Photo: Phạm Quốc Dũng
In Vietnam, the application of digital technology to the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage values, which first came into being in the late 2000s, accelerated significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has now become an indispensable component in the conservation, exploitation, and promotion of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Vietnam is currently home of nine UNESCO-recognised World Heritage sites; over 3,600 national historical-cultural relics; 188 active museums; and more than 560 national intangible cultural heritage items. This constitutes not only a precious legacy from our forefathers but also a veritable resource for developing tourism, promoting our national image and “soft power”.
However, due to numerous subjective and objective factors, the sustainability of cultural heritage in Vietnam is under threat. In this context, the application of digital technology for heritage conservation and promotion is both inevitable and urgent. It is an incumbent responsibility of the current generation towards our national patrimony.
Application of digital technology in conservation of Vietnamese cultural heritage
The conservation of cultural heritage demands a synthesis of scientific and technical knowledge with a profound understanding of cultural-historical value. In addition to traditional methods, since the late 2000s, heritage management bodies in Vietnam have applied digital technology in the conservation, preservation, inventory, exploitation, and utilisation of cultural heritage across the country.
These include 3D scanning and simulation technologies; Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR); the creation of digital databases and metadata encoding; and digital communication and online platforms. As a result, cultural heritage is no longer confined within museum walls or relic sites, it comes into life in the digital world. This new sphere allows the public, visitors, managers, and academics-both domestic and global-to interact with, research, visit, and experience heritage.
Digital technology is not merely a technical tool, it is a cultural vehicle that sends Vietnam's heritage onto the world stage.
Application of digital technology in promotion of Vietnamese cultural heritage
Hue was the first locality in Vietnam to apply digital technology in the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage. In 2007, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC) received funding, technology, and expert support from the Korea Cultural Heritage Administration for the “Digital Reconstruction of the Hue Imperial Palace” project.
The project was implemented by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) from Taejeon (South Korea). With material and photographic support from HMCC expert team, the project was completed and its results transferred to the center after three months of fieldwork and three months of post-production in Taejeon.
One of the assets transferred was the 10-minute bilingual (English-Vietnamese) documentary, Imperial City - Digital Reconstruction of the Hue Imperial City. This film uses digital techniques to recreate the architectural formation of the main palaces within the Hue Imperial City such as the Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace and The To Temple. Besides, it also reconstructs Nguyen dynasty ceremonies, including the Royal Grand Audience, the regular audience, and the change of the guard. Since 2007, this documentary has been screened regularly in the media room behind Thai Hoa Palace and is highly favored by visitors.
In 2017, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre continued its collaboration with Korean and French partners to 3D-scan the entire complex of Hue's royal architecture, digitally reconstructing the Kien Trung Palace, Can Chanh Palace, and many other structures. This created a database for establishing an audiovisual center within the Imperial City, using VR3D technology to serve visitors touring the Hue monuments complex. The center has also employed 3D digitisation to reconstruct the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, publishing it on the Google Arts & Cultural/Open Heritage platform for those interested in the conservation and promotion of Hue cultural heritage.
In 2013, the Vietnam National Museum of History (VNMH) applied VR3D technology to 'exhibit' specialised themes such as: Vietnamese Buddhist Cultural Heritage, Ancient Vietnamese Lamps, and Vietnamese Sacred Animals on its official website. Subsequently, thematic exhibitions on Prehistoric Vietnam, Dong Son Civilisation, Ngo - Dinh - Early Le - Ly, and Tran Dynasties, and Oc Eo - Funan Civilisation... were successively produced and 'broadcast' on the VNMH website, attracting numerous visitors to the museum via the Internet.
These digital applications at the VNMH have delivered cultural heritage to the public in a new modality, with new content and presentation formats. They met public demand for access during periods of social distancing, opened a new avenue for connecting the museum with its audience, provided them with novel experiences and, concurrently, gave the museum a new 'countenance' in the digital and online environment, adapting to the era of global digital transformation.
Following the pioneer footsteps of the HMCC and the VNMH, many other museums, heritage sites, and scenic landscapes have implemented digital technology in their exhibition activities to attract visitors.
