November 23 is Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day. Vietnam has a diverse cultural heritage with more than 40,000 inventoried relics of all kinds. UNESCO has recognized 8 cultural and natural heritages, 15 intangible cultural heritages, and 9 documentary heritages. Vietnam’s 200 museums are storing 4 million artifacts, of which 200 are recognized as national treasures. Recently, more and more young people are engaging in the restoration and digitization of these heritages and relics.
The interactive 3D virtual exhibition introduces the brilliant development achievements of Dai Viet in the 13th-14th centuries in politics, economy, culture, art, and religion at the Vietnam National Museum of History (Screen photo: Vietnam National History Museum)
One of the first museums in Vietnam to digitize its content, the Vietnam National History Museum, collaborated with young engineers at the Vietsoft Pro Company to introduce to the public a 3D interactive exhibition of national treasures, 3D virtual tours, and online history lessons.
Trong Bang, an architect who has been involved in the museum’s digitization efforts, said advanced technology gives museum visitors a fuller experience. “Instead of just reading captions, visitors can scan QR codes with their smartphones to get more information, listen to recorded explanations, and interact with virtual 3D exhibits,” Bang explained.
Digitization has allowed visitors to explore fuller, more detailed information about the museum’s 20 national treasures at baovatquocgia.baotangso.com.
Advanced digital technology has restored historical relics and artifacts, presented them more vividly to the public, and provided a fresh view of Vietnam’s heritage and history to the younger generation. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many other museums have started using digital technology to change the way they display their content.
Bui Hoai Son, permanent member of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education, applauded the young people who are involved in heritage digitization projects.
“Their efforts have given new vitality to our cultural heritage, and made it appear more interesting and relevant in the current context,” said Son.
Son says tech savvy youngsters have been doing a good job, adding that digital data makes storage easier, more permanent, and more flexible. “We can make this digital data very attractive. I believe young people have a great determination to protect our cultural heritages and will use technological advances to create new heritage products,” Son noted.
Young people, with their creativity and love for their Vietnamese heritage, are combining tradition and modernity. They have established groups specialized in restoring traditional costumes, preserving traditional music, and retelling traditional stories.
These groups - Nguyen Phong Doan Linh, Y Van Hien, Vietnamese Communal House, and Cheo 48 hours - have attracted large numbers of participants who come to learn and then spread the Vietnamese culture.
Designer Nguyen Duc Loc, director of Y Van Hien, which reproduces traditional costumes, said the ancient patterns were woven very elaborately. The patterns of the dragon robes, the royal costumes of the Nguyen Dynasty, were very delicate.
“It’s difficult to recreate them. If it’s even possible, it will take a lot of time and money, and the cost effectiveness won’t be great. So we’re using modern printing technology to reproduce the look of the costumes, the layout of the motifs and patterns,” said Loc.
Vietnamese youths are combining their creativity, knowledge of technology, and love of national culture to overcome challenges in preserving and promoting Vietnam’s heritage.
Le Phuong - Thanh Huyen