Trang An needs more human stories

As the first mixed heritage site inscribed by UNESCO in Southeast Asia, Trang An has both natural and ancient stories.

Snail cuisine and archaeological tourism

In 2014, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (Tay Hoa Lu Ward, Ninh Binh Province) was recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO. This is the first mixed heritage recognized by this organization in Southeast Asia. Mr. Nguyen Viet Cuong, Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), said at that time that Trang An met 3 criteria for outstanding global value. Among them, "Trang An contains evidence of the interaction between humans and the environment, demonstrating human adaptation to changing geographical conditions and the harshest environmental conditions in the history of the earth, especially the climate changes that occurred at the end and immediately after the last ice age".

It must also be said that the Trang An heritage dossier was initially planned to be built in the direction of a world natural heritage. However, this direction later proved to be very difficult. Therefore, experts decided to switch to a mixed heritage dossier, based on archaeological discoveries at this heritage complex. Trang An still meets the criteria for aesthetic beauty with karst tower landscapes with majestic mountains, mysterious caves, and beautiful rivers. Trang An also meets the geological and geomorphological criteria as evidence of the final stages of karst evolution in a humid tropical climate. However, the criteria for human-environment interaction are the first factors in the dossier.

The poetic beauty of Tam Coc - Bich Dong, part of the Trang An scenic complex

PHOTO: NINH BINH TOURISM DEPARTMENT

Previously, when studying Trang An to write a heritage profile for this complex, researchers found bones of many types of animals. In addition, they also found stream snails (with their butts cut off), the rest were shells of marine mollusks such as oysters. Combined with traces of oysters and indentations on the limestone surface, scientists believed that the residents of Trang An had a good compatibility with the environment. Dr. Nishimura (Japan) at that time also believed that mountain snails were the food of the ancient people in Trang An. Traces of a fire showed that mountain snails were eaten after being cooked.

Dr. Nishimura even tried different cooking methods: steaming the snails in ceramic, and directly firing the shells. The experiment showed that when fired directly, the shells became bitter, crumbly, and broken. This is consistent with the large amount of broken shells and limestone fragments found there. In Trang An, mountain snails are still collected. This can also be used as "material" for design experiences if the public wants to understand how ancient people lived in Trang An.

In other words, archaeological tourism is completely possible at this mixed world heritage. In the direction of archaeological tourism, the public can experience Trang An through activities such as: visiting prehistoric caves, exploring historical archaeological sites, camping and experiencing the cooking, mining and gathering methods that ancient people used to do.

Keeping the boundaries for Trang An

Despite its beauty and uniqueness as the first mixed heritage site in Southeast Asia, the Trang An scenic world heritage complex also brings many "heart-stopping" moments. That is the case of the bridge built through the core of the heritage, as well as the incident being reminded by UNESCO related to the remains of the film set of Kong: Skull Island.

Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex

Photo: Phuc Ngu

Specifically, in 2018, public opinion was stirred up by the construction of a bridge with more than 2,000 steps in the Cai Ha mountain area, also known as ancient Trang An. The bridge has concrete pillars standing on precarious cliffs. The owner of the project at that time was Trang An Tourism Joint Stock Company, which announced: "The steps are built according to the old path of the Dinh Dynasty; the mountain is 95 m high; includes 2,234 steps; the length of the step system is 1,115 m". The locality later said that the project was not licensed, but this does not eliminate the management responsibility of local leaders when allowing a project to go straight through the core heritage area like that.

In 2019, Trang An was once again "in the sights" of heritage lovers because of the Kong: Skull Island film set. After the film crew left, the bridge and the indigenous village were still preserved. However, this prompted UNESCO to recommend the demolition of structures that could affect the heritage. The local Department of Tourism then had to supervise this demolition.

Classification of snails in archaeological excavations in Trang An

PHOTO: INSTITUTE OF ARCHEGOLOGY

Although specific cases have been handled in a specific way, it has raised great concerns about the heritage vision. Specifically, the two cases above show the problems of private enterprises when participating in the conservation and promotion of heritage values. The general trend for decades is that UNESCO has highly encouraged public-private partnerships in heritage conservation. In Trang An, up to the time the bridge was built through the core of the heritage, a business had spent 17,000 billion VND investing here, and at the same time supported the nomination of Trang An as a world heritage. However, the supervision of public-private partnerships and the construction of products to exploit the values ​​of Trang An still need to be strictly implemented.

In 2018, the UNESCO research team even had to warn: "We have specific regulations on principles and approval processes. But we still see constructions being built. Some have been stopped by management agencies, but some have not. Therefore, we need to consider the implementation of those regulations." In Trang An, there are currently many attractive tourism products. However, it is not redundant to repeat these past stories and management lessons.

Bridge through the core of Trang An heritage

PHOTO: MINH HAI

Most recently, in August 2025, the workshop "Brand value of Trang An scenic complex associated with heritage conservation policy and sustainable tourism development" was organized by the Provincial People's Committee, the School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts (VNU Hanoi) and the UNESCO Office in Vietnam.

Here, the “Trang An Document” was adopted with the orientation of preserving and exploiting the value of Trang An heritage in the direction of sustainable tourism associated with the community and green economy. The document also opens up the orientation for the model of “Urban - Heritage - Ecology - Culture”, harmonizing conservation and development, enhancing community welfare. Obviously, the human story is increasingly receiving more attention from the managers of this heritage. (continued)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trang-an-can-them-cau-chuyen-con-nguoi-185250901221150385.htm