Bach Dang pile yard added to dossier seeking UNESCO recognition for Yen Tu complex


The People”s Committees of the northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Hai Duong and Bac Giang have agreed to consult leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism about adding Bach Dang pile yard to the scientific dossier on the Complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes to seek UNESCO’s recognition as world culture heritage.

The Bach Dang pile yard in the Bach Dang historical relic area in Quang Ninh (Photo: the portal of Quang Ninh province)

Specifically, during the preparation of the document, the consultant selected three pile yards namely Yen Giang, Dong Van Muoi and Dong Ma Ngua in Bach Dang historical relic area (Quang Yen township, Quang Ninh province) to include in the list of 32 relic sites in the dossier.

The Complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes is comprised of four clusters of special national historical relics: the Yen Tu historical relic and landscape area (Uong Bi city of Quang Ninh), the Tran Dynasty historical relic area (Dong Trieu township of Quang Ninh), the Tay (Western) Yen Tu relic and landscape area (Bac Giang), and the Con Son – Kiep Bac complex (Hai Duong).

A large number of relics and landscapes in the complex, including historical relics, architectural – artistic relics, archaeological relics, and scenic landscapes, have been recognised to have provincial or national importance.

These sites boast harmonious combination of natural landscapes and architectural structures with special values. Besides, the complex holds great historical significance as it is the birthplace of Truc Lam – the Vietnamese Zen Buddhism founded by King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong (1258 – 1308). It was also associated with the formation and development of the Tran Dynasty (1225 – 1400).

Previously, the Prime Minister assigned the People’s Committees of the provinces and related agencies to compile a dossier seeking the UNESCO-recognised world culture heritage status for the Complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes.

The localities have drastically implemented related affairs, including establishing a Steering Committee and a Working Group for preparing the dossier. Many meetings and scientific workshops have been organised to clarify the values of global significance of this complex.

Notably, Quang Ninh province’s authorities had working sessions with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, and Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in March this year to consult and comment on the dossier.

So far, the initial nomination dossier with 17 clusters of relics and 32 relics have been basically completed. The 2,000-page document in Vietnamese and English language is also accompanied by hundreds of maps, simulation drawings, photos, clips showing historical, cultural, architectural values, intangible and tangible heritages and overall management plans of the three localities.

The People’s Committees of the three neighbouring provinces signed a commitment to work together to finalise the initial nomination dossier and submit it to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism by July 30, 2023.





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The peaceful scene of Hua mountain stork forest


About 10 kilometers away from Dam Ha town in Dam Ha district, Hua mountain (Lang Ruong hamlet, Dai Binh commune) is not merely a historical and archeological site but also a a peaceful stork forest with picturesque natural landscapes.

Herds of storks are hovering in the sky of the village, making visitors overwhelmed and fascinated.
Herds of storks are hovering in the sky of the village, making visitors overwhelmed and fascinated.

“Several small flocks of white stork have gathered in Ruong village due to its pure atmosphere since the very first households settled down in this place in 1970s . This species has long been fully protected by the local people and acted as important part of their community. At present, this area is home to thousands of storks of diverse categories”, said local people.

The habitat of these storks is divided into 3 floors. Adult storks often stand on the top floor on the peak of high trees, the middle one includes countless branches where storks build their nests, and small storks learn to eat and fly at the bottom floor covering different branches close to the ground.

Ảnh: Báo Quảng Ninh

The best time to see the vivid and beautiful scene is summer, or the breeding season of storks. The space becomes nosier, especially in early morning and late afternoon as various herds of storks are hovering in the sky of the village, making visitors overwhelmed and fascinated. 

Ảnh: Báo Quảng Ninh
The best time to see the vivid and beautiful scene is summer, or the breeding season of storks.

In addition to the stork forest, the archeological and historical site of Hua mountain is a must-visit destination that tourists should not miss. A range of ancient stone tools have been excavated and on display there. Historially, Hua mountain used to be a revolutionary base where the first Communist Party Branch of Dam Ha District was established. 

Hoàng hôn ở rừng cò núi Hứa. Ảnh: Báo Quảng Ninh
The picturesque scene of sunset.

What is more, travellers should experience a special journey of climbing 459 steps towards the flag collumn on the top of Hua mountain so that they can grasp the panoramic view of this naturally charming area.

In 2012, the historical, archaeological and scenic relic of Hua Mountain was recognized as a provincial relic.

By Hung Son – Minh Ha





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Luxembourg Prime Minister visits Ha Long Bay


Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and a high-ranking delegation of Luxembourg on May 3 had a tour of Ha Long Bay, a world natural heritage site in the northern province of Quang Ninh, on the occasion of their official visit to Vietnam.