Hoi An has built a 3D model of its ancient town, with over 1,000 architectural structures digitalised. Visitors can use an AR app on their phones to view information, history, and the structure of each ancient house. Furthermore, the project also digitalised traditional festivals to preserve the region's intangible heritage.
Some other outstanding endeavors include the Vietnam Military History Museum launching the online exhibition General Vo Nguyen Giap - The Legendary General and the Thăng Long Heritage Conservation Centre holding online exhibitions Auspicious Winds of the Doan Duong Festival and Mid-Autumn Reunion. National Archives Centre 1 presented a 3D documentary exhibition Education under the Nguyen Dynasty - Long-lasting Resonance, introducing over 100 unique documents on Nguyen-era education (1802-1945). The Vietnamese Women's Museum combined physical and online displays for themes like Connected by the Heart and The Female Generals Who Wore Mekong Delta Checkered Scarf. The Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture presented 3D displays of the national treasures it housed.
Application of digital technology to disseminate Vietnamese values to the world
As a country, Vietnam takes an active part in UNESCO-initiated heritage digitalisation initiatives. During the 2021-2024 period, it joined the "Digitalising Heritage in Southeast Asia" project, implemented by UNESCO in coordination with the Japan Foundation. Within this project's framework, the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum and the Vietnam National Museum of History digitalised over 300 exemplary artifacts, from lacquer paintings and bronze statues to ancient ceramics, to build a digital database and virtual exhibitions.
The digitalisation projects for the Nguyen Dynasty Woodblocks, the Imperial Records of the Nguyen Dynasty, and the Poetry on Hue Royal Architecture - all UNESCO-recognised documentary heritage - were carried out in recent years by National Archives Centre IV (in Da Lat) and the HMCC. These projects have contributed to the long-term security of these rare materials while simultaneously serving international academic research.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has been implementing a national project to build a centralised database of Vietnamese heritage, integrating digital maps, AI, and GIS technology for lookup, positioning, and management. The objective is to form a national 'digital heritage bank' - a place that connects data from all museums, relics, and localities within a single system.
Evidently, the application of digital technology is truly 'breathing new life' into heritage conservation and promotion in Vietnam. Beyond merely preserving information, digital technology transforms heritage into a rich cultural and tourism resource, contributing to the creative economy and disseminating Vietnamese values to the world.
Vietnam is currently home of nine UNESCO-recognised World Heritage sites; over 3,600 national historical-cultural relics; 188 active museums; and more than 560 national intangible cultural heritage items. This constitutes not only a precious legacy from our forefathers but also a veritable resource for developing tourism, promoting our national image and “soft power”.
However, due to numerous subjective and objective factors, the sustainability of cultural heritage in Vietnam is under threat. In this context, the application of digital technology for heritage conservation and promotion is both inevitable and urgent. It is an incumbent responsibility of the current generation towards our national patrimony.
Application of digital technology in conservation of Vietnamese cultural heritage
The conservation of cultural heritage demands a synthesis of scientific and technical knowledge with a profound understanding of cultural-historical value. In addition to traditional methods, since the late 2000s, heritage management bodies in Vietnam have applied digital technology in the conservation, preservation, inventory, exploitation, and utilisation of cultural heritage across the country.
These include 3D scanning and simulation technologies; Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR); the creation of digital databases and metadata encoding; and digital communication and online platforms. As a result, cultural heritage is no longer confined within museum walls or relic sites, it comes into life in the digital world. This new sphere allows the public, visitors, managers, and academics-both domestic and global-to interact with, research, visit, and experience heritage.
Digital technology is not merely a technical tool, it is a cultural vehicle that sends Vietnam's heritage onto the world stage.
Application of digital technology in promotion of Vietnamese cultural heritage
Hue was the first locality in Vietnam to apply digital technology in the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage. In 2007, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC) received funding, technology, and expert support from the Korea Cultural Heritage Administration for the “Digital Reconstruction of the Hue Imperial Palace” project.
The project was implemented by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) from Taejeon (South Korea). With material and photographic support from HMCC expert team, the project was completed and its results transferred to the center after three months of fieldwork and three months of post-production in Taejeon.
