Home / Marine Culture

Situation of Tourism Development Based on Marine Culture in Cat Ba Island District


According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cat Hai district, there are 178 relics, of which 15 relics are ranked. Many famous relics, with historical and scientific value, are typical archaeological sites:

- The Cai Beo site in Cat Ba town has excavated more than 479 tools made of pebbles, rough pottery made from clay, dry sand and animal bones and teeth. These artifacts have different dates from 4000 - 7000 years.

- Bai Ben relic site, Hien Hao commune, Cai Don commune, Xuan Dam island, Cat Ba island, after 3 excavations, has over 500 artifacts, typically stone and ceramic objects dating back to

3,500 to 3,700. This is a sign of stable settlement, knowing how to find favorable terrain near caves, fresh water sources, knowing how to hunt and gather, catch scallops and discover fire, and craft tools of the ancient Vietnamese. Currently, the artifacts are stored at the Hai Phong Museum and the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology.

In addition to the archaeological sites in Cat Hai, there is also a system of historical relics and diverse landscapes. In 2004, Cat Ba National Park was recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. Cat Ba has many beautiful beaches such as: Cat Co 1 (Cat Tien), Cat Co 2 (Cat Da Bang), Cat Co 3 (Cat Co); Monkey Island and hundreds of pristine beaches scattered on the islands in Lan Ha Bay, attracting a large number of tourists every year.

The cultural activities of coastal residents are quite unique and are expressed through festivals. The festival is held annually to pray for peace and blessings with the folk beliefs of worshiping the sea god, the village guardian spirit, and the Great Saint Dong Hai (those who have contributed to the establishment of villages, heroes in fighting foreign invaders, helping people control water, and the gods). The festival on January 21 of Cat Hai town, the Cat Ba Fishing Village festival on April 1 every year (fish praying festival) is also the day Uncle Ho visited Cat Ba Fishing Village associated with the dragon boat racing festival on the sea, the Xa Ma festival at Hoang Chau communal house, which was ranked as a National Historical Relic in 2017, the festival to pray for luck and fortune.


Early spring at Hien Hao Temple... with a mysterious ceremony, associated with the Vietnamese tradition of "remembering the source of water" , the desire for peace, the desire for a bountiful fishing season. Along with the festival are folk games such as dragon boat racing on the sea, wrestling; net weaving and fishing competitions... demonstrating the martial spirit, hard work, patriotism and love for the homeland of the coastal people.

Regarding historical relics, Cat Hai district has a number of typical relics such as Gia Loc communal house and pagoda cluster, Phu Long communal house, Hoang Chau communal house and pagoda, Nghia Lo communal house... Typical historical and cultural relics in Cat Hai district and surrounding areas are a chain of the development process of Hai Phong's history and of the nation from prehistoric times to the present day, each period has typical relics with great humanistic value. Cat Ba archipelago in particular and Cat Hai district in general are also places to preserve the unique tangible and intangible cultural values ​​of the fishing community residing on Cat Hai island since ancient times. From the life at sea, they have created a unique cultural feature imbued with marine elements with festivals and customs bearing the characteristics of coastal residents in general and fishermen of Cat Hai island district in Hai Phong in particular. This is an important factor contributing to the cultural value of the island district's residents, stimulating the curiosity of tourists, and has been exploited by the local government to serve tourism to develop the economy, culture and society of the district.

1.7. Situation of tourism development based on marine culture in Cat Ba island district

1.7.1. Natural resources of forests and seas combined with culinary culture become tourism products.

Based on rich natural resources, diverse seafood, creating a culinary culture to become a famous sea tourist destination at home and abroad, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to enjoy the sea, enjoy dishes with the rich flavor of the sea. Cat Ba Island


is the place where cultural, sports, entertainment, and festival activities associated with tourism take place most strongly on Cat Hai island district. Therefore, tourism types based on natural resource values ​​are focused on investment, exploitation, and effective and efficient implementation. Some typical tourism activities in Cat Hai district:

1. Swim at Cat Co 1, Cat Co 2, Cat Co 3 beaches or Tung Thu beach (2 km from the center). In addition, visitors can swim at small beaches in Lan Ha Bay (Van Boi Island beach, Van Boi Con beach, Ba Trai Dao beach, Nam Cat beach) or the beach on Monkey Island (Cat Dua island).

