Conservation goes hand in hand with exploitation.

(Baonghean) - Like many other localities, Vinh City is currently facing many difficulties and uncertainties in preserving and promoting the value of existing historical and cultural relics and scenic spots in the area.

Preservation is difficult, but promoting heritage is even more challenging. The difficulties stem from funding, mindset, and methods. This leads to a vicious cycle: if preservation is not done well, the value, both spiritual and material, cannot be exploited or promoted; and if it cannot be promoted, there is no revenue or funding for restoration, maintenance, and upkeep of the heritage sites.

There are many reasons for this situation, but the main one is that the historical and cultural relics and scenic spots in the city are mostly of "average" quality. There are few, or rather, no relics of national or international significance like those in Hanoi, Hue, or Ninh Binh, so the ability to attract tourists is low. Even local residents lack full knowledge of the historical and cultural significance of some sites, let alone visitors from afar. Therefore, it is very difficult to exploit and develop their inherent values ​​to generate revenue from ticket sales and other services for maintenance and preservation. Consequently, funding for the preservation and maintenance of these relics relies almost entirely on the state budget, which is always in a state of "patchwork."

To overcome this problem, a change in mindset and approach is needed, starting with the officials in charge of this field. First and foremost, we must eliminate the mentality of relying on the city budget and proactively seek funding from various sources. Remember, although our people may not be wealthy, they are generally willing to invest time and money in meaningful and spiritually significant endeavors. The key is to know how to inspire the spirit and generosity of the local people. Everyone is proud when their neighborhood has impressive historical sites and monuments that attract attention. Therefore, wherever a historical site is located, we should focus on encouraging the participation and contribution of the local people in its restoration, preservation, and exploitation of its values. Since the direct beneficiaries are the local people, they must be the first to take responsibility.

On the other hand, it is also necessary to educate the public about the importance of contributing labor and resources to the preservation of historical sites, as well as investing in a project that will yield long-term benefits in many aspects. This should be piloted at a specific site to gain experience before being expanded to a wider area. Once a site is selected, the restoration work must be carried out comprehensively, from architectural and interior restoration to landscaping, installation of lighting systems, fire and theft prevention, improvement of pathways within and around the site, and construction of management and service areas. This is to make the site a noteworthy tourist destination within the tourism industry's tour packages. In other words, a site must be fully developed before connecting it with the tourism industry to create a positive first impression on visitors. And from that pilot project, persuading tourism businesses to participate in investing in restoration, preservation, and exploitation will become easier because they have seen the potential for profit. Along with that, it's important to strengthen the promotion and advertising of the historical site through images and guidebooks to serve tourists. This will also help local people better understand the multifaceted value of the site, fostering awareness of its preservation, protection, and participation in investing in and exploiting the site and other existing scenic spots. The best way to increase the attractiveness of the historical site to attract more visitors is to organize cultural activities, especially spiritual cultural activities related to the site, right at the site itself.

In summary, to preserve and promote the value of historical and cultural relics and scenic spots in Vinh City, measures must be taken to overcome the difficulties and shortcomings mentioned above. A good and effective measure is to further strengthen the role of the community through preservation combined with the exploitation of the relics' values. This creates a win-win situation: the city protects the relics without spending excessive amounts from the budget, while the people benefit both spiritually and materially.

Duy Huong