Cultural, historic relics as root for Quang Tri tourism

The heroic province of Quang Tri is home to many historical and cultural sites, which are invaluable resources for proper tourism development.

According to Le Minh Tuan, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, national peace and reunification, many brave patriots sacrificed their lives on this heroic land for national peace, independence, and reunification.

Visitors walk on Hien Luong Bridge that crosses Ben Hai River, a historic place in Quang Tri Province. Photo: Tu Linh

Now, there are 72 martyr cemeteries in the province, containing over 55,300 graves. Additionally, there are graves where the remains of Vietnamese soldiers have become part of the land and rivers.

The history has left the central coastal province with more than 500 recognized relics. Many of them are popular among domestic and international travelers, such as the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, the Hien Luong-Ben Hai special national relic, Vinh Moc tunnels, Route 9, Khe Sanh, and Ta Con Airport.

At the Hien Luong - Ben Hai special national relic, Nguyen Thi Trang Thu came all the way from Hanoi to visit the province.

“I’ve been traveling around, but none evokes the emotions I feel learning about Quang Tri’s peace story,” she said, expressing her amazement at Hien Luong Bridge crossing the historic Ben Hai River.

This year, Thu went to attend the 2024 Peace Festival. A feeling of profound respect emerged when she crossed the historic bridge.

Le Thi To Hoai, Director of the Hien Luong - Ben Hai Relic Management Board, reported a high influx of visitors.

"The stories of the bridge and the river, along with the Peace Festival, stir visitors' utmost admiration for the resilience that the people of Quang Tri and Vietnam had to pay for independence and peace."

The Hien Luong – Ben Hai relic, alongside others such as the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, Ta Con Airport, and Vinh Moc tunnels, not only serve educational purposes but also create unique tourist attractions.

Acknowledging the significantly important role of these sites, the government of Quang Tri Province always prioritizes turning those places into unique tourism products, and enabling tourists to experience the historical and cultural values in the province.

In its first edition, the 2024 Peace Festival, themed “Together for a Peaceful World”, is a national and international event that promotes Quang Tri’s image to the world and raises the status of the memorial ceremony to honor invalids and martyrs who have sacrificed for the nation.

The festival also aims to lift the status of Quang Tri Province on the tourism map and attract more visitors in all categories.

The festival has significantly boosted tourism. In the first half of July 2024, over 712,000 visitors came to QuảngTrị, double last year’s figure. Of the total, more than 273,000 visitors stayed overnight, generating an estimated revenue of VND577 billion (nearly US$23 million). The Peace Festival’s opening night drew over 45,000 attendees, and the “Taste of Sunny Flowers” food festival saw over 32,000 visitors.

In the first half of 2024, Quang Tri welcomed more than 1.4 million visitors, a 20% increase from the previous year. It comprised more than 110,000 international tourists.

The province is estimated to earn more than VND1 trillion ($39.6 million) in revenue during H1/2024, with income from the tourism sector reaching VND471 billion ($18.7 million).

Nguyen Duc Tan, Director of the Provincial Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Center, highlighted ongoing efforts to leverage these sites for economic growth and social stability.

He said the provincial People’s Council issued a solution in early December 2021 for preserving and enhancing historical and cultural sites in 2022-2025.

He said that more innovative and unique tourism products are needed for these sites' potential.

Effective policies and a capable tourism workforce are essential for collaborating with other provinces and maximizing existing values, Tan added.

Tu Linh - Huy Anh