2. Visit Lan Ha Bay, Monkey Island (Cat Dua Island), Cua Van fishing village.

3. Kayaking on the bay.

4. Adventure climbing in locations in Lan Ha Bay.

5. Visit aquaculture and seafood cage facilities.

6. Visit Cat Ba National Park.

7. Trekking at Cat Ba National Park or Lien Minh (Tran Chau commune)...

8. Visit the caves.

9. Visit historical and cultural sites

In general, Vietnamese tourists often prefer to choose a resort combined with swimming in the sea, visiting historical sites, revolutionary sites, visiting the bay, and buying seafood as gifts. Meanwhile, international tourists to Cat Hai district, in addition to swimming in the sea, love kayaking on the bay, adventurous mountain climbing or participating in some forest trekking tours to see white-headed langurs and birds; going to Viet Hai village to enjoy fishermen-style cuisine; experiencing life with fishermen on floating houses raising fish in cages at sea...

Marine life in the sea - Cat Hai island is also very rich and diverse, with over 1,200 species, including 30 species of seagrass, 36 species of mangrove plants, 590 species of benthic animals, 20 species of coral, 207 species of fish; including


There are few rare species listed in the Vietnam Red List and many special species with high economic value such as: Guot seaweed, soft seaweed, turtles, green turtles... Lan Ha Bay (Cat Ba) is one of the most beautiful bays in the Ha Long Bay scenic complex (world natural heritage).

On Cat Ba Island alone, there are hundreds of caves with many majestic primitive shapes, diverse and rich vegetation. There are many bays with golden sand strips, coral reefs with shimmering colors. In the forest, there are many precious woods such as Lat Hoa, Lim, Goi, Kim Giao... Cat Hai Sea has nearly 200 species of fish, nearly 600 species of marine animals, 75 species of phytoplankton, nearly 200 species of zooplankton, 27 types of mangrove forests. Cat Hai Sea also has many types of mollusks such as: mantis shrimp, dragon shrimp, tortoise shellfish, crabs, blood cockles, pearl oysters, green mussels, geoducks...

From the above advantages, Cat Hai island district is famous for its seafood, unique tourism products, diverse, rich in types, reserves and quality, so the culinary culture here has many delicious dishes, creating a unique attraction for sea tourism in Cat Hai district.

Table 1: Richness of aquatic species composition in coastal areas of Cat Ba archipelago

Source: Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources 2008


Aquatic group

Number of species listed and identified

got (I)

Number of species in Vietnam's sea

Male (II)

Ratio between I/II

Floating plants

165

537

0.31

Algae

71

653

0.11

Seagrass

5

14

0.36

Floating animals

115

657

0.17

Benthic animals

658

About 6000

0.11

Molluscs

193



Maybe you are interested!

Situation of Tourism Development Based on Marine Culture in Cat Ba Island District


Crustacean

116



annelid

124



Echinoderm

8



Hard coral (data)

2002, 2003)

107

370

0.29

Fish

About 230

2038

0.11


1.7.2. Marine human resources become tourism products

1.7.2.1. Fishermen's activities

The characteristic of Cat Hai island district is that fishermen from generation to generation have formed fishing villages, both fishing and doing fishing logistics, with a high community culture, very favorable for the development of community tourism. This is a new direction of Cat Ba tourism to attract tourists, changing the seasonality of local tourism. Therefore, coming to Cat Ba at any time of the year, visitors will enjoy attractive and interesting tourism services. Not only can they admire the beautiful scenery of Lan Ha Bay, visitors can also participate in the journey to explore community tourism destinations imbued with the character of coastal residents in Viet Hai, Xuan Dam, Hien Hao, Gia Luan communes...

Viet Hai Commune is a community tourism destination chosen by many tourists. Viet Hai has less than 80 households that still preserve the cultural lifestyle of an ancient fishing village, located in the valley of Cat Ba National Park, isolated from the surrounding world. Previously, to enter the village by road, one had to go through the forest, climb passes, wade through streams for dozens of kilometers, however, the sea route to the village is more convenient. To develop Viet Hai Commune into a community cultural tourist destination to welcome visitors, Cat Hai District has proactively built, planned, and restored ancient houses,


Build a number of projects combining economic development and tourism services such as: building farms to raise economically efficient animals such as wild boars, porcupines, civets, geckos, etc. combined with raising wild animals that need to be preserved for tourism purposes; develop thousands of fishing households to raise fish in cages, geoducks, green mussels, etc. for sightseeing on the bay and fishing; grow food crops, foodstuffs, medicinal herbs, etc. to serve culinary and medical needs; mobilize people to build houses with pure Vietnamese architecture, ensuring adequate conditions for tourists to stay at home to participate in activities with the people; build environmentally friendly resorts and restore health with traditional medicinal plants; traditional cuisine, etc.

