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VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HA NOI
INSTITUTE OF VIETNAMESE STUDIES AND DEVELOPMENT SCIENCES
NGUYEN DANH CUONG POTENTIAL, REALITY AND SOLUTIONS TO CULTURAL TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT IN DONG ANH, HA NOI
MASTER’S THESIS

Major: Vietnamese studies
Supervisor: Prof.Dr. Truong Quang Hai Hanoi - 2012 8
Contents Page
Introduction
6
Chapter 1. Theoretical bases
15
1. Some basic issues of cultural tourism
15
1.1. Definition of Cultural tourism
15
1.1.1. Classification of cultural tourism
16
1.1.2. Differentiation between Cultural tourism and Tourism Culture
17

1.4.4. Approaches of sustainable tourism development
27
1.4.5. The general approaches
27
Chapter 2. The potential for cultural tourism in Dong Anh district
29
2.1. Geographical location
29
2.2. Natural conditions
30
2.3. Situation of socio – economic development
31
2.4. Humanity tourism resources
31
2.4.1. Historical and cultural relics
31
2.4.2. Revolutionary relic
40
2.4.3. Traditional festivals
42
2.4.4. Traditional handicrafts
49
2.4.5. Folk Art
50
2.5. Other cultural resources
51
2.5.1. Co Loa Studio
51
2.5.2. Village landscape
52

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3.4. Some characteristics of cultural tourists in the typical cultural
tourist destinations
74
3.5. The typical cultural tourism programs
76
3.6. The conservation of humanity tourism resources
78
3.7. Assessing strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and
challenges
80

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Chapter 4: The orientation and solutions to the cultural tourism
development in Dong Anh
84
4.1. The foundation for the orientation
84
4.1.1. The government’s policies and Hanoi’s plans for development
84
4.1.2. The practical basis
86
4.2. The orientation for the cultural tourism development in
Dong Anh
87
4.2.1. Strengthening the tourism organization and management
87
4.2.2.Speeding up the promotion for tourism
88
4.2.3. Speeding up the tourism linkages


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LIST OF TABLES Page
Figure 1. The gap in the organization and managementof the cultural
tourism in Dong Anh
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Table 2. The status of accommodation establishments in Dong Anh (as
of 31/10/2011)

cultural characteristics of thea community . Thus, they are and promotesd them -
as an internal source to helpeliminate hunger, and reduce poverty and create
alleviation as we as provide opportunities for the community to develop rapidly
and sustainability develop communityly.
Dong Anh is a locality with rich and distinctive traditional culture
connected to the historical struggles for the Vietnamese’s national construction
and defense. Co Loa temple is a famous historical heritagerelic with special
values in Vietnamese nation’s history and cultures. At present, the cultural
tourism destination not only attracts domestic tourists but also international ones.
Besides that, a system of cultural – historical relics there are many (temples,
pagodas, shrines) which are in cultural – historical heritage system located
around all the villages and have been ranked already is. They become a precious
resource in cultural tourism. Moreover, this is the area storing historical
heritagesrelics during the war for our independence, such as: Nam Hong tunnel
in the struggle against the colonial Francench colonists, ATK heritagesrelics
linked to the revolutionary fighting of ourVietnam’s Communist Party leaders….
They areIt is also an attractive humanistic resources useful for the
developingment of cultural tourism in Dong Anh. In addition, many interesting
festivals and traditional typeforms of arts with pround national characteridentity
such as Ca Tru, traditional theatre opera, Cheo, water puppet or freestyle
wrestling in the towns of Thuy Lam, Kim Chung, Nam Hong, Bac Hong, Kim

