Turning heritages into development resources

Khanh Hoa Province is regarded as having vast potential for economic development through heritage exploitation. However, to ensure that monuments, festivals and folk knowledge, etc. contribute more to the budget and generates resources for reinvestment in preservation and promotion of heritages, more breakthrough approaches are required.

Abundant resources

The field of monuments and cultural heritages is considered a key part with much potential to develop cultural industries in Khanh Hoa. The province has 3 special national monuments (Hoa Lai Temple, Po Klong Garai Temple, and Po Nagar Temple); 28 national-level monuments and scenic spots; 241 province-level monuments and scenic spots; and hundreds of others on the inventory list. The province also boasts 3 UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritages (Don Ca Tai Tu , Bai Choi, and Cham pottery making) and 12 festivals and folk traditions on the national intangible cultural heritage list. In addition to these recognized tangible and intangible cultural heritages, the province’s cultural sector has prepared scientific dossiers to seek national and international recognition for other monuments and heritages.

Locals and tourists visiting Po Klong Garai special national monument

Although the resources for developing a heritage-based economy in the province are abundant, the exploitation of their value has yet to meet expectations. Currently, entrance fees are only collected at 3 monuments: Po Nagar Temple special national monument, Po Klong Garai special national monument and Hon Chong national scenic spot. Many other monuments and cultural heritages across the province are limited to preservation and promotion for educational and traditional purposes, rather than generating economic revenue.

Need to focus on development of heritage economy 

Khanh Hoa has previously discussed the development of the province’s night-time economy and cultural industry, including the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage value. In provinces and cities with developed tourism, such as Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Ninh Binh, Tay Ninh, and Thanh Hoa, annual revenue from monuments and cultural heritage remains high, contributing significantly to the state budget. In some localities, public-private cooperation has been effectively implemented to leverage the value of these monuments and cultural heritages.

Associate professor PhD. Bui Quang Tuan, former director of the Institute of Vietnam and World Economy, former editor-in-chief of Journal Economic Studies, and vice-president of Vietnam Economic Association, suggests that in order to become a national growth pole, Khanh Hoa must prioritize many breakthrough tasks. Among these, the province should focus on developing cultural industry in areas with competitive advantage, specifically cultural tourism. Effectively integrating monuments and cultural heritages into tourism activities will also contribute to sustainable economic development.

Music performance at Po Nagar Temple special national monument

According to Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung at the 2025 national review conference, cultural heritages are not only a source of national pride but has also become a valuable asset and resource contributing to socio-economic development. In the future, cultural heritages must be transformed into a prominent resource with comparative advantages. The preservation, restoration and promotion of cultural heritages must be in alignment with community livelihood and sustainable development.
Acknowledging the potential, resource and role of the heritage economy is how we honor the traditional cultural value and material achievements of our ancestors.

GIANG DINH
Translated by H.N