Beyond being a historical costume film project, Guardian Spirit of the Valiant Warrior – The Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb was developed following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 19, 2024, between the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province and the Vietnam Film Development Association.
Guardian Spirit of the Valiant Warrior – The Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb has officially wrapped filming after 83 consecutive days and nights of shooting in Ninh Binh Province. The film is a project initiated under a film development cooperation agreement between the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) and Ninh Binh Province, signed in October 2024, with the aim of promoting filmmaking activities linked to tourism development and the growth of local cultural industries.
Guardian Spirit of the Valiant Warrior – The Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb is a historical period feature film developed within the framework of cooperation between the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) and the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province. After completing 83 continuous days and nights of filming in Ninh Binh, the project has concluded its principal photography phase and entered post-production. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on Vietnam’s National Day, September 2, 2026.
The wrap-up ceremony was held on February 30, 2026, in Ninh Binh, with the participation of the film crew, collaborating organizations, representatives of local authorities, and leaders of central ministries and agencies. The event marked the completion of on-location filming after an extended production period across numerous sites associated with the historical landscape of the ancient capital Hoa Lư and its surrounding areas.
According to the production team, the selection of Ninh Binh as the primary filming location stemmed from the need to authentically recreate the historical setting of the Đinh Dynasty—the period that marked the beginning of Vietnam’s centralized feudal state. Filming was carried out at multiple locations throughout the province, with close coordination and support from local authorities and relevant agencies.
Speaking at the wrap-up ceremony, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Film Development Association, stated that bringing Guardian Spirit of the Valiant Warrior – The Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb to Ninh Binh represents the concrete realization of the cooperation commitments between the Association and the locality. She also expressed her hope that the film would contribute to opening new directions for Vietnamese cinema in exploring historical themes and national cultural heritage.
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), delivers remarks at the wrap-up ceremony of the film “Guardian Spirit of the Valiant Warrior – The Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb
VFDA – Ninh Binh Cooperation: A Foundation for Film Development Linked with Tourism
Beyond being a historical costume film project, Guardian Spirit of the Valiant Warrior – The Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb was developed following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 19, 2024, between the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province and the Vietnam Film Development Association.
Delegates witness the signing ceremony of the Cooperation Program between the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province and the Vietnam Film Development Association.
Attending the signing ceremony were Dinh Thi Mai, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Ta Quang Dong, Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; H.E. Olivier Brochet, Ambassador of the French Republic to Viet Nam; Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Film Development Association; representatives of the Department of International Cooperation and the Department of Cinema; experts; and companies operating in the film and audiovisual production sector.
Representing Ninh Binh Province were Pham Quang Ngoc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee; Tong Quang Thin, Standing Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee; Bui Mai Hoa, Standing Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial Propaganda Department; along with representatives of provincial departments, districts, and cities; Xuan Truong Construction Enterprise; and Doanh Sinh Trading, Services and Tourism Joint Stock Company.
Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports
At the conference, Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, presented the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province and the Vietnam Film Development Association. This MoU serves as the foundation for implementing concrete activities aimed at attracting film productions, organizing cinematic arts events, promoting the development of film studios, and fostering the growth of the film industry in Ninh Binh—closely linked with tourism development, cultural industries, and the entertainment sector.
In practice, the integration of cinema with physical locations has demonstrated a strong spillover effect on local tourism. Previously, the Hollywood film Kong: Skull Island, which was filmed in Ninh Binh, played a significant role in introducing destinations such as Trang An and Tam Coc – Bich Dong to international audiences, generating heightened interest in local tourism in subsequent years.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Film Development Association, affirmed that the cooperation between the Association and Ninh Binh Province reflects strong determination and a high level of action-readiness, demonstrating a shared commitment to the development of cultural industries and the film industry in Ninh Binh in particular, and in Viet Nam more broadly. She emphasized the importance of unlocking local strengths, reviving historical and cultural layers, transforming Ninh Binh into a renowned filming destination for both Vietnamese and international productions—especially historical and period films—while attracting film crews, strengthening branding, and promoting tourism and related service industries.
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Film Development Association
The Memorandum of Understanding clearly outlines the responsibilities of the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), including professional oversight; the introduction of experts and consultants; and collaboration with the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province in tasks such as: proposing film industry development contents within special policy mechanisms for tourism, cultural and entertainment industries; supporting the development of the Ninh Binh Film Promotion and Film Industry Development Project to 2035, with a vision to 2045; advising on the application of film investment attraction indices; refining mechanisms and policies to attract domestic and international film crews; consulting on co-productions and studio development; promoting and organizing influential film events; and facilitating connections between Ninh Binh and investors, organizations, and individuals to attract film projects and develop the local film industry.
For its part, the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province is responsible for directing relevant departments to coordinate with VFDA in organizing and implementing joint activities; co-hosting selected film events; establishing the Ninh Binh Film Development Promotion Association to work alongside VFDA; developing film promotion and development policies; mobilizing investment resources for film production (including documentaries, feature films, animation, and digital cinema); allocating land for film studio development; and arranging provincial budget allocations and mobilizing socialized resources to implement specific tasks aimed at developing Ninh Binh’s film industry through 2030, with a vision to 2045.
The cooperation period spans 12 years, from 2024 to 2035, and is divided into two phases: an initial phase (2024–2025) focusing on preparation and short-term collaborative activities (such as promoting Ninh Binh through cinema, attracting film crews, producing short documentaries, and developing feature film scripts); followed by a full implementation phase from 2026 to 2035.
Within this context, Guardian Spirit of the Valiant Warrior – The Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb is regarded as a flagship project that concretizes the cooperative orientation between VFDA and Ninh Binh Province, demonstrating the role of cinema in promoting the creative economy and tourism-based economic development at the local level. The project also lays the groundwork for attracting future historical and cultural film projects, contributing to a richer and more diversified landscape of Vietnamese cinema closely connected to heritage spaces.
