Ninh Binh to host international conference on spiritual tourism

The first International Conference on Spiritual Tourism for Sustainable Development will be held in the northern province of Ninh Binh on November 21-22, an official has said.

The first International Conference on Spiritual Tourism for Sustainable Development will be held in the northern province of Ninh Binh on November 21-22, according to Director of the provincial Culture, Sports and Tourism Department Lam Quang Nghia.

A Buddha statue at Bai Dinh pagoda, Ninh Binh province

Jointly held by Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the provincial People’s Committee, the event will offer a chance for delegates to discuss matters related to tourism planning, management, conservation, and promotion of spiritual tourism products.

It will also help promote the tourism potentials of Vietnam in general and Ninh Binh province in particular.
Ninh Binh is home to several unique beautiful landscapes which were formed thousands years ago, such as the Van Long eco-tourism site, Cuc Phuong National Park and Tam Coc-Bich Dong.

Particularly, the Trang An complex is one of the province’s most attractive destinations. Dossier on the site is being submitted to the UNESCO for recognition as a world heritage in 2014.

When visiting Ninh Binh, visitors have a chance to tour many places of spiritual significance, including a national recognised historical site, the One Pillar Pagoda, and Yen Thanh communal house in the former imperial capital of Hoa Lu.

Head of the provincial Statistics Office Dinh The Thap said by the end of October, Ninh Binh welcomed around 4.18 million visitors, surpassing the yearly target and posting a year-on-year increase of 20.8 percent.