Hanoi urged to find solutions for Son Tay tourism to take off

 Hanoi authorities have called on relevant organizations to find solutions to develop tourism in Son Tay by capitalizing on its cultural and human resources as well as its historical and revolutionary landmarks.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung led a delegation to visit the Temple of Phung Hung, Son Tay Town. Photos: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

Dinh Tien Dung, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, made the statement at a meeting with Son Tay City leaders earlier this week after conducting a field trip to the town's relics, monuments and cultural works.

The delegation toured Phung Hung (or Bo Cai Dai Vuong) Temple, King Ngo Quyen Temple and Tomb, a number of ponds in Cam Lam hamlet, Mong Phu Community House and some old houses in Duong Lam Commune, and Va Temple in Trung Hung Ward.

According to Dung, Son Tay has great potential for investment, construction and upgrading of historical relics to improve community-based tourism and promote the cultural industry, in line with the guidelines outlined in the Politburo's Resolution No.15 on Promoting Hanoi's Development to 2030, with Vision to 2045.

After the trip, Dinh Tien Dung emphasized the need of having a comprehensive and long-term approach for this region to attract more domestic and foreign tourists and make tourism a key to Son Tay's sustainable development.

The Hanoi Party Committee’s delegation visited Duong Lam Ancient Village.

Nguyen Van Phong, deputy secretary of the city's Party Committee, said Son Tay City has made significant progress and transformed itself by hosting events that highlight the value of its own traditional cultural and historical relics. As a result, the city's economic structure has changed dramatically, with trade, services and tourism accounting for 50% of total revenue in the first four months of this year.

The leaders of Son Tay Town reported that in 2014, the municipal People's Committee approved the plan to preserve and promote the traditional values of Duong Lam Ancient Village. Since then, about 13 projects with a total investment of VND178 billion (US$7.6 million) have been completed, but five other works are behind schedule.

They called for speeding up the planning of the ST4 urban subdivision, which will guide Son Tay City to adjust planning to preserve and promote the traditional values of Duong Lam Ancient Village. They also urged the city to support funding and allow the implementation of detailed planning on the construction, preservation, and promotion of the value of some relics related to the development of services and tourism in the city.

Nguyen Van Phong said that the city would soon approve the planning of historical relics systems, including Duong Lam Ancient Village, and make policies to combine conservation and development, especially to preserve the traditional values of Duong Lam area.

The Hanoi Party Committee’s delegation visits a communal house in Duong Lam Ancient Village.

Son Tay City has 244 relics, including 16 at the national level and 58 at the provincial/city level, as well as six important revolutionary relics and those of President Ho Chi Minh.

Intangible cultural heritage includes 65 festivals, six trades, five social traditions and two performances, one national intangible cultural heritage and eight heritages of priority conservation.

The local authorities are continuing to develop tourism related to the conservation of the value of cultural heritages, especially the innovation of products and tourist destinations. Activities to promote tourism and stimulate travel demand are another focus of Son Tay City, including hosting numerous events for the annual Son Tay-Xu Doai (Doan Land) Tourism Year and the pedestrian zone around the ancient Son Tay Citadel.