City of heritage

World cultural and natural heritage - Trang An scenic complex is built into the center of the Millennium Heritage City. Photo: Truong Huy

Building heritage brand value

In 2014, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (Ninh Binh) was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage and this is the first "dual" heritage in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, creating new opportunities and motivation for Ninh Binh to implement a development model that harmoniously combines heritage restoration and conservation with green growth, integrating into the network of heritage cities.

With unique cultural values, building an urban model based on preserving and promoting heritage values ​​is considered the right strategy for Ninh Binh to develop sustainably, enhance its position and affirm its own identity.

Recognizing the unique potential strengths of the locality, Ninh Binh province has a strategic orientation, long-term vision and future aspirations. That is to turn heritage into assets, resources and motivation for development in the new context.

Mr. Pham Quang Ngoc - Chairman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee - said that Ninh Binh has been determined to realize its development aspirations by effectively solving the problems such as: Innovating the way of thinking about preserving and developing local heritage; preserving and promoting heritage so that heritage values ​​truly live in the material and spiritual lives of the people and become a resource and driving force for local socio-economic development, bringing a better life to people in the heritage area.

"With the goal of building Ninh Binh into a "National Tourism Center of Global Value", Ninh Binh province focuses on building and developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector, with its own brand and image associated with the potential and value of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Trang An World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This is a big challenge, requiring high responsibility from the Party Committee, government, businesses and the community of residents in Ninh Binh" - Mr. Ngoc shared.

At the 10th Anniversary Ceremony of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage (2014 - 2024), taking place in April 2024, the Government leader emphasized that after 10 years of being recognized, Trang An has become a symbol of Vietnam's responsible commitment to implementing the UNESCO Convention on the protection of world cultural and natural heritage. At the same time, he requested that Ninh Binh province and all levels and sectors proactively and actively integrate into international cooperation in preserving, maintaining and promoting the value of global heritage, especially for UNESCO, strongly promoting the value of the cultural image, people and nature of Ninh Binh to domestic and international friends, and our overseas Vietnamese.

Towards a world-class millennium heritage city

After the Prime Minister approved the Ninh Binh Urban Master Plan for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 in Decision No. 218/QD-TTg, dated March 4, 2024, Ninh Binh province has had solutions to develop the urban area in parallel with the sustainable preservation of heritage values. In particular, the goal by 2035 is to turn Ninh Binh into a centrally-run city with the characteristics of a millennium heritage urban area, a creative city; a large center with high brand value in tourism, cultural industry, and heritage economy of the whole country and the Asia-Pacific region; a leading center in the country for modern transport mechanical industry; an innovative startup center of the southern provinces of the Red River Delta.

Building the Millennium Heritage Urban brand as a symbol of future development, aiming at quality and aesthetic criteria, as well as affirming the position of Trang An Cultural and Natural Heritage, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital in the future.

The ancient capital Hoa Lu is known as the “Stone Capital”, quiet and majestic. Photo: Truong Huy

At the conference announcing the Ninh Binh Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 (taking place on May 28, 2024), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh believed that, with the achievements gained in recent years and especially in the coming years with the orientation of the planning, together with the joint efforts, consensus, great efforts, high determination of the entire political system, the support and close coordination of ministries, branches and localities, the support of people, businesses and the help of international friends, Ninh Binh province will continue to promote its strength, rise strongly, develop rapidly and sustainably, becoming a growth pole of the southern provinces of the Red River Delta. At the same time, aiming to become a centrally-run city, civilized, modern, smart and with its own identity, on par with a heritage city, a creative city in the world.