MANH QUANG
Establishing heritage areas, turning cultural and heritage values into driving forces for economic development. Photo: Historical scientists across whole country visited Dam Thuong pile yard, vestige of Bach Dang Giang victory (photo taken before April 27, 2021).
(HPDT)- Quang Ninh Province People's Committee has just assigned Quang Ninh Department of Culture and Sports to take the charge and cooperate with Hai Phong Department of Culture and Sports to invite Hai Duong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to jointly study and propose Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for submitting proposal document to Prime Minister for developing dossier of cultural and historical heritage of Bach Dang victory (Quang Ninh - Hai Phong - Hai Duong); study criteria, set up nomination file to be summitted to UNESCO for recognition as the world heritage.
Affirming historical - cultural value of the entire heritage area
According to Dr. Doan Truong Son, a historian and also the Chairman of Hai Phong Historical Science Association,Bach Dang battle under the Tran Dynasty in 1288 took place from Pha Lai River, Kinh Thay River (Hai Duong Province) to Da Bac River, Bach Dang River (Hai Phong City). Currently, the cultural and historical heritage system of Bach Dang Giang associated with the Tran Dynasty includes the relic sites in Dong Trieu, Yen Tu mountain (Quang Ninh province), Bach Dang Giang relic site, Cao Quy pile yard, temples, pagodas worshiping famous generals of the Tran Dynasty in Hai Phong, and the relics of Con Son - Kiep Bac, Yen Phu mountain in Hai Duong Province. Thereby, it showed the significance of Bach Dang victory, forming a heritage area with cultural - historical values and beautiful landscapes in three regions of Quang Ninh, Hai Duong and Hai Phong. Previously, at scientific seminars on reporting excavation results of Cao Quy pile yard and seminar on "Preserving and promoting historical - cultural heritage value in accordance to sustainable development" in 2019 and 2020, all scientists, historians, archaeologists ... suggested that Hai Phong City and relevant localities should study entire Bach Dang Giang battlefield in order to consider Bach Dang battle as an international battle in order to have enough foundation for submitting dossier to UNESCO for recognition as a world heritage.
That the Tran Dynasty cultural and historical heritage areas are recognized as cultural and historical heritage by UNESCO, will have great significance on tourism and culture development of relevant localities. Mr. Do Dinh Tuan, Deputy Head of Heritage Divison (Hai Phong Department of Culture and Sports) affirmed the cultural and historical values’s role as the real driving forces for economic development of the whole region. To be specific, the localitiesjointly develop cultural and spiritual tours to deeply connect regions, making good use of heritage values to develop tourism in which Dong Trieu, Yen Tu (Quang Ninh Province) would be chosen as the center of the Tran dynasty cultural and spiritual tourism. However, in order to fully understand the entire historical values of the Tran Dynasty, visitors are recommended to study related relic systems in Hai Phong City and Hai Duong Province. This requires localities to strengthen coordination and discussion for heritage values promotion.
Active coordination and successful connection
Over the past time, Hai Phong City has implemented many traffic connection projects with Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces, which has great significance in promoting cultural and historical value of Bach Dang Giang. Specifically, the City is repairing and upgrading National Highway No.10, completed the road to Cao Quy pile yard; having implemented bridge contruction projects connecting neighboring provinces such as Dinh Bridge, Lai Xuan Bridge, Nguyen Trai bridge. This strategy is not only linking the region in terms of economic development but also creating momentum for developing cultural and spiritual tours among Hai Phong, Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces. With its convenient transportation and sea gateway location, Hai Phong will be the place to welcome tourists after visiting monuments in Quang Ninh and Hai Duong provinces.
Mr. Doan Truong Son emphasized the need of policy makers’s planning capacity in order to well utilize Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and Hai Duong’s joint effort in researching and establishing cultural and historical heritages of the Tran Dynasty associated with Bach Dang Giang victory so as to be recognized as the world heritage by UNESCO. Hai Phong City will actively coordinate with localities to soon complete the scientific dossier of Bach Dang victory (Quang Ninh - Hai Phong - Hai Duong) cultural and historical heritage; simultaneously,invite historical and cultural experts to fully study, propose and advise the City in proving this historical value. In fact, in 2020, Thuy Nguyen District had organized a delegation of central and local historians from 2 localities Hai Phong and Hai Duong to conduct a river survey from Pha Lai (Hai Duong) to Coc Fall, Nam Trieu (Thuy Nguyen District), partly clarifying historical - cultural value of the Bach Dang Giang battle under the Tran Dynasty in 1288.
This is not the first time forlocalities to jointly develop culture and tourism. In 2002, Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province actively cooperated in submitting a dossier of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Islands to UNESCO for the world heritage title. Therefore, it is a wish that the preparation of scientific dossier of Bach Dang victory (Quang Ninh - Hai Phong - Hai Duong) cultural and historical heritage will soon be completed and submitted to UNESCO to be recognized as a world heritage, becoming a driving force for development of each locality and the whole Northeast region.