Acting Chairman of the Quang Ninh People’s Committee Cao Tuong Huy (R) welcomes Luxembourg PM Xavier Bettel on May 3. (Photo: VNA)

Welcoming the Luxembourg delegation, Acting Chairman of the Quang Ninh People’s Committee Cao Tuong Huy expressed his province’s honour that PM Bettel chose Ha Long Bay as a destination during the official visit to Vietnam, wishing the Luxembourg delegation a good time on the bay.

PM Bettel appreciated the provincial leaders” warm welcome and noted that he was delighted to come here for the first time to enjoy the beauty of Ha Long Bay and feel the hospitality of local people.

The Luxembourg PM is paying an official visit to Vietnam from May 3-5 at the invitation of PM Pham Minh Chinh.

On May 4, PM Bettel is scheduled to attend an official welcome ceremony and hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh. The two PMs will witness the signing of some cooperation agreements between their countries’ ministries and sectors and meet with the press to inform about their talks’ outcomes.

Prior to the welcome ceremony, the Luxembourg leader will pay respect to late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and visit the monument to Vietnamese heroes and martyrs and the memorial site dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi.

He and PM Chinh will also visit the Temple of Literature and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

In addition, PM Bettel will meet with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and take part in some activities in Ho Chi Minh City, including a Vietnam – Luxembourg business forum and a meeting with the city’s leaders.

Vietnam and Luxembourg set up diplomatic ties on November 15, 1973. As of March 2023, Luxembourg had invested 2.6 billion USD in 64 projects in Vietnam, ranking third among 24 EU members and 17th among 139 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian nation.

In 2022, bilateral trade stood at 187.1 million USD, rising 69% year on year. The figure included 130.14 million USD worth of Vietnam’s exports and 56.96 million USD worth of imports from Luxembourg.





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Tran Quoc Nghien Temple Festival kick-starts in Ha Long city


The Tran Quoc Nghien Temple (Duc Ong Temple) Festival opened on April 30 at the Tran Quoc Nghien Temple in Ha Long city.

Lãnh đạo thành phố Hạ Long đánh trống khai hội.
Ha Long authorities beat a drum to open the festival.

Situated in an elevation at the foot of Bai Tho Mount, the Temple is dedicated to Tran Quoc Nghien, one of Tran Hung Dao”s sons and a brave, talented general in the resistance against the Yuan-Mongol invaders.

Tran Quoc Nghien was also famous for his filial piety, and faithfulness. In memory of his great contributions to the locality, the boat owners who often pass by Bai Tho Mount together set up a temple dedicated to him.

Hoạt cảnh
A drama features the life of General Tran Quoc Nghien.

The temple has a three-compartment Ceremonial Hall, and a Back Sanctuary. The Holy Mother Temple lies to the right of the main temple. Inside the main temple, the middle altar is dedicated to Tran Quoc Nghien. The other two altars on the right and left sides are dedicated to the First Lady and Second Lady respectively. The Temple has a set of eight ornamental weapons, and various worshipping objects. It has undergone many restorations.

The festival opened with a palanquin procession pass by Le Thanh Tong Road to Long Tien pagoda and then back to the Duc Ong Temple.

Locals and tourists also attended the temple to do incense offerings to show gratitude to Tran Quoc Nghien for his great merit.

Đoàn rước Đức Ông vi hành xuất phát từ Đền Đức Ông ra đường Lê Thánh Tông, đến Chùa Long Tiên rồi trở lại Đền Đức Ông.
The procession ritual
Đông đảo nhân dân tham gia lễ rước Đức Ông vi hành.
Various people joined the procession.

A series of cultural activities were held during the festival to commemorate the national hero, educate patriotism for the people and promote the local tourism.

The annual festival solemnly organized within the Ha Long Quang Ninh Tourism Week also aims to contribute to public awareness-raising of the preservation and promotion of the cultural and historic value of the national historic site complex of Bai Tho Mountain, Long Tien pagoda and Duc Ong Temple.

The festival is famous for its scarceness and attracts lots of tourists every year.

By Pham Hoc





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Primitive beauty of Vung Tien beach


Vung Tien beach is among the last remaining beautiful and untouched places in Co To island, or the “island paradise” in northern Vietnam.

The beach possesses an extraordinary beauty with white smooth sand, transparent blue sea and green mountains and forest. 

Stretching roughly 400 metres, the beach of Vung Tien loacated in Hong Hai hamlet in Dong Tien commune possesses an extraordinary beauty with white smooth sand, transparent blue sea and green mountains and forest. 

Apart from seeing picturesque landscapes, enjoying roasted seafood prepared by indigenous people on the beach can be seen as a notable experience that every visitor should gain.

