Exploring Yen Thanh tourism

(Baonghean) - Yen Thanh land has long been considered a place with many famous landscapes, so the mountains and rivers have created a land with many legends. Over the years, this land still has hidden ancient and interesting features for visitors to come back to.

About Gam Ru - Dinh River

"We promised each other that this moon season I will return. My heart is still sad, not yet fully in love with the rice. Then I feel nostalgic for Yen Thanh. That is the Dinh River, the Gam Ru of my childhood." It is not by chance that the lyrics of the song "How beautiful is the rice homeland of Yen Thanh" evoke memories of a land filled with affection and simplicity. Children born in Yen Thanh now work far away, every time they reminisce about their hometown, they remember the memories of the Dinh River, Gam Ru. Currently, the Gam Ru spiritual tourist area is being invested in, built and developed to become a key tourist area, from there spreading to other tourist destinations in the area. Gam Ru (Xuan Thanh commune) originates from the foot of the Truong Son mountain range and flows towards the plain.

This is a famous mountain since ancient times and has become a symbol of Yen Thanh homeland. During the Tien Le period, this land was densely populated. Le Long Ngan, the 8th son of King Le Dai Hanh, chose the land west of Gam Ru to establish Dong Thanh citadel... Gam Ru currently has nearly 150 hectares of primeval forest that is being preserved, with a diverse vegetation living together in clear layers. Mr. Ngo Duc Luyen, a resident of Xuan Thanh commune, said: "Since childhood, we have always seen Gam Ru green because it has been protected by the people from generation to generation. Through the clouds gathering on the mountain, the people in the commune can predict the weather changes. This place is also a sacred place closely associated with the spiritual life of the people".

In a majestic, poetic space with Dinh River winding along the hills, Gam Pagoda (Chi Linh Tu) appears with ancient architecture and extremely sophisticated sculptures. Currently, the Provincial People's Committee has allowed the restoration of Buddhist activities at Gam Pagoda, and at the same time built a large-scale Zen monastery and Truc Lam sect in the region. The project has a total planned construction area of ​​316.575 hectares in the territory of Xuan Thanh and Tang Thanh communes, including 5 main areas: The original relic area is located at Chi Linh Pagoda (Xuan Thanh) to worship the gods who have contributed to protecting the country and protecting the people; worshiping Buddha and Bodhisattvas; Spiritual - festival area in Gam village; Bach Y Temple area (Tang Thanh commune); Cemetery and church of heroic martyrs.

Every year, during the Gam Temple Festival held from February 14-16 (lunar calendar), tens of thousands of visitors from all over respectfully come. Recently, in August, the Jica organization (Japan) made a trip to Yen Thanh to survey and invest in some typical types of tourism. Enjoying an excerpt of the play "Trung Trac, Trung Nhi" right at the Gam Temple yard, the whole group expressed their admiration for the actors and the ancient play taking place in an ancient space. Mr. Ando - Head of the group shared: "I have been to many famous places in Nghe An province, but I have rarely seen a place as beautiful and charming as the countryside of Yen Thanh. I hope you will cherish, preserve and exploit what nature has generously given you..."

Artists of Xuan Thanh commune's Tuong Club perform excerpts from the play My Chau - Trong Thuy at Gam pagoda yard.

Keep the sacred land

Looking back in time, Yen Thanh has long been known as an ancient land. From the Tien Le and Ly dynasties, many migrations and land reclamations to this land were promoted, establishing prosperous hamlets and villages. By the Tran dynasty, fertile fields had been formed. In the past, Yen Thanh was also chosen as the capital of Hoan Chau with many unique cultural features. Later generations continued to inherit and pass them on through many generations. Therefore, it is interesting when we come to this "typical rice-growing region" and encounter a whole countryside of Cheo singing in Lang Thanh commune. Here, from the elderly to the young, everyone can sing Cheo and perform it very fluently, imbued with a Cheo culture in Nghe An.

Ms. Hoang Thi Loan - Vice President of Lang Thanh Cheo Club said: "Every time there is a break in the farming season, the Club gathers together to review the old tunes and practice new tunes, praising the peaceful homeland and country. The Club not only serves the commune but also performs in other communes whenever invited. Therefore, the Cheo singing of Lang Thanh commune has spread far and wide, contributing to the preservation and maintenance of the precious heritage left by our ancestors..." In addition, many traditional festivals at the district level have also been restored such as Phuc Hoang Temple Festival, Gam Temple Festival, Ca Temple (Nhan Thanh), Dai Dien Festival - Mo Communal House (Hau Thanh), Ca Temple (Hoa Thanh)... Yen Thanh land has long been a cultural land, famous for its love of learning. The names of the land and villages have long been symbolized by the people to express their aspiration to pass the imperial examinations, with the philosophy of "learning to know, knowing to be a human being" that has been distilled through many generations to become the tradition of learning and respect for talent of Yen Thanh people today.

In the district, Ve Vung dam lake area has become a favorite destination for tourists. In addition to regulating the climate for the entire western region of Yen Thanh, providing irrigation water for over 2,000 hectares of rice in the communes of Kim Thanh, Quang Thanh, Phuc Thanh, Hoa Thanh, Van Thanh ... coming to Ve Vung, tourists can enjoy the feeling of floating on a yacht, sightseeing, climbing mountains, fishing, immersing themselves in the fresh fresh water, enjoying many fresh fish and shrimp dishes and immersing themselves in the folk songs and melodies. There are also many natural landscapes and economic works serving people's lives, located next to cultural areas such as Gam Pagoda, Bao Lam Pagoda, Non Nuoc Pagoda, Bao Nham Stone Church... next to famous historical sites such as: Uncle Ho's Memorial Site visiting Vinh Thanh, Phan Dang Luu Memorial House (Hoa Thanh)... These overlapping relics and scenic spots in the legendary rice fields "Nghe Yen Thanh, Thanh Nong Cong" will be attractive tourist destinations for sightseeing, sightseeing, research and study.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Loi - Chairman of the District People's Committee added: "Yen Thanh district has over 200 relics - scenic spots that have been listed for management, of which 21 relics are recognized as national relics, 33 relics are ranked at provincial level, the district with the most recognized relics in the province. Yen Thanh is also a land rich in tradition of mandarin examinations and culture with 22 great scholars, the most typical of which is the first laureate Bach Lieu - the founder of the examinations of Nghe An. This place is also an old revolutionary place, the base of the Can Vuong movement against the French led by Nguyen Xuan On and Le Doan Nha, the red address of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement 1930 - 1931... That is the pride that our Party Committee and people are trying to promote, so that those values ​​will last forever, bringing spiritual and material values ​​in the new period".

To develop the eco-tourism and spiritual area to its full potential, the district has identified 7 basic groups of solutions, such as: Solutions on planning to ensure synchronization and connectivity in the tourist area and surrounding areas; Solutions on attracting, mobilizing capital and effectively using investment capital sources associated with innovation in foreign investment promotion;... According to the action program, by 2020, it will welcome 100,000 - 200,000 visitors, creating jobs for about 20,000 people with an average income of 4 million VND/person/month, increasing budget revenue from 15 - 17 billion VND/year. The progress of implementing the above groups of solutions is divided into 2 phases; From 2014 to 2017, focus on approved infrastructure projects in Ru Gam Spiritual Tourism Area and surrounding areas to create a breakthrough in building synchronous and modern infrastructure; From 2017 to 2020, focus resources on investing and completing the remaining projects and works.

Tran Hai