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No, Hai Boi, Lien Ha, Duc Tu, Uy No, Tien Duong, Co Loa, Vinh Ngoc and
Viet Hung are also found in this area as: Ca Tru, traditional theatre opera, Cheo,
water puppet or freestyle wrestling in many different towns such as: Thuy Lam,
Kim Chung, Nam Hong, Bac Hong, Kim No, Hai Boi, Lien Ha, Duc Tu, Uy No,
Tien Duong, Co Loa, Vinh Ngoc, Viet Hung. Beside thatAdditionally, several
traditional occupations such as carving, lacquer, furniture in the village of Van
Ha, Lien Ha, Thuy Lam and Duc Tu and bamboo handicraft in Van Noi and Mai

cultural character preservingation and promotioning the cultural values and
national identities? Is it possible for the diversified and unique cultural resources
in Dong Anh to strengthen its own cultural tourism development? If yes, how
will the real situation of cultural tourism activities take place? From that issue,
we have choosen the theme named “Potential, reality state and solutions for
developing the cultural tourism in Dong Anh, Hanoi” in order to answer those
e above questions. Concurrently, we recommend solutions for developingto the
cultural tourism development in this area and scientific arguments on , helping to
supply scientific arguments for policy planning tofor thedevelop socio-economic
development in general and cultural tourism in particular.
2. Researching situation
2.1. Domestic researching situation
Cultural tourism is one of many tourism kinds belonging to researching
subject in Tourism studies. Therefore, researching cultural tourism, we could not
ignore tourism the reseaching works on tourism in general and cultural tourism

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in particular.
Tourism The reseaching works on tourism: The works on tourism studies
works are plentiful as Tourism studies reseaches several differentthe themes of
subjectstourism studies are at different viewpoints with indiversified and the
interdisciplinary method. Some of them could be listsed like: Tourism Overview
by Vu Duc Minh (1999), Tourism Overview, Education Publisher, Hanoi;
Tourism Economy and Tourism Studies by Dong Ngoc Minh and, Vuong Loi
Dinh (2000), Tourism Economy and Tourism Studies, Youth Publisher, Ho Chi
Minh City; Tourism Economy Handbook by Nguyen Van Dinh (2004), Tourism
Economy Handbook, Labor Publisher, Hanoi; Tourism Market by Nguyen Van
Luu (1998), Tourism Market, Vietnam National University Publisher; Tourism
Geography by Nguyen Minh Tue (1999), Tourism Geography, Ho Chi Minh
City Publisher; Resources and Tourism Environment by Pham Trung Luong

Trading Villages, Trading Streets on developing way in Thang Long – Hanoi by
Vu Quoc Tuan (Chief Editor – 2010), Trading Villages, Trading Streets on
developing way in Thang Long – Hanoi , Hanoi Publisher, Hanoi,; Hanoi –
Landscapes and monuments by Luu Minh Tri (Editor in Chief – 2010), Hanoi –
Landscapes and monuments, Hanoi Publisher, Hanoi; Thang Long Philology by
Vu Khieu (Chief Editor - 2010), Thang Long Philology, Hanoi Publisher,
Hanoi; Hanoi – Landscapes and Monuments (Vol 2) by Luu Minh Tri (Editor in
Chief – 2010), Hanoi – Landscapes and Monuments (Vol 2), Hanoi Publisher,
Hanoi; the Sustainable Development in Hanoi by Nguyen Quang Ngoc (Chief
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Formatted: Font: Italic

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Editor – 2010), Sustainable Development in Hanoi Capital, Hanoi Publisher,
Hanoi; Thang Long – Hanoi Education, traditional and mordern method by
Nguyen Dinh Huong, Thang Long – Hanoi Education, traditional and mordern
method, Hanoi Publisher, Hanoi; Tran Lam Bien; Symbol world in Thang Long –
Hanoi Cultural monument by Assoc. Prof. Phd. Trinh Sinh (Co- Chief Editors –
2010), Symbol world in Thang Long – Hanoi Cultural monument, Hanoi
Publisher, Hanoi; Hanoi in Hung Vuong – An Duong Vuong times by Trinh Sinh
(Chief Editor – 2010), Hanoi in Hung Vuong – An Duong Vuong times, Hanoi
Publisher, Hanoi; and Thang Long – Hanoi’s Atlas by Truong Quang Hai (Chief
Editor), Thang Long – Hanoi’s Atlas, Hanoi Publisher, Hanoi….
It is said that “Thang Long – One thousand years” Collection, which
indirectly refers to culture in general and Dong Anh’s cultural tourism in
particularis, is a system of diversified works system relating to on severalvarious
fields. In addition, some research works researchingon the tourism development
in Hanoi such as Thang Long – Hanoi Tourism by Truong Sy Vinh (Editor in
Chief – 2010), Hanoi Publisher and Hanoi Encyclopedia (Vol 15 – Tourism) by
Hanoi People’s Committee (2010), Publisher of Dictionary and Vietnam

