Quynh Luu: Innovating the management of historical sites and festival activities.

(Baonghean)Quynh Luu has 29 ranked historical and cultural relics, including 17 national-level relics and 12 provincial-level relics. Many of these relics are famous and sacred, such as Corn Temple (Quynh Phuong), Xuan Uc Temple (Quynh Lien), Phung Hung Temple, Xuan Hoa Temple (Quynh Xuan), the temple dedicated to King Ho, Binh An Temple - Bao Minh Pagoda (Hoang Mai Town), Vu Temple (Quynh Vinh), and Cua Gan Temple (Quynh Hoa)... Every year, festivals attract a large number of tourists from within and outside the province to visit, admire the scenery, and offer incense.

In previous years, the management of historical sites and festivals in the district was not rigorous due to the lack of a dedicated management board. The work of protecting, preserving, restoring, and managing revenue sources was not given adequate attention, which significantly affected the quality of festival activities and caused inconvenience for tourists.

In order to improve the quality of monument and festival management, and to make the festival a truly meaningful cultural activity that gradually satisfies the cultural and spiritual needs of tourists visiting and offering incense, in 2012, the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district was one of the first to implement the policy of the Provincial People's Committee, establishing the Cờn Temple Monument Management Board with 9 members, and 11 members in the ceremonial and security team; at the same time, it developed operating regulations and assigned specific responsibilities to the members.



Ritual ceremony at Cờn Temple Festival. Photo: Nguyễn Tô Cảnh

After nearly a year of operation, under the close guidance of the District People's Committee, the unity and cooperation within the Monument Management Board, and the coordinated efforts of the local authorities, the Cờn Temple Management Board has brought the management of the monument and festivals into order and made significant progress. Festival activities have been conducted in a healthy manner and created a positive impression on visitors.

Besides facilitating visits and offerings to the Cờn Temple relic site, revenue collection and the preservation and restoration of the relics have also been managed and implemented more effectively. From June 2012 to March 29, 2013, total revenue at the Cờn Temple relic site reached over 3.3 billion VND, of which more than 2 billion VND was deposited into the State Treasury. This revenue not only ensured the regular operating expenses of the management board but also contributed significantly to the capital for the restoration and preservation of the relics. Several structures of the Cờn Temple have been and are being restored and renovated, making the relic site increasingly solemn, such as the central hall, lower hall, left and right wings, the triple gate, the ceremonial gate, the guardhouse, and the surrounding wall of the relic site.

To effectively promote the values ​​of the historical site, the Cờn Temple Relic Management Board always focuses on managing and preserving the relic and building a cultural lifestyle in festival activities. The staff is carefully selected, possessing high levels of knowledge and communication skills, and is assigned the responsibility of managing and protecting specific relics. In addition to ensuring security and order, actively inspecting relics, maintaining environmental hygiene, and preserving structures, religious artifacts, and statues within the relic site, the managers are also responsible for promptly detecting, preventing, and proposing strict handling of violations, such as illegal encroachment and construction within the relic site, exploiting religious beliefs for superstitious activities that affect the nation's customs and traditions; and preventing the loss of property belonging to the relic site and visitors. In particular, the management board has done a good job of publicizing and promoting the historical site, building a team of professional service staff who communicate politely and humbly, and guiding visitors and offering incense with dedication and care.

Besides the Cờn Temple relic, thanks to the attention of all levels and sectors from the central to local governments, especially the mobilization of social resources, many relics in the district have also focused on restoring and renovating various items, best meeting the spiritual needs of the people and tourists from all over, such as Kim Lung Temple (Mai Hung commune), Quy Linh Temple (Quynh Luong), Bao Minh Pagoda (Hoang Mai town)...

With innovations in the management and preservation of historical sites and the safeguarding of national cultural identity in festivals, the historical sites in Quynh Luu district have been creating a beautiful cultural aspect in spiritual activities, while effectively promoting the values ​​of the historical sites in the area.

Ho Thanh Khuong (People's Committee of Quynh Luu District)