Hanoi introduces four heritage tourism routes with advanced digital platform
WVR - On December 3, four heritage exploration routes in the capital were launched, utilising digital maps, QR codes, and the H-Heritage platform, introducing a new approach for tourists, students, and researchers to engage with the city’s cultural legacy.
Latest
On 3 December, the introduction event for “Heritage Tourism Routes in Hanoi” was held at Temple Quan Thanh (Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi), showcasing four digitally enhanced heritage trails designed to offer visitors an immersive, intuitive cultural experience.
 |
| Drum performance opens the event. (Photo: Ha Anh) |
The event formed part of the FEF-R Patrimoin project funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (through the French Embassy and Institut Francais in Vietnam), in cooperation with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University Hanoi, the École Française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) and the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms Pham Thi Diem, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Ba Dinh Ward, affirmed that the implementation of the “Heritage Tourism Routes in Hanoi” initiative - with the support of international partners, experts, scholars and Vietnamese universities - marks an important milestone. It introduces interconnected, academically grounded and engaging routes for sightseeing, research and historical exploration.
These heritage journeys not only raise community awareness of heritage conservation but also create opportunities for local socio-economic development through sustainable tourism, promoting cultural exchange, integration, and the dissemination of Vietnamese culture and traditions to international friends.
“The event is a clear demonstration of cooperation and carries many important messages: we are ready to open the door to creativity, innovation and development. Through digital experiences, presentations and information-sharing activities within the programme, we hope delegates will gain a more comprehensive understanding of the efforts of Hanoi and Ba Dinh Ward in heritage preservation and promotion”, Ms Pham Thi Diem emphasised.
French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet extended his congratulations to the project team and noted that the digitised, organised and systematised data - accessible via QR codes and the H-Heritage application - will allow the public to explore Hanoi’s heritage easily.
 |
| French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet speaks at the event. (Photo: Ha Anh) |
Ambassador Olivier Brochet believes that these journeys will allow everyone to see Hanoi from a new perspective – a historical yet vibrant capital where tradition intertwines with modern challenges.
"Beyond online journeys, the project also facilitates training for young researchers and technical teams, creates accessible content for the public, connects local partners, and opens a fresh perspective on urban areas, heritage, and sustainable tourism," the Ambassador stated.
From an academic and training perspective, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, emphasized that "Heritage Tourism Journeys in Hanoi" is a significant outcome of the FEF-R Patrimoin project. This initiative contributes to training younger generations in practical heritage promotion in Thang Long – Hanoi.
Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan noted that over more than a year of implementation, the research team conducted field surveys, compiled heritage dossiers, and developed digital maps, QR applications, and the H-Heritage platform to create four experimental heritage journeys.
Discussing this initiative, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep, Heritage Expert from Expertise France, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared that the journeys focus on promoting tangible, intangible, and digital heritage values through four routes.
These include Thang Long Four Guardians: the deities guarding the four directions of the ancient Thang Long – Hanoi citadel; Temples Worshipping the Mother Goddess; Village Communal Houses Worshipping Craft Ancestors; and Buddhist Worship Spaces and Belief Areas.
The exploration routes allow visitors to listen to the rich historical-cultural stories and visualize the continuous development of Thang Long – Hanoi heritage.
 |
| Delegates attending the event take a commemorative photo. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep hopes that from this platform, authorities can develop more new routes, aiming for a "heritage network" like a metro system, where each relic is a "station" connecting people with the history and culture of the capital.
This is also an important reference tool for research, teaching, and heritage exploration, while enhancing dialogue among professionals, managers, and the community, contributing to spreading the cultural values of the capital and promoting France-Vietnam cultural cooperation.
| The FEF-R Patrimoine Project through Documentation and Figures: – 4 heritage journeys covering Hanoi's relics and worship spaces – Over 28 scientific data sheets collected and digitized – QR code system at each relic site – Content integrated on the H-Heritage platform – 1 collective research book comprising 10 articles – Reprinting 2 books on deities, relics, and temples in Hanoi Digital tools serve three functions: -Tourism: assisting tourists in directly exploring heritage -Science: providing data for lecturers, experts, and researchers -Education: supporting the integration of heritage knowledge into schools and extracurricular activities |
