Phong Coc has long been known for the distinctive cultural values, festivals, and craft villages of the Ha Nam island area. Promoting values preserved through many generations, the locality is step by step transforming heritage into tourism products, turning culture into a resource for development in the spirit of Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW .
Located in the center of Ha Nam Island, Phong Coc Ward boasts a unique cultural heritage system associated with the history of land reclamation from the sea. It is home to Tien Cong Shrine, Coc Communal House, Hung Hoc Communal House, ancient village communal houses, ancestral shrines, as well as many traditional customs such as ancestral death anniversaries (Chap To) and clan feast rituals (Le Ra Co Ho) that have been preserved through generations.
Not only notable for its abundance of relics and festivals, Phong Coc also makes an impression because these cultural values remain vivid in daily community life. From clan activities to stories of reclaiming the Ha Nam island area passed down through generations, all contribute to shaping the land's distinctive identity. Among these, the Tien Cong Festival and the Xuong Dong (Field Going) Festival not only preserve historical and agricultural cultural values, but have also become highlights attracting visitors to explore. Sharing thoughts on turning culture into a resource for development, Mr. Ngo Dinh Dung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phong Coc Ward, stated: "Phong Coc identifies developing culture into an endogenous resource, linking the preservation and promotion of heritage values with tourism development, and creating cultural products imbued with distinct local identity."
Guided by that orientation, traditional festivals are no longer viewed merely as community cultural and religious activities, but are being approached from the perspective of preservation combined with rational utilization for sustainable tourism development. According to the locality's cultural development plan, by 2030, Phong Coc will form at least five signature cultural tourism products, including: The Tien Cong Festival Journey; the Xuong Dong Festival Experience; the Clan Cultural Space – Clan Feast Ritual and Ancestral Death Anniversary; Communal House Tourism – Dai Ky Phuc Festival; and Traditional Craft Village Experience.
Among them, reviving the traditional fishing gear weaving craft in Hung Hoc linked to tourism experiences is seen as a promising path. Beyond preserving the traditional craft of coastal and estuarine inhabitants, the craft village also helps visitors learn about local livelihoods, work culture, and history. Along with this, Phong Coc focuses on connecting relics and typical cultural destinations to shape cultural discovery tours across the Ha Nam region, contributing to boosting attraction for tourists.
From the story of festivals, communal houses, and craft villages, Phong Coc is aiming to build a new development model: “Cultural Ecosystem - Heritage Economy - Creativity”. In this model, heritage is not just an object of preservation, but also becomes a resource generating livelihoods, jobs, and added value for the community.
To realize this goal, the central role of local people is placed at the heart of the initiative. Artisans, elders, clans, business households, and neighborhood communities can all participate in the process of preserving, introducing, and harnessing cultural values. It is the community itself that will tell stories about Tien Cong, ancient communal houses, clan feast customs, and traditional crafts that have been bound to this land for generations.
In addition to promoting heritage values, the locality also aims to complete the restoration and enhancement of national relics such as Tien Cong Shrine, Hung Hoc Communal House, and Ho Mach; and compile dossiers requesting Special National Relic status for Coc Communal House and Tien Cong Shrine. Alongside this is the mission of heritage education for the younger generation. Through experiential activities and learning about local history, students foster pride in their homeland and raise awareness of preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.
Furthermore, according to the plan, Phong Coc Ward also aims to build a digital database on local heritage and culture, develop a digital tourism-heritage map, create digital media products, and establish a dedicated communication channel on Phong Coc culture. The locality also strives to establish a night-time economy space featuring a walking street, a cultural night market, traditional culinary spaces, and periodic folk art performances...