From above, Vung Tien beach looks like a yellow crescent moon, striking between the clear blue water and the green of the forest. Standing at Phung Tien beach, visitors can see the islands of Thanh Lan and Chim Se.

Particulary, tourists have a chance to visit a spectacular sandbar floating on the sea which is considered “the road between the sea” and not far away from Vung Tien beach. Going past the beach, in a windy area around Truong Xuan Lake where boats often get in and avoid storms lies a sandy beach rising out of the sea at low tide. However, it is essential for travellers to ask locals for tie times before joining the journey.

Consisting of around 50 islands, Co To is an archipelago in the east of the Quang Ninh province. Currently around 6000 people live there in roughly 1500 households. Its rustic beauty has currently attracted small groups of tourists who are seeking adventure and do not care about hotels and organised tours. All the islands here feature unmatched natural beauty that is undamaged by human intervention and far from the noises and dusts of the urbanisation. 

Being only 6 miles (9 kilometers) away from Halong Bay, Co To is great to visit in combination with a Halong Bay trip. Visitors to the islands become absorbed by the fantastic,  unspoilt beaches; the smooth white sand of the beaches under the shining sunlight create a peaceful, romantic setting for visitors. They can take a walk on the romantic beaches, bath in the blue water, go fishing and see coral reefs from aboard a ship. The island is also where you can hike, bike and scuba dive in the deep blue waters.

By Ha Phong





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Hạ Long Carnival 2023 to dazzle with fireworks and parade


Themed “Ha Long Dance – Harmony of Five Continents”, Ha Long Carnival 2023 will open with a low-altitude fireworks display at 8pm on Vo Nguyen Giap street on May 1, according to the People’s Committee of Ha Long city.

Ha Long Carnival is a story structured by historical, artistic, legendary, open and natural elements

The festival is joined by nearly 2,000 actors, actresses, dancers, singers, musicians and other amateur performers. Each year, Halong Carnival has a different theme which honors traditional & natural values of Halong Bay as well as the achievements of tourism in Halong.

This year’s carnival will be a story structured by historical, artistic, legendary, open and natural elements, reflecting that Ha Long is a place where the best things converge, deserving to be the top destination in Asia.

Joining the festival, tourists will have chance to dip in magical music background of a great musical party.

The highlight of Halong Carnival is joyous street parades with variety of colorful costumes and dance on wide streets along the coast.

Moreover, a laser, sound and water performance combining with a sparkling aerial firework show is an amazing party of light and color which tourists shouldn’t miss at the festival. This high-tech lighting show will give tourists an impressive image of sparkling Halong by night.

Halong Carnival is the heart of the series of events within the schedule of Halong Tourism Week which will be featured with various cultural activities such as Tran Quoc Nghien temple festival, Halong Bay Photo Exhibition, Halong bay Cuisine Festival, a kite-flying festival as well as diverse sport activities.

By Duy Khoa





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Quang Ninh welcomes nearly 6 million tourist arrivals in 4 months


Quang Ninh province welcomed about 1.1 million tourist arrivals in April, increasing the total number of tourists vising the province in the first four months of 2023 to 6 million.

Quang Ninh province welcomed about 6 million tourist arrivals in 4 months.
Quang Ninh province welcomed about 6 million tourist arrivals in 4 months.

The quantity of visitors to Quang Ninh has recently grown in recent weeks. It is anticipated that Quang Ninh will welcome about 430,000 tourist arrivals during the 5-day holiday from April 29 to May 3, 2023. The total tourism revenue is estimated at VND 939 billion. 

Quang Ninh has long been known as one of the top tourism centres in Viet Nam with numerous attractive destinations and diverse tourism products thanks to the province’s efforts to boost tourism’ growth. 

This year, the province aims for 15 million visitors, including 2 million foreigners, and a tourism revenue of 32.4 trillion VND (1.36 billion USD). 

To realize the target, the authority of Quang Ninh province has taken a range of measures to boost the city’s tourism market, with a focus on projects for restoring Quang Ninh’s tourism industry by 2025, sustainable community tourism development and a master plan for marine tourism management in Ha Long Bay, Van Don and Co To. 

The province has sought to improve tourism marketing and develop more tourism products, especially those associated with the heritage and natural wonders of Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and other destinations in the province. 

The Quang Ninh People’s Committee has directed localities to focus on attracting potential investors to develop tourism products, high-class resorts, cuisine areas and food courts.

By Hoang Quynh





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Various tours and activities to attract tourists during upcoming holiday


Cities and provinces nationwide are offering various tours and activities to attract visitors during the upcoming five-day holiday, on the occasion of the Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30) and International May Day (May 1).

Ha Long Bay is an ideal destination for the holiday.