3, Pari, 1992; Tourism
planning, An Integrated and Sustainable Development Approach by Edward
Inskepp, J.C, Tourism planning, An Integrated and Sustainable Development
Approach, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1991; Tourims and Environment by Hens. I,
Tourims and Environment, M.S.C courso Free University of Brussel Belgium,
1999; and Tourism planning by Taylor Francis, Tourism planning, Newyork
Philadelphia, London, 1988 9377pp)….

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In short, these above works are useful references materials in researching
the cultural tourism in Dong Anh.
3. The thesis’s aims and tasks
- To present some basic issues about the theoryies of cultural tourism
- To evaluate the potentials and, the reality state of the cultural
tourism in Dong Anh
- To recommend some suggestionsdirections and solutions ofto
exploiting and, developing cultural tourism together connecting with
strenthening and preserving the culture in Dong Anh
4. Subject and scope of researching
- Researching subject: Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritages to
serve tourism activities
- Researching scope: the Ssystem of Tangible and Intangible Cultureal
heritages as well as some activities of the cultural tourism exploitingon in Dong
Anh
5. Researching methods
Some methods that the author uses to assess the potential and analyze real
state of cultural tourism developing in Dong Anh can be listed as below:
5.1. Method of aggregate analysing
This method has been used in most of the scientific researching works to
evaluate the potential of humanistic tourism resources as well as organize the

5.4. Material collecting
We use this method to collect figures, documents from such different
sources: as books, newspapers, reports in the Department of Culture, Sports and
Tourism, Management board of monuments, Tourist zones, Dong Anh Economic
Office, Hanoi Statistic yearbook, Websites from Central and Local agencies.

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5.5. SWOT analysis method
The method is used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses/Limitations,
Opportunities, and Threats in Dong Anh cultural tourism. It allows tohelps
research conditions systematically in the process of classifying, choosing and
recommending strategies as well as solutions to develop the cultural tourism in
Dong Anh and in the wholeall country.
5.6. Method of systematic analysis
Cultural tourism is a mobile, complicated system consisting of
severalvarious factors with different nature and these factors are often mutually
affectinged and , connectinged. Hence, we use this method to analyze the
diversifiedmultiple dimension linking and multiple way one inside – between the
out oside and the insidef of theat system so that we could evaluate and
recommend reliable conclusions, arguments for the potential as well as real state
of the locality’s cultural tourism developingment.
6. Some new scientific contributions of the thesis
The thesis’s researching outcome will contribute to evaluatinge the
potential and real state of Dong Anh’s cultural tourism in order to bring out some
suitable directions and solutions forto Dong Anh’s making process of cultural
tourism. In addition, it also provides scientific arguments for strategic planning
of the socio – economic development in the area.
7. Thesis’s structure
Chapter 1. Theoreetical tic baseis
Chapter 2. Chapter 2. The potentials of the cultural tourism in Dong Anh distrist