In addition to Viet Hai commune, Cat Ba also has a number of other community tourism destinations that have also been focused on investment and development, such as Xuan Dam, Tran Chau, Gia Luan, Lien Minh, Hien Hao communes... With the typical terrain of hills and gardens interspersed in residential areas, people in these communes have developed fruit garden models in the direction of maintaining and restoring traditional fruit trees and local specialties such as paper orange trees. Some families combine providing resort services, exploring hills and gardens with processing many typical dishes such as Lien Minh chicken, cucumbers, green vegetables... to serve tourists. This is a practical model, increasing income from fruit products and accompanying tourism services. Some places also encourage people to plant trees with forest garden architecture combined with developing community eco-tourism villages. This direction is a way to seize development opportunities, attract tourists, especially foreign tourists to explore nature on Cat Ba island.

Building community cultural tourism sites with rich, diverse and novel tourism products is one of the strategies to retain visitors to Cat Ba Island; at the same time, creating opportunities for people in these localities to increase their income and stabilize their lives from business services.


food and beverage business, resorts, restaurants... This is the type that helps develop the local economy and society, contributes to overcoming seasonal tourism, maximizes the potential and strengths of the region, and preserves the unique cultural identity of the community of the coastal residents of Cat Hai.

1.7.2.2. Marine culture becomes a tourism product from cultural heritage

* Tangible cultural heritage


After years of implementing the Resolution of the 5th Central Committee (VIII term) on "Building and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity"; Resolution of the 9th Conference of the 11th Party Central Committee, (Resolution No. 33-NQ-TW) "on building and developing Vietnamese culture and people to meet the requirements of sustainable national development"; Resolution of the 8th Central Committee Conference, XII term, dated January 16, 2017 of the Politburo "on the Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, vision to 2045, Tourism and marine services;... from effectively applying the policies of the Party and State, Cat Hai district has had positive changes in its efforts to protect and promote the value of cultural heritage. The district combines conservation with the exploitation of tourist destinations, creating a space for community cultural activities, connecting villages and communes from relics, especially with the system of relics ranked at national and city levels. Cat Hai is an island district, but its cultural traditions are no less unique than those of localities on the mainland. A land full of the culture of coastal fishermen blends with the charm of wildness, grandeur, romance, and picturesque landscapes, preserving hundreds of relics, of which 12 are ranked with 4 national relics and 8 city relics.

As a locality that focuses on tourism development, the preservation of relics is given special importance to serve the promotion of indigenous cultural values ​​and exploitation for tourism purposes. National historical relic where Uncle Ho visited


Cat Ba fishing village and standing and talking with the islanders in the center of Road 1-4 of Cat Ba tourist area are considered familiar and meaningful destinations for every tourist. They come to better understand traditional values, imbued with the teachings of the President "Our golden forests and silver seas are owned by our people". In particular, the saying is even more meaningful in educating the younger generation about the awareness of protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland in the current period.

In the strategy of building and developing Cat Ba into a national and international tourist center, one of the addresses that Cat Hai district is interested in is managing the exploitation and promotion of existing cultural values ​​along with archaeological sites, which are evidence of the rich cultural traditions of this island district.

Cai Beo is a large-scale archaeological site with a thick stratigraphy and a rich complex of relics and artifacts. Cultural traces show that this is the oldest known coastal fishing village in Vietnam. Cai Beo is identified as an attractive destination in the strategy of building and developing Cat Ba, Hai Phong into a national and international tourism center.

Cai Beo site was ranked as a National Monument in 2009. This is not only a typical and unique marine cultural heritage of Vietnam but also a wonderful geological museum of ocean sea level fluctuations. Human acceptance and adaptation to the phenomenon of sea encroachment and sea retreat is a lesson for us today in the face of the risk of seawater intrusion due to climate change. In addition, the poetic beauty of nature and the bustling life of the fishing village help Cai Beo attract domestic and foreign tourists.

Cat Hai also has many unique festivals. The festival system is also a typical cultural beauty of this land: Fishing Village Festival associated with the event of President Ho Chi Minh visiting the island on March 31, 1959, the traditional day.

Comment


Agree Privacy Policy *