Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan province have preserved Cham temples, festivals, folk beliefs, and other cultural heritages. Five Cham heritages have been recognized as national treasures. Both provinces are promoting these cultural assets to boost tourism development.
The Kate Festival 2024 at Po Klong Garai tower (Photo: Doan Si/VOV)
Each year hundreds of thousands of visitors come to Pô Klong Garai tower, an architectural relic site in Ninh Thuan province, and Pô Sah Inư tower in Binh Thuan province.
Visitors can admire the ancient architecture and immerse themselves in Cham culture through weekend folk art performances and traditional rituals and worship ceremonies during the Kate festival. Vietnamese-and English-speaking tour guides are on hand to explain to visitors the history and cultural beauty of the Cham.
Tran Phu Hai, a tourist from Hanoi, shared his impression on the Po Klong Garai tower: “The Cham culture is diverse. I want to learn how it’s different from the cultures of other ethnic groups. The architecture of the towers is special and very beautiful."
When visiting traditional craft villages, tourists can try their hand at making handicraft products. Two famous Cham pottery villages are Bau Truc pottery village in Ninh Thuan and Binh Duc pottery village in Binh Thuan. Cham pottery art has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection.
Nguyen Anh Khoa, Deputy Director of the Sao Mai Tourism Service and Trading Company Limited, said: “Sao Mai Tourism Company and other travel companies in Binh Thuan surveyed Binh Duc pottery village and other craft villages in Bac Binh district. We plan to connect these localities to create an interesting itinerary from Bac Binh to Bau Trang and Phan Thiet city."
Five items that have been designated national treasures are the Hoa Lai stele, the relief of King Po Rome, the Phuoc Thien stele, the statue of King Po Klong Garai, and the golden Linga. These items, now on display at museums in Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan, are important resources for researchers of Cham history, culture, language, and art, and magnets for tourists.
The statue of King Po Klong Garai, one of four national treasures at Ninh Thuan provincial museum (Photo: Doan Si/VOV)
Nguyen Van Hoa, Director of the Ninh Thuan provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said the Department is coordinating with other agencies to promote the customs, lifestyle, and festivals of the Cham.
“We are preserving and promoting national treasures while developing tourism in line with the regulations. We have asked the provincial People’s Committee to allocate part of the budget to renovating the Po Klong Garai tower and the Hoa Lai tower to make them major tourist attractions in Ninh Thuan province."
Bui The Nhan, Director of the Binh Thuan provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said: “We have submitted a plan for preserving the golden Linga to the provincial People’s Committee. We propose that it be displayed at festivals and on other important occasions. We’ve also made a replica for mobile exhibition at tourist sites.”
Cham culture is a vital component of Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage. With thoughtful investment and sustainable use, it will enhance the allure of tourism in the south-central region.
Doan Si
