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The planning framework covers a total area of 9,663 hectares, designed as a “steel shield” to protect the core heritage area while enabling sustainable tourism development that balances natural conservation, preservation of local culture, and the livelihoods of local communities.
The core of the Trang An - Tam Cốc - Bích Động national special scenic complex is designated as a special protection zone, covering 4,865.82 hectares. Within this core area, planners divide the space into four sub-zones with different protection regimes to form a multi-layered defense system for the heritage.
This first layer spans 2,960.08 hectares, including the Hoa Lư forest area and the Tran Temple valley. It contains cave systems and traces of prehistoric habitation dating back thousands of years, including Trống, Bói, Mòi, and Thung Bình caves.
This second layer covers 497.35 hectares and preserves traditional Northern Delta houses, rice fields, and fruit gardens. The plan prohibits urban expansion or conversion of agricultural land in these areas.
An interwoven protected area within this layer totals 289.80 hectares, including rice fields, wetlands, and monuments, with tightly regulated activities. Residents may renovate homes, but must preserve traditional architecture. Community-based tourism is encouraged to raise incomes without harming the landscape.
The plan sets strict rules for construction throughout the core area. Only projects directly serving conservation and interpretation—such as trails, boat docking facilities, exhibition spaces for archaeological artifacts, and spaces simulating ancient life—will be considered.
While the core area remains a “no-go” zone for mass development, the plan reserves a separate tourism development area of 1,118.59 hectares. This area provides access to major sites including Trang An cave complexes, Tam Cốc - Bích Động, Thạch Bích - Thung Nắng, Linh Cốc - Hải Nham (Thung Nham), and Thiên Hà.
Tourism activities are designed to allow visitors to boat and begin journeys to explore Trang An’s karst scenery while ensuring minimal impact on sensitive zones.
The plan prioritizes environmentally friendly tourism products, with ecotourism at the top. Activities include boat-based cave exploration, forest trekking, birdwatching, and nature photography. Experiential agriculture tourism is also encouraged, allowing visitors to participate in harvests and learn about traditional Northern Delta agriculture in rice fields and fruit orchards, supporting livelihoods while preserving the agricultural landscape.
Development is not open-ended. The plan mandates strict visitor capacity controls by season, by route, and per corridor. Sensitive areas such as caves and archaeological sites will be subject to very strict quotas.
Within the core, motorized vehicles are minimized, and pedestrians, bicycles, electric vehicles, and hand-rowed boats are preferred. The river system is also planned to be improved to drain water efficiently and to open new tourism routes.
Preserving intangible cultural heritage is highlighted as a key focus for the Hoa Lư region. The plan supports research, collection, and cataloging of traditional festivals, religious practices, indigenous knowledge, and crafts at risk of disappearing.
A list of representative festivals is to be scientifically documented for inclusion in the national intangible heritage list. These include Trang An Festival, Thái Vi Temple Festival, Bai Đính Pagoda Festival, Agricultural rites, Hành Cung and Khả Lương village festivals, and Trần Temple Festival (Nội Lấm). Smaller-scale village rituals tied to local life, such as Sinh Dược village festival, are also recognized.
The Hành cung Vũ Lâm area will be studied comprehensively for historical, cultural, archaeological, and geographical details to determine appropriate protection and restoration strategies when scientifically supported.
Craft villages and intangible culinary knowledge are to be protected and developed, including Văn Lâm embroidery, Ninh Vân stone carving, pottery, and traditional medicine. Local culinary specialties—such as grilled rice cake, fish Trầu, and fish ro Tổng Trường—are acknowledged and preserved as part of local rituals.
For historical-cultural sites, restoration must follow scientific procedures, with careful attention to architectural style, technical solutions, and the use of traditional materials. For ancient villages, the plan calls for inventories of homes over 50 years old, analyzing spatial configurations, and applying appropriate conservation measures alongside landscape upgrading and infrastructure improvements while preserving the “soul” of rural Bắc Bộ.
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