Since the Ho Dynasty Citadel (Vinh Loc) was honored by UNESCO and officially inscribed into the World Heritage list (June 27, 2011), this destination has become increasingly well-known to domestic and international tourists. Since then, life in the residential areas of the Western region has become more vibrant, and the once peaceful countryside seems to have been infused with renewed energy.
Youth union members from Vinh Tien commune, Vinh Long province, regularly organize environmental cleanup activities within the Ho Dynasty Citadel heritage site.
Ancient citadel - A new life
Ho Dynasty Citadel (also known as Tay Do Citadel, Tay Giai Citadel, or An Ton Citadel) is located in the communes of Vinh Long and Vinh Tien. One of the distinctive features that contributes to affirming the value of the Ho Dynasty Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage site is its close connection with the life of the community in the Tay Do region. To this day, the two communes of Vinh Tien and Vinh Long are exemplary localities in Vinh Loc district in building cultural life.
Under the scorching June sun, the familiar road leading to the South Gate of Ho Dynasty Citadel took us to Vinh Tien commune. Here, the villages of Tay Giai and Xuan Giai (where households are located in Zone 1 – the strictly protected area of the Ho Dynasty Citadel heritage site) are rural areas steeped in unique historical and cultural values. The impression upon visiting these residential areas is one of tranquility, with lush green spaces and a clean, beautiful environment. According to the Vinh Tien Commune People's Committee, all six villages have achieved the title of "Cultural Residential Area"; over 70% of the residents regularly participate in cultural, artistic, and sports activities. To date, the majority of local people are engaged in agricultural production, with only a small portion involved in tourism services. However, everyone is very conscious of working together to protect the heritage, and environmental sanitation in the inner city and surrounding residential areas is carried out regularly.
According to Vu Van Tuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Tien Commune: “Recently, the Ho Dynasty Citadel heritage site has increasingly attracted tourists, therefore, the people are paying special attention to jointly protecting the heritage site and the surrounding environment. Currently, some families are participating in the business of OCOP products and some local specialties in the area, showcasing and introducing tourism products. Each product introduced to tourists is a source of pride for our homeland and heritage. Through tourism activities, positive changes have been created in the awareness and consciousness of preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of the local people. In particular, the implementation of civilized tourism behavior has made an important contribution to building cultural life in residential areas.”
There are still concerns...
Over the past period, alongside the management, research, excavation, and preservation of the Ho Dynasty Citadel heritage site, the promotion of its value to domestic and international friends has been effectively implemented by Thanh Hoa province and relevant agencies. Each year, the heritage site attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. In the first six months of 2024, it welcomed and served over 132,000 visitors, reaching 82.7% of the annual plan. Notably, the tourism market is becoming increasingly rich and diverse, attracting not only local visitors and researchers, but also a large number of domestic and international tourists to the Ho Dynasty Citadel.
It can be said that tourism development in recent years has met and exceeded the set targets. However, the difficulties in the lives of people in the core area are becoming increasingly apparent. With over 300 households in Dong Mon village (Vinh Long commune), Tay Giai and Xuan Giai villages (Vinh Tien commune) living in the core area (Zone 1), generations have built their lives, but regulations related to building and repairing houses have put them in a difficult position. The head of Tay Giai village, Truong Trong Huy, confided: "In recent years, the number of visitors to Ho Citadel has increased significantly, and the local people are very happy. As a result, people are very conscious of protecting the heritage and actively participate in environmental sanitation activities. However, Tay Giai village currently has 131 households living in Zone 1, with strict protection regulations, so new house construction is not allowed, and repairs and renovations require approval from the local government and the Ho Citadel Heritage Conservation Center." To date, many houses have deteriorated and fallen into disrepair, leaving residents in a dilemma of "it's difficult to leave, but impossible to stay"...
Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Director of the Ho Citadel Heritage Conservation Center, added: “The people of Vinh Long and Vinh Tien communes, especially the more than 300 households living in Zone 1, understand that the heritage left by their ancestors is their own resource. Therefore, although the regulations on the management, use, and repair of houses in Zone 1 are very strict, the people have complied well in the past, working together to preserve and promote the value of the heritage. However, as life develops, ensuring both heritage management and meeting the living needs of the people is a huge pressure for both the management agency and the more than 300 households here.”
The ancient citadel is a "living" monument, and fulfilling commitments to UNESCO in preserving its value is certainly crucial. However, the lives of the local people are a continuous process of development, not achieved through compromise or sacrifice. Therefore, along with implementing regulations on preserving and promoting heritage values, appropriate solutions and directions are needed to ensure that the landscape, architecture, and community life become increasingly beautiful, and that the Ho Dynasty Citadel truly becomes an international cultural tourism destination.
Text and photos: Hoai Anh
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/song-trong-long-di-san-noi-mien-dat-tay-do-218152.htm
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