Quang Ninh: "Heritage Journey of the Mining Region"

In Quang Ninh, the cultural heritage system is not only preserved but also researched and promoted to build tourism itineraries, opening up opportunities to turn history into assets, contributing to the formation of a chain of attractive destinations.

Tourists visit the marine farm model combined with tourism experiences on Bai Tu Long Bay.

According to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Quang Ninh currently has 636 relics/relic clusters, including 8 special national relics, 56 national relics, 101 provincial relics, and 471 inventoried relics. Regarding intangible cultural heritage, Quang Ninh has 362 heritages classified into 7 categories, including 19 national intangible cultural heritages. Quang Ninh is also a province that co-owns 3 world heritages: Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son relics and scenic spots complex, Kiep Bac and Then rituals of the Tay - Nung - Thai ethnic groups. A special feature is that many heritages in Quang Ninh are formed in chains, in creative spaces with very close connections.

Since mid-2020, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a document agreeing in principle and assigned the Quang Ninh Literature and Arts Association to preside over and coordinate with localities to study the idea of ​​establishing a project to decorate and create a "Heritage Road" through works of visual art on the coastal route of Ha Long - Cam Pha - Van Don. However, after 5 years, the idea of ​​a heritage road revolving around the story of Ha Long Bay has not been implemented.

Also from the end of 2020, the Cam Pha Coal Region Memorial Site was inaugurated on the basis of renovating the French officials' offices and the old mine owner's residence. The site preserves hundreds of images, artifacts, reliefs, and documents introducing the tradition of the workers of the Coal Region. The site is not only significant in terms of architecture or sculpture but also has historical value as a witness to a land.

Cam Pha administrative agency building under French colonial rule, now restored as a Than Region memorial house

Quang Ninh has had unique tours such as the Free Walking tour Ha Long, which takes place from 4-6pm every Saturday for all domestic and international tourists. This journey starts from the Vietnam - Japan Labor Culture Palace, visits Bai Tho Mountain along the way across Bai Tho Bridge, visits the ancient poem site, watches the sunset on Ha Long Bay, visits the Quang Ninh Museum, the Planning Palace, the Provincial Fair and Exhibition and ends at Hai Thinh Lake.

Most recently in 2024, Viet Thuan Group built the tourism product "Heritage Journey" as the first cruise connecting Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay tourism, bringing domestic and foreign tourists new and attractive experiences.

On August 8, 2025, at the Quang Ninh Museum, at the "Heritage and Documents: Potential for cooperation and sustainable development" seminar, many researchers raised the issue of heritage journeys. One of the outstanding contents proposed by experts is to build a "Mining Heritage" tourism route. Participating in this tour, visitors will experience a journey through French architectural relics, creating a feeling of "reviving" the atmosphere of the old Mining Region. At the same time, it is possible to digitize all documents, organize online exhibitions, reconstruct Ha Long ancient town, Hon Gai port using virtual reality technology; build photo books, postcards, models, documentaries based on French documents to both promote tourism and spread historical values.

According to Dr. Nguyen Huong Giang, French School of the Far East in Hanoi, it is necessary to conduct research to restore the landmarks, architectural heritages and historical events of Quang Yen, Hai Ninh, Hon Gai, Dong Trieu, Van Don, Binh Lieu... based on original documents. In building the "Mining Heritage" tourism route, it is necessary to pay attention to building thematic tours to explore the history of the coal industry, the remaining French architectural relics in some localities combined with authentic historical stories from French documents.

At the same time, Quang Ninh also needs to develop destinations based on archaeological research on Ha Long culture, Van Don relics, combined with tourism to explore the culture of ethnic minorities in the highlands. In addition, for creative tourism products, it is necessary to develop souvenirs, cuisine, or experiences based on information about the life and culture of Quang Ninh people in the past recorded in documents.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Vu Khac, Department of Geography, Hanoi National University, to form a heritage itinerary, it is necessary to build thematic content according to attribute data (eg type, itinerary) according to spatial distribution (heritage density). At the same time, it is necessary to connect with information in maps, information on stele inscriptions, types of heritage, reference information on geography, hydrology, heritage sites...

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/quang-ninh-hanh-trinh-di-san-vung-mo-20250916110706652.htm