Ninh Binh taps potential of heritage to develop cinema industry

Inspired by legends surrounding the tomb of King Dinh Tien Hoang, the film “Ho Linh Trang Si Bi An Mo Vua Dinh” (Guardian Warriors The Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb) officially premiered nationwide on August 28, 2026. Beyond bringing a legendary story from the Dinh dynasty to the big screen, the film was also invited to the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival in the Gala Presentation section, creating an additional opportunity to promote Ninh Binh’s history, culture and landscapes to international audiences.

“Ho Linh Trang Si Bi An Mo Vua Dinh” highlights Ninh Binh’s potential to incorporate its cultural and historical heritage and natural landscapes into cinematic works. Through the language of film, stories associated with the ancient capital of Hoa Lu are retold from fresh perspectives, helping bring the values of the province’s heritage closer to the public, particularly younger generations.

During the production of the film, the crew spent 83 days and nights working in Ninh Binh, filming at around 40 locations across well-known sites such as Trang An, Thung Nham, Bai Dinh, Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, Thien Ha Cave and Cuc Phuong National Park. The diversity of the local landscapes, ranging from limestone mountains, rivers and caves to cultural and historical settings, provided the production team with a variety of backdrops suitable for telling the story of an important period in the nation’s history.

Alongside historical relics and scenic sites, a number of tourism areas and destinations across Ninh Binh have proactively coordinated with film crews and facilitated location shooting in recent years. This is considered a suitable approach that both promotes the locality’s image and expands the use and value of heritage sites and landscapes, while linking preservation with development.

Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, said the province would continue to study and implement measures to facilitate film-related activities, strengthen cooperation, promotion and outreach, and attract film crews. At the same time, it will seek to bring into full play the value of its heritage and landscapes and build Ninh Binh’s profile as an attractive destination for film producers.

In the long term, Ninh Binh aims to create a favourable environment for the development of cinema as part of its cultural industries. Beyond attracting film crews for location shooting, the province could gradually expand into related activities, including film production and promotion, the organisation of film events, human resource training, and the development of tourism products associated with films.

In recent years, a number of domestic and international film projects have chosen Ninh Binh as a filming location, including Kong: Skull Island, The Quiet American, The Rebel and Tam Cam: The Untold Story./.