A Journey of Discovery and Heritage Education in the Ancestral Land

In Phu Tho, this model is being elevated through vivid practical experiences, transforming every monument and heritage site into an inspiring "living classroom." This initiative helps students nurture a love for their homeland and a passion for creativity from their very first days at school.

Students experience Xoan Singing – a Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In the new development landscape, school tourism is identified as a strategic direction, providing sustainable value by promoting cultural heritage alongside life skills education. While Phu Tho serves as the central hub of national origins—highlighted by the Hung Temple Special National Historical Relic Site, the Belief in Hung King Worship, and Xoan Singing—Vinh Phuc is known as a land of learning that honors academic traditions through its temples of literature and historical figures. Meanwhile, Hoa Binh offers an eco-cultural-scientific space, characterized by Muong culture, majestic forests, and scientific achievements at the Heritage Park for Scientists.

Leveraging heritage resources and regional connectivity, the province has announced a program linking tourist destinations to create thematic, flexible, and age-appropriate school tourism products. This aims to position the brand, enhance communication, and build attractive experiential school tours.

Recently, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, in coordination with the Department of Education and Training, officially launched the program "School Tourism - Cultural Heritage Education in the Ancestral Land." This event marked a significant turning point, ensuring that programs are organized professionally and closely aligned with the new general education curriculum.

Among these, five school tourism destinations were announced as linked tours with different themes. The first is “In the Footsteps of the Hung Kings – A Journey to National Origins,” which explores the historical and cultural values of the Hung King era at the Hung Vuong Museum, the Hung Temple Special National Historical Relic Site, Hung Lo ancient village, and Lai Len Shrine.

The highlight is the ancient village Xoan Singing experience, where students can learn, practice, and interact with artisans, transforming heritage into a “living classroom.” The theme “To the Land of Learning – A Journey of Gratitude to Talents” connects destinations such as the Temple of Vu The Lang, Vinh Phuc Temple of Literature, and shrines dedicated to famous figures like Do Khac Chung and Tran Nguyen Han. This product emphasizes education in the tradition of studiousness and the “teacher-student” bond, nurturing academic aspirations in students. The theme “A Journey of Knowledge and Green Technology” links eco-friendly destinations and natural wonders, including Xuan Son National Park, Long Coc tea hills, Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, and the Heritage Park for Scientists.

Students gain access to knowledge about ecology, the environment, renewable energy, science and technology, and life skills. The theme “Learning from Heritage – Experiences from Craft Villages”—featuring the Temple of Literature, Huong Canh Pottery Village, Hung Lo ancient village, traditional Banh Chung and Banh Giay making, and the Heritage Park for Scientists—explores traditional craft villages and communal cultural spaces. By engaging in hands-on practice, students learn to appreciate the value of labor, creativity, and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

And finally, the theme “Experiencing and Practicing Ancient Village Xoan Singing” offers a unique tourism product that allows students to directly immerse themselves in the traditional space of Xoan singing. They visit relics associated with its origins, such as Hung Lo Communal House and Lai Len Shrine—where, according to legend, the Hung Kings once stopped to enjoy these ancient melodies. Here, folk artisans introduce the history, the significance of each singing phase (ritual singing, lyrical singing, and festive singing), and the vital role of Xoan singing in community cultural life.

Students from Tran Phu High School (Vinh Phuc Ward) enjoy a school tour at the Heritage Park for Scientists in Cao Phong Commune.

On January 8, the Heritage Park for Scientists welcomed a group of 520 students from Tran Phu High School for a visit and experience. The students participated in various group activities and physical exercises within the nearly 30-hectare grounds, took commemorative photos, and explored the museum. Mr. Nguyen Huu Dong emphasized that the core value of the park is to use the stories and legacies of scientists to inspire students, providing them with career orientation and the motivation to strive for excellence. Following the success of this inaugural group, the program has attracted significant interest from many local educational institutions and is expected to expand, contributing to the spread of knowledge among the younger generation.

Regarding future directions, Mr. Nguyen Duc Hoa—Director of the Provincial Tourism Promotion Information Center (Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism)—stated: "The core objective of these school tourism programs is to take heritage out of static display spaces and transform relic sites into 'practical classrooms. This ensures that every student does not just hear and see, but also practices and feels with their own emotions."

The Center hopes that tourist areas, service providers, and travel agencies will continue to diversify their products. With close coordination from the education sector and local authorities, the province aims to effectively implement school tourism linked to the heritage education of the Ancestral Land. Through these efforts, Phu Tho seeks to establish itself as a prominent national hub for heritage-based school tourism.

Huong Lan