Tourists are lured to the golden fields in Hoa Lư District, the northern province of Ninh Bình. — VNS Photo Thái Bá

HÀ NỘI — Tourists are being lured to enjoy the golden fields by the mountains of Hoa Lư District at the start of the Ninh Bình Tourism Week 2019 which kicked off on Saturday.

The event will run until May 25 at the well-known tourist site of Tam Cốc in the northern province of Ninh Bình.

With the theme "The Golden Tam Cốc – Tràng An", the festival features tourism potential, cultural heritage and the beauty of the site during the rice season.

Tống Quang Thìn, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the week aimed to introduce and promote the unique culture and significant values of the local tourism sector, namely Tràng An Complex, a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site recognised in 2014.

“With remarkable landscapes, culture, history and hospitality, the tourism week promises to attract more tourists to the site,” he said.

“Tam Cốc is surrounded by golden rice fields like golden silk embracing limestone mountains. It’s the opportunity to enjoy one of the most spectacular sights of the year.”

Tourists also have a chance to take boat tours along the Ngô Đồng River to enjoy beautiful views of the fields and discover the caves. They can also experience folk singing performed by local artists on the river banks.

A wide range of cultural activities to be held during the week include a photography tour to Tam Cốc, a photo exhibition featuring Tam Cốc and other tourist sites, traditional festivals, an exhibition of traditional handicrafts, and demonstrations of how they are made, such as embroidery from Văn Lâm Village and pottery from Bồ Bát Village.

There is also a pedestrian zone at Tam Cốc Wharf open from 7am to 10pm daily, where local cuisine and souvenirs are on offer. Traditional music and water puppetry will be performed here.

Seminars on promoting sustainable tourism in Tam Cốc and the province will also be held.

Located 90km south of Hà Nội, Ninh Binh is known for Tam Cốc tourist site with limestone mountains rising out of rice fields, Tràng An Complex with spectacular cave systems, and historical and cultural sites including palaces and temples dedicated to Đinh and Lê kings.

Tràng An Complex was also used as a location for the movie “Kong: Skull Island” in 2017.

Ninh Bình Province welcomed over 3.4 million visitors in the first quarter of this year, including 225,000 foreigners, increasing 2.3 per cent and 2.6 per cent, respectively, in comparison with the same period last year. — VNS