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| Effectiveness from the model of craft villages combined with tourism in Quang Phu Cau (Hanoi) (Source: VNA) |
This is not only an orientation but also an opportunity to preserve and promote the unique cultural values of the locality to attract a large number of tourists to explore and experience.
Located in the South Central region, Ninh Thuan is a locality with a large Cham population, with more than 19,590 households, over 90,200 people, accounting for 12.3% of the province's population. Cham culture has its own unique features expressed through customs, beliefs, language, writing, ethnic costumes, architectural art, handicrafts, folk performing arts, culinary culture and festivals, making an important contribution to the treasure of Vietnamese cultural heritage.
Cham cultural heritage, especially Cham towers such as: Po Klong Garai Tower, Hoa Lai Tower and Po Rome Tower, are highlights attracting tourists to Ninh Thuan. In particular, the National Special Artistic Architectural Relic Po Klong Garai Tower (built around the end of the 13th century, beginning of the 14th century) is a symbol of Cham culture. The relic is still relatively intact, and is considered the most beautiful of the Cham towers in Vietnam, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Mr. Dong Van Nhuong, Deputy Head of the Administration - Relic Management Department (Ninh Thuan Provincial Museum), said that when coming to Po Klong Garai, visitors will not only admire the ancient architecture, but also immerse themselves in the Cham cultural space through traditional rituals, beliefs and unique folk art performances. In particular, visitors can listen to explanations in both Vietnamese and English to better understand the history and unique cultural beauty of the local Cham people.
Visitors to Ninh Thuan have the opportunity to explore four National Treasures of Cham Cultural Heritage. The treasures are currently preserved and displayed at Ninh Thuan Provincial Museum. The National Treasures are an important source of scientific materials for researchers on history, culture, language, writing and art when studying Cham culture.
During the journey of discovery, visitors not only admire historical relics but also have the opportunity to experience tours of pottery and weaving villages of the Cham people. In particular, Bau Truc village (Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc district) is the oldest pottery village in Southeast Asia, still preserving the method of making pottery completely by hand, considered by researchers and domestic and foreign tourists as a living Cham pottery museum. Coming here, visitors have the opportunity to ‘return to the past’, discover the secrets of making pottery, and witness with their own eyes the unique products created by the skillful hands of artisans. In particular, "Cham pottery art" has been listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent protection, promising to bring visitors profound cultural experiences./.