This is an initiative funded by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, jointly implemented by the Institute of France in Vietnam (IFV), the University of Social Sciences & Humanities (USSH - VNU), the Institute of Far Eastern Europeanans (EFEO) and the University of French (AUF).
Turning heritage knowledge into a common resource of the community
From the context of Hanoi's strong urbanization, many relics - from communal houses, temples, shrines to pagodas, and small shrines - still silently exist among residential areas that have not been studied and connected to the system, the project aims to re-identify the "sacred map" of Thang Long - Hanoi with modern methods.
Through a survey of more than a hundred points, the implementation team selected 28 typical relics, divided into 4 itineraries including the Four Towns of Thang Long, the temples of the Mother, the communal house of the ancestors of the Crafts and the Hanoi pagoda system. The relics are described, photographed, Han Nom stele documents collected, compared with EFEO documents and national archives, then digitized and integrated into the interactive map system, QR code and H-Heritage application. The goal, according to the project group, is not only to serve tourists but also to "open" heritage data to three groups of the public: Researchers, teachers and students.
A model of sustainable France - Vietnam cooperation on urban heritage
After nearly 1 year of implementation, the project has mobilized nearly 40 experts and about 100 students from many fields: History, architecture, geography, humanities, information technology. The work ranges from field surveys, compile relic records, build GIS maps, add photo and video data, to building digital platforms and compiling research publications. These results form an ecosystem including: 10-special bilingual research book; French publications on Hanoi monuments; artistic photo album by Nicolas Cornet (to be released soon); three paper maps using three languages integrated with QR codes; digital map system, H-Heritage application app.
In his speech, French Ambassador Olivier Brochet affirmed that the project is a clear demonstration of the vitality of the cooperation between the two countries: "This project is a vivid testament to the France - Vietnam relationship in the fields of culture, heritage and innovation".
The Ambassador sent an important message: "Cultural heritage shows who we were; the way we care for our heritage today shows who we want to become in the future".
A heritage network like the train system
A representative of the University of French Language (AUF) in his speech emphasized that the project comes from the fact that many cultural values of Hanoi are hidden in small alleys, behind the roofs, next to the markets - places with temples, shrines, pagodas, and communal houses, although rustic, are still full of vitality. AUF highly appreciates the quality of project implementation, and at the same time considers this the beginning of a long-term process, when the potential for expansion, ranking, spreading and promoting the value of sustainable tourism is still very large.
The group hopes that, from the initial foundation, Hanoi can develop many other heritage routes, forming a "heritage network" - where each relic is a stop connecting people with the history and culture of Thang Long - Hanoi. Therefore, the project is not only a research project or a tourism product, but a sustainable cooperation - education - conservation model. The project paves the way for a new approach: making heritage a natural part of contemporary urban life...
