem stone cathedral and the newly constructed 700-hectare Bai Dinh pagoda – the largest Buddhist cultural and spiritual centre in Vietnam. Constructed hundreds of years ago, a number of these religious sites have been recognised as special national historical sites, such as the temples commemorating King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh and the ancient Bai Dinh pagoda.

In addition to religious sites, Ninh Binh also abounds with spectacular landscapes, such as the Van Long tourist site, the Trang An cave system, the Tam Coc – Bich Dong river cave and the Kenh Ga hot mineral spring. Therefore, visitors to Ninh Binh can engage in two types of tourism – spiritual tourism and landscape tours.

Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa is renowned for its Dong Son culture, with a series of archaeological relics and historical monuments such as Nui Do (Do Mountain), Cong Moong Cave , Ho Dynasty Citadel and Lam Kinh historical site. Another advantage of Thanh Hoa is a 100km coastal line with beautiful beaches, and some ecological tourism areas such as Ben En, Pu Hu, Pu Luong and Tam Quy national parks.

With these advantages, the cooperation between Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa will help promoting tourism services at these two neighbouring provinces. However, the coordination requires strategic vision to ensure sustainability and efficiency in tourism development, with concrete plans such as building tourism products or heritage site tours.

According to many tourism professionals at a recent seminar on tourism cooperation between Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa, upgrading road infrastructure is one of important factors in developing tourism links between two provinces in particular and with other provinces in general.

Highway 45 connecting the Trang An Complex and Lam Kinh historical site, Ho Dynasty Citadel and Sam Son sea tourism area should be upgraded quickly to prepare for the 2015 National Tourism Year. Besides, other tourism services such as hotels, restaurants, and tour guides need to be improved to meet visitors’ demand.

Additionally, the tourism should be developed with environmental protection and the preservation of cultural and historical heritage. State management of tourism must also be strengthened, tourism marketing enhanced and hospitality sector professionalism increased.

Effective co-operation will create strong success in reaching the targets of Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces’ tourism sector in 2015./.
Source: VNA