Tan Hai Strengthens Trade and Service Development Through Cultural Tourism
Far more than a renowned spiritual destination, Dinh Thay Thim is increasingly serving as a catalyst for the development of trade, services, and tourism in Tan Hai Commune. By combining its rich cultural heritage with coastal advantages and improving infrastructure, the locality is creating new opportunities to make tourism a stronger driver of economic growth.
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A Boost for Trade and Services
Tan Hai possesses significant advantages for developing an integrated coastal economy centered on tourism and services. Its unspoiled beaches, the tranquil Phan River, Ba Dang Estuary, and the Dinh Thay Thim complex together form a diverse tourism landscape that blends coastal, cultural, and spiritual experiences. These assets provide a strong foundation for expanding tourism products while stimulating trade and service industries linked to the marine economy.
The upcoming completion of the DT719B coastal road connecting Hon Lan and Tan Hai is expected to improve access between tourist destinations, attract more investment and visitors, and create favorable conditions for the growth of accommodation, dining, shopping, and entertainment services, contributing to local economic development.
At the heart of this development is the Dinh Thay Thim Culture and Tourism Festival, which has preserved its traditional rituals and customs for more than 130 years. Alongside solemn ceremonies, the festival features folk games and cultural activities that reflect the unique heritage of the local fishing communities. This blend of spirituality, history, and culture has made Dinh Thay Thim a well-known destination for visitors from across Vietnam.
In 2026, following administrative restructuring, Tan Hai Commune People's Committee organized the festival for the first time. Comprehensive preparations were made to ensure public security, traffic management, environmental sanitation, and visitor services, reinforcing the festival's image as a safe, welcoming, and well-organized cultural event.
Every year, in the middle of the ninth lunar month, tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists travel to Dinh Thay Thim to take part in the festival and discover the area's cultural heritage.
Beyond the festival season, the destination continues to attract visitors year-round by combining spiritual tourism with seaside vacations, fishing village experiences, and local cuisine. This steady flow of visitors has stimulated the growth of accommodation, restaurants, transportation, and specialty retail businesses, while creating jobs and improving local incomes.
Expanding the Tourism Network
The appeal of Dinh Thay Thim extends beyond its annual festival to the rich cultural traditions that have been preserved for generations. According to local legend, Thay and Thim were compassionate figures who devoted themselves to helping the poor, protecting fishermen, and encouraging kindness within the community. Their story has become a lasting symbol of the region's cultural identity and humanitarian values.
The recognition of the Dinh Thay Thim Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022 has provided an important foundation for the professional development of cultural and spiritual tourism.
According to Van Khoa, Vice Chairman of the Tan Hai Commune People's Committee, the locality plans to connect Dinh Thay Thim with nearby attractions, including Nganh Tam Tan - Doc Ong Bang, Nui Dat Lake, surrounding beaches, fishing village experiences, eco-tourism sites, and community-based tourism to diversify its tourism offerings and attract more visitors.
At the same time, Tan Hai is committed to developing tourism in a green and sustainable manner, with cultural values at its core, local communities as key stakeholders, and high-quality services as its competitive advantage.
By effectively integrating Dinh Thay Thim with coastal tourism, eco-tourism, fishing village experiences, OCOP products, and regional specialties, Tan Hai aims to establish a distinctive destination brand while creating new momentum for the continued growth of trade and service industries.