developingment in many countries around the world, especially the countries
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25
with diversified cultural traditions and national identitiescharacters. Cultural
tourism isIt mainly basesd on some cultural products to attract local tourists and
foreign ones all over the world.
According to UNWTO: “Cultural tourism consists of the activities of
persons to research, discover cultures such like as: performing arts, festivals,
different events, visiting monuments and temples, researching ofn nature, culture
or folk arts and pilgrimaging” (UNWTO)
1
.
As for ICOMOS: 3. Cultural tourism is the form of tourism whose
objective is the to discovery of monuments and sites. It exerts on these a
verybrings about positive effects insofar as iton the contributesion to their
maintenance and protection. This form of tourism justifiesproves in fact the
efforts that said in maintaining and preserving these relics and sites and
tenancesatisfying and protection the demand of the human community because
offor the sake of the socio-cultural and economic benefits (ICOMOS)
2
.
Theorectically, in many countries, especially in South east Asia (as for
SEAMEO SPAFA
3
), Cultural tourism is arrangedclassified into Ecologyy
tourism as ecology contains human ecology.
Vietnamese people like to live together with the nature so visiting
natural landscapes also visiting cultural monuments and heritage. “Cultural
tourism is a kind of planning, programming and designing trips to visit

1.1.1. Classification of cultural tourism
Based on many criteria, Cultural tourism could be divided into several
kinds. The following one is the most popular. division:
+ Tourism in learning cultural identity: The tourists aim at visiting
architectural works, arts, and learning about the people’s manners and customs.
This group contains researchers and students.
+ Tourism in cultural visiting: This type of tourism combines visiting
with researching and learning about cultures in a trip. It consists of tourists both
to visit, research and to sightsee, and satisfy their curiosity. Hence, they often
come to the destinations with cultural tourism and recreationamusement centers,
pastime activities. This group contains the tourists interested in adventure,

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looking for new feelings and they are often young people.
+ Tourism combining cultural visiting with other purposes:
The tourists in this group consisting of people taking part in a conference,
seminars, anniversaries, and exhibition in combineation with going on a business
trip with visiting culture.
1.1.2. Differentiation between Cultural tourism and Tourism Culture
Having a look at this following table, we can realize this difference:
Cultural tourism
Tourism Culture
It is a type of tourism.
It is a behavioural system in
tourism activities and trade.
It is based on exploiting humanistic tourism
resources (resources of tangible and intangible
culture) for tourism activities.
It is based on the principles
of communicatingion and

the higher themore attractive tourism activities areattract and the more effective
they become.
Beside that, Tourism resource is a historical category. The exploitation is
much up to socio-economic, scientific, technological and political conditions;
hence, it is being much widened. For that reason, Tourism resource contains the
exploited, being exploited and unexploited tourism resource.
Item 4 (Article 4 iIn Chapter I) of 2005 tourism law , article 4, No.4
saidstipulates: Tourism resources means natural landscapes, natural elements,
historical or cultural relics, and works of creative human labor or humanity
values that can be utilized to meet thetourist needs for tourism and constitute are

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fundamental factors thatto form tourist resorts, tourist spots, tourist routes or
tourist cities.
In the researching scope of theis thesis, humanity tourism resources
include cultural traditions; cultural factors; folk literature; historical,
revolutionary, archaeological, and architectural relics; creative works by human
beings; and other tangible and intangible cultural heritages that can be used for
tourism purposes.
The humanity tourism resources created by humans haves been affected
by time, nature and humans theirmselves. Hence, itthese resources could easily
be destroyed, degraded and unrecoverable by itself even without man’shuman
impacts; Humanity tourism resources isare clearly regional. TheyIt has have
itstheir own specific values in each region and each, country. They are that was
influenced by the natural and socio – economic conditions in each region and in
each country. They areIt is useful in awareness, atypical entertainment or hasare
of a minor meaning; TheirIts advantage is mostly unseasonable (except for
festivals), independent of climate and other natural conditions; The hobbies of
Different the people coming to coming to the humanity tourism resources
haveare different and complicated hobbies….

unanimous definition about management. Especially, from 21
st
century, concepts
of management have become more plentiful. Several schools of scientific
management have shown different concepts as below:
-Taylor: “Being a manager, you should know: What you want others do
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Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at: 0.25" + Tab
after: 0.5" + Indent at: 0.5"