The initiative, which runs from 2022 to 2024, was initiated by the French Embassy in Vietnam under the auspices of the Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet emphasized the importance of the initiative, which has a two-year budget of approximately EUR600,000 (US$667,000). The project has benefited more than 200 professionals from 20 Vietnamese historical institutions, marking a premise for new cooperation projects in 2025.

French Ambassador Olivier Brochet (third from left) chairs the June 3 press conference. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

"Implemented in two years, the project has not only achieved the objective of promoting the value of French expertise in the field of museums but has also created deep links between cultural institutions, transferring valuable professional experience from France through pilot projects," said the Ambassador.

By the end of 2024, the book Museology, an indispensable handbook for French museum professionals, will be fully translated and published in Vietnam, with the goal of becoming a reference for teaching the developing museum profession in Vietnam.

The project consists of three main components, including the development of training courses in the field of conservation and valorization of cultural heritage in Vietnam, capacity building of Vietnamese museum officials, and three pilot projects in three locations in Vietnam, namely the renovation of the visitor center at Cuc Phuong National Park - Vietnam's first national park - in the northern province of Ninh Binh, support for content display at the Cu Lao Cham Biosphere Reserve Education and Communication Center in the central province of Quang Nam, and the design and production of sound-based storytelling tools called "Storytelling Box" for museums in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Cédric Lesec, Director of Foreign Affairs and Communications, Confluences Museum, France, said that French experts asked Vietnamese students to play the role of visitors: A couple of grumpy travelers, a small family with a baby, or a group of energetic young students.

"Role-playing helped them understand the visitor experience. This exercise showed that we are not here to teach them anything, but to share and exchange experiences in welcoming the public and work together to find ways to make guests feel comfortable," said Cédric Lesec.

Sophie Maysonnave, Counselor for Cooperation and Cultural Activities, French Embassy in Vietnam (right) at the Cuc Phuong Visitor Center. Photo courtesy of the embassy

According to Do Hong Hai, Deputy Director of the Cuc Phuong National Park Environmental Education and Service Center, the Cuc Phuong Visitor Center has been completed and put into operation thanks to French support.

With modern sound and lighting effects combined with indigenous cultural elements and site information, this site has become a top choice for the nature-loving public and a trusted destination for environmentally conscious tourists.

Ngo Minh