Phong Coc has long been known for its rich cultural heritage, traditional festivals and distinctive craft villages in the Ha Nam island area. Building on values that have been preserved through generations, the locality is gradually transforming its heritage into tourism products, turning culture into a driver of development.
Located at the heart of the Ha Nam island region, Phong Coc Ward is home to a rich cultural heritage closely associated with the history of land reclamation and coastal settlement. The area features Tien Cong Temple, Coc Communal House, Hung Hoc Communal House, ancestral halls and a network of ancient traditional village communal houses, along with long-standing customs such as ancestor commemoration ceremonies and clan feasts that have been preserved for generations.
Under the locality’s cultural development plan, by 2030, Phong Coc aims to develop at least five signature cultural tourism products, including the Tien Cong Festival journey; experiences linked to “Going to the Field” Festival; clan cultural spaces featuring clan feasts and ancestor commemoration ceremonies; village communal house tourism associated with great blessing festivals; and experiences centred on traditional craft villages.
Among these initiatives, the revival of the traditional Hung Hoc fishing gear weaving craft, combined with tourism experiences, is regarded as a promising direction. In addition to preserving a traditional occupation of coastal and estuarine communities, the craft village offers visitors opportunities to learn about local livelihoods, working culture and history. At the same time, Phong Coc is focusing on connecting historical sites and distinctive cultural attractions to develop cultural discovery routes across the Ha Nam area, helping enhance its appeal to visitors.
Drawing on its festivals, communal houses and craft villages, Phong Coc is working toward a new development model described as a “culture–heritage economy–creative ecosystem”. Under this approach, heritage is not only an asset to be preserved but also a resource capable of generating livelihoods, employment and added value for the community.
Along with efforts to promote heritage values, the locality aims to complete the restoration and preservation of national heritage sites, including Tien Cong Temple, Hung Hoc Communal House and Ho Mach. It is also preparing a dossier to seek recognition of Coc Communal House and Tien Cong Temple as Special National Relics. Heritage education for younger generations is another priority. Through experiential activities and exploration of local historical, students are encouraged to develop pride in their hometown while strengthening their awareness of preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.
Looking ahead, Phong Coc also plans to build a digital database of local heritage and culture, develop a digital tourism and heritage map, expand digital media products and establish dedicated communication channels promoting Phong Coc’s cultural identity. The locality further aims to develop a night-time economy space featuring pedestrian streets, cultural night markets, traditional cuisine areas, regular folk art performances...
By Ta Quan
