Hai Phong City launches 3 new tours linked to the Con Son – Kiep Bac World Heritage Site
In order to promote the potential of cultural heritage and develop distinctive tourism products, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hai Phong City has officially introduced three new experiential tours under the theme “Exploring the Con Son – Kiep Bac World Heritage Site”, promising visitors impressive journeys rich in culture and historical depth.
This is a practical activity to promote the value of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son – Kiep Bac Relic and Scenic Complex, which has just been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site, while contributing to realizing the goal of making tourism a key economic sector of the city.
1. Tour “One Journey – Five World Heritage Sites” (2 days 1 night)
With an itinerary covering five outstanding heritage destinations — Kiep Bac Temple, Con Son Pagoda, Thanh Mai Pagoda, Kinh Chu Cave, and Nham Duong Pagoda — this tour is an ideal journey for those wishing to explore the historical, cultural, and natural values of Hai Phong’s sacred land.
Visitors will visit and offer incense at relics associated with national hero Tran Hung Dao, scholar Nguyen Trai, and the Truc Lam Zen patriarchs. They can experience Van Yen pottery making, woodblock printing, calligraphy writing, lotus tea tasting, and participate in folk activities such as conical hat painting and wearing traditional costumes for photos. Local specialties such as green bean cakes, arrowroot starch, boong cake, and bac dau cake will be served.
Especially, the tour takes visitors into the primitive maple forest at Thanh Mai Pagoda – a meditative space in nature that brings relaxation and a connection to the roots of Vietnamese Buddhist culture.
2. Tour “Following the Footsteps of the Three Truc Lam Patriarchs” (1 day)
Designed for those interested in Truc Lam Zen Buddhism and the monastic path of King Tran Nhan Tong – the First Patriarch, this tour takes visitors to three pagodas associated with the Zen sect: Sung Nghiem, Thanh Mai, and Con Son.
Visitors will tour and listen to general explanations about the relics and about King Tran Nhan Tong’s activities at Sung Nghiem Pagoda. They will experience woodblock printing, herbal tea tasting, traditional cake making, and immerse themselves in a meditative space. The journey also includes exploring the architecture, artifacts, archaeological relics, and traditional festivals at these heritage pagodas.
This tour is rich in spiritual, cultural, and historical elements, suitable for both domestic and international visitors who wish to learn about the depth of Vietnamese Buddhist culture.
3. Tour “Exploring the Con Son – Kiep Bac Heritage” (2 days 1 night)
Focusing on the two prominent sites within the World Heritage Complex, this tour offers visitors a comprehensive experience of the cultural, historical, archaeological, and spiritual values of Con Son – Kiep Bac.
Visitors can conquer Ban Co Tien, meditate at Bach Van Hermitage, and immerse themselves in nature and local legends.
They can explore Ngu Nhac Linh Tu, listen to explanations about Ngu Nhac Mountain and architectural works such as Tay Nhac Temple, Bac Nhac Temple, Dong Nhac Temple, and Nam Nhac Temple, and learn about Heaven and Earth worship rituals at Trung Nhac Temple, Thach Ban, Nguyen Trai’s house foundation, and Thanh Hu Temple.
Activities include chrysanthemum tea tasting at Lau Nghinh Phong, evening campfire exchanges, and traditional craft experiences such as lotus hat painting, flower tea enjoyment, and wearing ancient costumes. Visitors will also discover ancient architecture, stone steles, and traditional festivals.
The launch of these new tours not only diversifies Hai Phong’s tourism products but also represents a strategic step in transforming heritage values into sustainable development advantages, in line with modern trends in experiential, cultural, and spiritual tourism.
The tours are flexibly designed to suit individual travelers, groups, students, and international tourists. In the near future, the city will continue expanding routes connected to sites within the World Heritage system, forming a distinctive inter-regional tourism network.