There is no majestic landscape equal to Ha Long Bay, nor great vestiges such as the ancient capital city of Hue.
However, in the northern province of Ha Tinh, there are a wide variety of well known cultural and historical sites and landscapes of to attract tourists. All this makes Ha Tinh one of the most popular tourism destinations in the country.
Visitors can take a bus ride of 20 kilometers from Vinh City, in the northern province of Nghe An, to Nguyen Du Temple located in Tien Dien Village, where the country’s great writer Nguyen Du was born in the late nineteenth century.
Tien Dien has always been a prosperous village owing to its high-ranking mandarins, dukes and civil officers. The holy soul of Lam River and Hong Mountain appear to converge here for the success of the most notable poet, Nguyen Du, and his immortal composition of Truyen Kieu (the Tale of Kieu).
In the village, tourists can visit the relic complex and the commemorated area of the poet, which covers over two hectares. Located here are two ancient houses where the famous poet and his family lived in the nineteenth century.
Sheltered by nearly 300 year old trees, the houses showcase many documents and personal memorabilia of the late poet, such as his pen, ink bottle, hand made fan and old books.
The two houses also display various notes on his literary works and poems; his family and friends still keep the stele and the musical stone by the front door.
Tourists may also visit a library, set up as a tribute to the great poet, containing 1,500 book titles including 500 copies of the Tale of Kieu, which were published during various periods from about 200 years ago.
The library also shows a calligraphy book which features the Kieu story. This book, compiled by the well known artist Nguyet Dinh, is considered to be the largest collection of calligraphy works on Nguyen Du’s epic poem. It weighs 77 kilograms and is 1.6 meters in length.
About one km away in Cung field is Nguyen Du’s simple and modest grave. Every year, people, particularly students, from the country’s regions come here to burn incense to memorialize the poet and pray for their good studying career in the future.
Leaving Tien Dien Village, visitors may travel to Co Dam village where they will have a chance to listen to Ca Tru (ceremonial singing) by elderly artists living here.
The village is thought to be the site of original Ca Tru and has been submitted to UNESCO for possible recognition as a cultural world heritage site.
In the village, a Ca Tru club has been established and convenes on every full moon day at the communal office. Family classes rehearse almost every evening at the homes of the elderly masters.
In Co Dam Village, an ancient temple dedicated to Dinh Le, the founder of ceremonial singing, once existed but was destroyed in severe bombing in 1968.
However, visitors can learn more about the traditional art via old artists’ renditions.
(Source: SGT)
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