Central Highlands provinces promote value of historical relics

The Central Highlands, the homeland of people of all ethnic groups, who are indomitable, with one heart following the revolution. This place used to be a heroic stronghold in the uprisings and long-term resistance wars of the nation. The enemy used to fully exploit the resources of this rich land, but they also borrowed the rugged terrain as a place to exile patriots and loyal communists. Therefore, the Central Highlands is a land with a fairly dense concentration of historical relics.

The children visiting the Kon Tum Prison Relic.
The children visiting the Kon Tum Prison Relic.

Most of the relics are protected, embellished and promoted. However, in some places, due to lack of attention, many relics are degraded and damaged, leading to limitations in the exploitation process.

Dak Lak Province currently has 38 ranked relics; in which there are 19 historical sites including two special national monuments, seven national monuments and 10 provincial relics. Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Thuy Phuong Hieu said that among the ranked relics, the province is currently managing three relics directly, including the Buon Ma Thuot exile house, Bao Dai Palace, and Lac Giao Communal House, while the remaining relics are assigned to localities and management units.

Kon Tum Province has 26 ranked monuments, including famous monuments such as victory relic of Dak To - Tan Canh, Kon Tum Prison, Dak Glei Prison. In particular, Kon Tum Prison National Historic Site is a place to mark the indomitable fighting spirit of communist soldiers.

In the southern Central Highlands, Lam Dong Province has 37 ranked relics. As for Dak Nong Province, there are 12 historical relics and scenic sites at the provincial and national levels; including one special national historical site, six national historical sites, two national-level scenic sites and three provincial-level historical sites.

The model of restoring and exploiting the relics of the Stor Resistance Village is considered an effective approach. The relic was chosen by Gia Lai Province to develop community tourism products, both learning history and experiencing culture. Coming to Stor, guests can enjoy the scenery, participate in cultural activities and local cuisine. If the guests stay overnight in a stilt house, they will have the opportunity to enjoy a peaceful space to reflect on the heroic years. Many forests, mountains, and villages in the Central Highlands are imprinted with traces of a long and difficult journey.

Many other historical relics can all be invested, exploited and made effective in many aspects, such as with Stor Resistance Village.

Every province in the region has prison relics. Today, prisons and exile houses have become places to visit, learn and research for people, who are interested in history, and the young generation.

The relic of Da Lat Children's Prison has become a red address for educating the future generations about the heroic tradition of the nation and the patriotism to firmly develop the nation. Meanwhile, Kon Tum Prison Relic makes an important contribution to the education of the history of the struggle, annually welcoming nearly 10,000 visitors. Dak Lak Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism shared that there were 16,700 visitors to visit historical sites in the province in 2018, and the number increased to 25,308 visitors in 2019, with the special national historical relic - Buon Ma Thuot exile house being an important destination.

Re-enactment of the prison cell at the Buon Ma Thuot exile house.

Nguyen Thuy Phuong Hieu, Deputy Director of Dak Lak provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that in the immediate future, in the period 2020-2025, the province will prioritise investment in six projects to preserve and promote the value of historical relics and landscapes, with a budget of nearly VND110 billion.

Over the years, Lam Dong Province has allocated more than VND 173 billion to restore and upgrade national monuments and special national relics. The conservation of relics in the province also receives contribution from businesses and organisations.

Kon Tum Province has eight monuments that have been invested in and restored. In addition, there are investment policies for special national monuments; while the remaining monuments are built with campus, steles, and signposts. In particular, Kon Tum Prison National Monument has established a restoration project, with a capital of about VND120 billion, to be implemented in the 2021-2025 period.

The Stor Resistance Village was received investment of VND 15 billion from Gia Lai Province. Of which, the Hero Nup souvenir house is an important item with capital of VND 6.7 billion.

Meanwhile, in Dak Nong Province, the Truong Son Trail – the Ho Chi Minh Trail Special National Historical Relic, with seven relic sites located across many districts, has not been invested in nor embellished synchronously.

According to Dr. Luong Thanh Son (former Director of the Museum of Dak Lak Province), in order to promote the value of historical relics, in addition to paying attention to investing in renovating and embellishing relics, it is necessary to invest in the collection of artifacts, witnesses and historical stories along with the restoration of activities at the monument for display, promotion and education, thus helping to attract people and visitors.

In addition, it is necessary to build a team of professional and dedicated staff to preserve and promote the value of relics. It is necessary to step up the propaganda, introduction and promotion of relics in many forms.