In 2023, the ceremony to commemorate the death anniversary of Hung Kings is close to the holidays of National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1), so employees are entitled to five consecutive days off.

On this occasion, to attract tourists and revive the tourism industry, provinces and cities all promote tourism, organise many programs, and create attractive destinations.

Diversify new tourism products

Apart from night tours of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hoa Lo prison relic site, Literature Museum and night pedestrian streets in the capital city of Hanoi, many new tours have been introduced such as cultural and spiritual tourism, combined with health care in outlying Soc Son district, Bac Co – rice flower season at the National History Museum, returning to the ancient Vietnamese capital at the Co Loa citadel relic, and a heritage journey at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Bat Trang pottery village.

In the northern port city of Hai Phong, food tours have become a booming trend on social media, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists, especially young people.

Dragon Hill International Tourist Area (Do Son).

Visitors to the city could join the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival 2023 themed “Hai Phong – Shining at the estuary of the sea” from May 12-14. For the first time, the Vietnam Sea and Island Folklore Festival will be held from April 28-29, with a series of scientific, sports, and cultural events.

This year, the northern province of Quang Ninh plans to launch 38 new tourism products, including the “Night Cruise Street”, sailing and music on Ha Long Bay, or walking along the night and pedestrian street, around the Long Tien Pagoda area in Ha Long City.

Bai Tho Mountain is also reopened for tourists to experience mountain climbing, discover cultural and historical values, and check in to admire the unique beauty of Ha Long Bay and Ha Long City from above. The Ha Long Carnival Festival 2023 will get underway with many new features, promising to be a lively and colourful destination.

Localities in Quang Ninh are also launching new unique products, such as the Van Don Orange Week and two pedestrian roads in Minh Chau and Quan Lan districts, camping on Ba Chau beach, Thanh Lan island, and tours of islands near the coast in Co To island district, with first-time snorkelling opportunities to see coral reefs in Thanh Lan island commune.

Many unique experiences

The Da Nang beach tourism season 2023 will take place in the central city of Da Nang from April 28 – May 3, with various music performances, kite flying, food tasting and sports festivals.

Similar events are also scheduled in Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Lam Dong, Quang Tri, and Can Tho.

The Hung Kings Temple Festival, part of the Ancestral Land Culture and Tourism Week, will be held from April 20-29, in districts and townships of northern Phu Tho province, offering tourists an opportunity to experience the rituals of worshipping the legendary founders of the nation and explore unique tourism products associated with the culture of the ancestral land.

On the occasion, the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage week, an international conference on tourism, culture, heritage and sustainable development of Vietnam, the Northwest Tourism Fair 2023, and the ancestral land culinary culture festival is also planned.





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Bach Dang traditional festival kicked off


The traditional festival of Bach Dang opened on April 25 at Tran Hung Dao temple – Vua Ba shrine in Quang Yen town mark the 1085th (938-2023), 1042th (981-2023) and 735th (1288-2023) anniversaries of the Bach Dang Victories.

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Art performances featured local cultural values at the opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony comprised excellent art performances and a latern releasing ritual.

Important rituals such as incense offerings and the procession of the Tran Hung Dao statue were organized this morning, April 26.

During the four-day event, local people and visitors have been experiencing interesting activities such as a calligraphy exhibition, an OCOP trade fair, folk music performances, folk games, etc.

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A play illustrated the victory of Bach Dang against the Mongols in 1288.

Located in the marshy zone of Yen Giang Commune, Quang Yen Town, Quang Ninh Province, Bach Dang heritage site was officially recognized as one of Vietnam’s historic vestiges on March 22, 1988; the 700th anniversary of a great victory at Bach Dang against Mongol invaders.

The well-known battle on the Bach Dang River in 1288 under the leadership of General Tran Hung Dao was a glorious victory, which marked in the Vietnamese history against the invaders. It was an evidence of the glorious feat of arms and force of 7,000,000kg rice food led by Truong Van who went to Thang Long by road and water way.

People and tourists released floating lanterns at the ancient wharf on the relic site.
Bach Dang traditional festival will last unitl April 28.

The ruling Tran Court organized a plan of strategic withdrawal, and established guerrilla warfare to wear down their enemy. The invading forces dwindled, tried by both the climate and the constant attacks and were forced to withdraw. Tran Hung Dao had his men plant steel-tipped wooden stakes in the bed of the Bach Dang River to create a line of defense blocking the Mongol retreat.

Bach Dang historical site was recognized as a Special National Relic in 2013. Quang Ninh province has taken effective measures to continue raising the value of this historical site since a planning scheme on expanding and developing the Bach Dang heritage site was also approved by the Government.

By Ta Quan





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