Preserving and promoting the value of Xoan singing heritage associated with community tourism
On December 8, 2017, UNESCO officially released the Phu Tho Xoan singing from the state of urgent protection and registered it as the Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is the first and only case in UNESCO“s history, demonstrating the international community”s recognition of Phu Tho province"s efforts in committing to protecting a heritage in a state state of urgent protection, affirming the vitality and extensive spread of the heritage in the community.
Protecting and preserving traditional cultural beauties, and promoting heritage values associated with sustainable tourism development, have been practically creating a new position and vitality for Xoan singing in the community, in order to make the legacy of Xoan singing really become an invaluable asset…
In 2013, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism developed the program “Xoan Singing in Ancient villages” associated with tours - tourist routes serving delegations coming to attend the Hung Kings“Death Anniversary - Hung Kings” Temple Festival every year. This is the premise to build the tourism product “Xoan Singing in Ancient villages” associated with historical and cultural relics where Xoan singing originated and ancient communal houses - where Xoan singing is spread out such as: Lai Den Temple, Thet Communal House, An Thai Communal House, Hung Lo Communal House ... The subjects of the show are artisans from the original Xoan wards: Phu Duc, Kim Dai, Thet and An Thai.
After 10 years of development, up to now, the product “Xoan Singing in Ancient villages” has become an indispensable tourist destination in the tours of travel agencies when taking guests to the Fatherland. Every year, the original Xoan villages welcome and serve tens of thousands of visitors, the organization of performances and presentations is increasingly becoming professional. The communal houses, temples, shrines - performing spaces of Xoan singing have been renovated and restored, creating favorable conditions for performing activities and serving tourists.
On average, each year, the Tourism Promotion Information Center provides advice, information support, reception service, and instructions for more than 500 groups of visitors and tourists to Phu Tho with a total of over two million visits. In particular, tourists choose mainly attractions and experiences such as: Hung Lo Communal House, Lai Len Temple (Viet Tri City), Dao Xa Communal House (Thanh Thuy District) ...
Currently, the product “Xoan singing in Ancient villages” is interested in building tours by many travel companies such as: Asia Experience Travel, Vietrantour, Saigontourist, Newstar tour, Nam Thanh travel, Fivestar tour, Vinatour .. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen - Director of Vietrantour Company said: “During the tour to the Fatherland, I was very impressed with the Xoan singing activity, one of the highlights of the program. In addition to listening to Xoan singing, tourists can visit communal houses, temples and ancient villages in Hung Lo region. These are tourism products that are very suitable to be introduced to visitors who love exploration and experience…”.
Practically preserving and promoting the value of Xoan singing heritage associated with community tourism, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has effectively worked with tourism associations of provinces and cities, especially effective implementation of the program of connection and cooperation for tourism development in eight provinces in the expanded Northwest region with Hanoi city, creating many attractive tourist links to attract tourists such as: “Journey to the source” , “Linked tourism - Northwest arc”, “Hanoi - Phu Tho daily tour”; International river tourism program under the form of “Cultural heritage tourism - craft village experience”...; linking with Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast provinces to receive tourists from Noi Bai airport to go visiting and stay in Phu Tho and the Northwest provinces. Along with that, continue to accompany and support travel companies in the local area to invest in developing new tourism products, upgrading technical facilities, improving quality of tourism services, and training tourism human resources to organize safe and effective tourism activities; strengthening tourism promotion and advertising, and implementing stimulus policies to attract international and domestic tourists.