One of the assets transferred was the 10-minute bilingual (English-Vietnamese) documentary, Imperial City - Digital Reconstruction of the Hue Imperial City. This film uses digital techniques to recreate the architectural formation of the main palaces within the Hue Imperial City such as the Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace and The To Temple. Besides, it also reconstructs Nguyen dynasty ceremonies, including the Royal Grand Audience, the regular audience, and the change of the guard. Since 2007, this documentary has been screened regularly in the media room behind Thai Hoa Palace and is highly favored by visitors.
In 2017, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre continued its collaboration with Korean and French partners to 3D-scan the entire complex of Hue's royal architecture, digitally reconstructing the Kien Trung Palace, Can Chanh Palace, and many other structures. This created a database for establishing an audiovisual center within the Imperial City, using VR3D technology to serve visitors touring the Hue monuments complex. The center has also employed 3D digitisation to reconstruct the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, publishing it on the Google Arts & Cultural/Open Heritage platform for those interested in the conservation and promotion of Hue cultural heritage.
In 2013, the Vietnam National Museum of History (VNMH) applied VR3D technology to 'exhibit' specialised themes such as: Vietnamese Buddhist Cultural Heritage, Ancient Vietnamese Lamps, and Vietnamese Sacred Animals on its official website. Subsequently, thematic exhibitions on Prehistoric Vietnam, Dong Son Civilisation, Ngo - Dinh - Early Le - Ly, and Tran Dynasties, and Oc Eo - Funan Civilisation... were successively produced and 'broadcast' on the VNMH website, attracting numerous visitors to the museum via the Internet.
These digital applications at the VNMH have delivered cultural heritage to the public in a new modality, with new content and presentation formats. They met public demand for access during periods of social distancing, opened a new avenue for connecting the museum with its audience, provided them with novel experiences and, concurrently, gave the museum a new 'countenance' in the digital and online environment, adapting to the era of global digital transformation.
Following the pioneer footsteps of the HMCC and the VNMH, many other museums, heritage sites, and scenic landscapes have implemented digital technology in their exhibition activities to attract visitors.
Hoi An has built a 3D model of its ancient town, with over 1,000 architectural structures digitalised. Visitors can use an AR app on their phones to view information, history, and the structure of each ancient house. Furthermore, the project also digitalised traditional festivals to preserve the region's intangible heritage.
Some other outstanding endeavors include the Vietnam Military History Museum launching the online exhibition General Vo Nguyen Giap - The Legendary General and the Thăng Long Heritage Conservation Centre holding online exhibitions Auspicious Winds of the Doan Duong Festival and Mid-Autumn Reunion. National Archives Centre 1 presented a 3D documentary exhibition Education under the Nguyen Dynasty - Long-lasting Resonance, introducing over 100 unique documents on Nguyen-era education (1802-1945). The Vietnamese Women's Museum combined physical and online displays for themes like Connected by the Heart and The Female Generals Who Wore Mekong Delta Checkered Scarf. The Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture presented 3D displays of the national treasures it housed.
Application of digital technology to disseminate Vietnamese values to the world
As a country, Vietnam takes an active part in UNESCO-initiated heritage digitalisation initiatives. During the 2021-2024 period, it joined the "Digitalising Heritage in Southeast Asia" project, implemented by UNESCO in coordination with the Japan Foundation. Within this project's framework, the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum and the Vietnam National Museum of History digitalised over 300 exemplary artifacts, from lacquer paintings and bronze statues to ancient ceramics, to build a digital database and virtual exhibitions.
The digitalisation projects for the Nguyen Dynasty Woodblocks, the Imperial Records of the Nguyen Dynasty, and the Poetry on Hue Royal Architecture - all UNESCO-recognised documentary heritage - were carried out in recent years by National Archives Centre IV (in Da Lat) and the HMCC. These projects have contributed to the long-term security of these rare materials while simultaneously serving international academic research.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has been implementing a national project to build a centralised database of Vietnamese heritage, integrating digital maps, AI, and GIS technology for lookup, positioning, and management. The objective is to form a national 'digital heritage bank' - a place that connects data from all museums, relics, and localities within a single system.
Evidently, the application of digital technology is truly 'breathing new life' into heritage conservation and promotion in Vietnam. Beyond merely preserving information, digital technology transforms heritage into a rich cultural and tourism resource, contributing to the creative economy and disseminating Vietnamese values to the world.
Trần Đức Anh Sơn/ Impression from Vietnam
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