Hanoi tourism unveils plan to upgrade special national historical sites

For a long time, the Thang Long Four Guardian Temples tour has been a core cultural tourism product of the capital. To improve the quality of this tour route, recently, the Hanoi Department of Tourism has coordinated with relevant units to build a route connecting Ngoc Son Temple and the four guardian temples of Thang Long, adding many unique cultural experiences to create a unique product for the capital.

A journey to touch the soul of the ancient capital
For centuries, four sacred temples in the four directions of East, West, South, and North of the capital were built to guard and protect the capital, creating a unique belief system reflecting the Vietnamese people's aspirations for peace and prosperity.

The Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long consist of: Bach Ma Temple in the East, Voi Phuc Temple in the West, Kim Lien Temple in the South, and Quan Thanh Temple in the North. Each temple is dedicated to a deity who contributed to protecting the country, sheltering the people, and was revered by the feudal dynasties.

Bach Ma Temple, located on Hang Buom Street, Hoan Kiem Ward, is considered the oldest of the "Four Guardian Temples." It is dedicated to the deity Long Do, considered the tutelary god of Thang Long.

To the west of the capital is Voi Phuc Temple, located within the grounds of what is now Thu Le Park, in Giang Vo Ward. The temple is dedicated to Linh Lang Dai Vuong, who contributed to fighting invaders and protecting the country during the Ly Dynasty. The temple's name comes from the pair of stone elephants kneeling before the temple gate, symbolizing loyalty and the strength to protect the capital.

Guarding the south is Kim Lien Temple, located in Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam ward, one of Hanoi's most distinctive architectural relics. The temple is dedicated to Cao Son Dai Vuong, a deity associated with the ancient Vietnamese belief in mountain worship. Besides its spiritual value, Kim Lien Temple also preserves many valuable artifacts, royal decrees, and documents reflecting the history of Thang Long. One of the most precious artifacts at the site is the large stone stele "Cao Son Dai Vuong Than Tu Bi Minh Tinh Tu" composed by historian Le Tung in 1510.

To the north is Quan Thanh Temple (Ba Dinh ward), one of Hanoi's most famous temples. The Huyen Thien Tran Vu Temple is dedicated to the deity who guards the North according to Taoist beliefs. A special highlight of the site is the nearly 4-meter-tall, approximately 4-ton bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu, cast in the 17th century and considered one of Vietnam's masterpieces of bronze casting. The temple still houses many ancient trees over 300 years old.

Today, the four guardian temples of Thang Long are not only spiritual destinations but also fascinating cultural and historical sites in Hanoi. Each temple holds its own story about the formation of Thang Long citadel, folk beliefs, and the cultural identity of the people of Hanoi.

Enhancing the Experience of the Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long
To further enhance the value of the "Four Guardian Temples" in tourism activities and attract visitors to Hanoi, the Hanoi Department of Tourism recently issued plan on improving the quality of the tourism route connecting the special national historical sites in the city, specifically the Ngoc Son Temple and the Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long.

The Hanoi Department of Tourism has organized a survey team with the participation of tourism experts and more than 50 travel agencies to promote the tourism route connecting Ngoc Son Temple, the Hoan Kiem Lake area, and the Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long. Each historical site has a visitor card with codes for tourists to experience the tour, listen to cultural stories at each site, and decipher riddles in numerical order.

In addition, the direct interaction between tourists and those working at the historical site, as well as with the tour guides, creates excitement and appeal for the journey. Currently, destinations are further developing unique experiential spaces for tourists, arranging areas to display souvenirs characteristic of Hanoi's traditional craft villages and bearing the distinctive mark of the destination.

Assessing the new appeal of the tour connecting Ngoc Son Temple and the Four Fortresses of Thang Long, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association said that the "Four Fortresses of Thang Long" is a complex of historical sites of special value, closely linked to the history of the formation and development of the ancient Thang Long capital.

Commenting on the new appeal of the tour connecting Ngoc Son Temple and the Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association Nguyen Tien Dat said that the "Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long" is a complex of historical relics of special value, closely linked to the history and development of the ancient Thang Long capital. Including the "Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long" in experiential tourism programs to learn about the history and culture of Thang Long is a very meaningful direction, not only spiritually but also attractive to international tourists.

Explaining the formation of the tourist route connecting Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake with the Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long, Chairman of the Vietnam Green Tourism Association said that the Hoan Kiem Lake cultural space is a heritage center and also a place that preserves the memories of Hanoi's crafts. When connected with the Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long and other destinations in the capital, this area will form a new system of tourism programs and products.

"In the context of our efforts to promote the development of the cultural industry, the Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long will become one of the highlights for tourism businesses to promote the value of heritage, thereby building new tourism products with depth and unique identity".

The experiential route connecting Ngoc Son Temple and the Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long is creating a difference in Hanoi's cultural product chain. To attract more tourists to the route, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat suggested that tour operators should promote the product with the slogan "When in Hanoi, you must visit the Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long", while also focusing on improving the quality of on-site commentary to tell a compelling story about the capital city.

According to Ms. Dang from Phoenix Travel, to make the tour more attractive, tour operators could add experiential activities such as cultural gameshows for tourists.

Going forward, the Hanoi Department of Tourism will continue to coordinate with relevant units to finalize the tourism product combining Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long, increasing nighttime cultural experiences and incorporating technology applications at the historical sites.

According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, the Department will organize training courses for cultural officials working as guides, interpreters, and tour guides at national special historical sites in the city. Participants will include officials currently working as guides and interpreters at Ngoc Son Temple and the Thang Long Four Guardian Temples.

The Hanoi Department of Tourism will conduct surveys of interconnected tourist routes including: Ngoc Son Temple - Hoan Kiem Lake - Bach Ma Temple; Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - Quan Thanh Temple - Thanh Nien Street - Tran Quoc Pagoda; Kim Lien Temple and surrounding areas; Voi Phuc Temple - Thu Le Park and surrounding areas.

Through survey activities, the units will assess the current state of tourism infrastructure and technical facilities, and the potential for exploiting the value of the system of historical sites in order to create unique tourism products associated with each destination, while also creating connections between historical sites and scenic spots in the region.

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