Hanoi Heritage Tourism Itineraries: Contributing to building the Capital of "Culture - Identity - Creativity"

VNU affirms its role as a center of innovation, contributing to fostering Hanoi's soft power
At the 18th Congress of the Hanoi Party Committee, term 2025 - 2030, General Secretary To Lam suggested that, among the requirements and tasks for the Hanoi Party Committee in the new term, Hanoi must be built as a "City of culture - identity - creativity", towards a ""Civilized - modern - sustainable capital"with the wisdom of the times and global stature: where culture is the root, crystallizing national wisdom, nurturing faith, aspiration and courage, creating a unique attraction that no other city can copy; identity is the fulcrum, the core competitive advantage, helping Hanoi not only preserve its historical soul but also create attraction to lead creativity, develop a knowledge-based economy, attract talent; creativity is the driving force for development, transformation, turning heritage into living values, both preserving, developing, and expanding the urban stature, from planning, architecture, art to education, science and administration.

On that basis, "3 creative poles" are formed including:Heritage - historical inner city center and Red River bank space - Co Loa citadel; Knowledge - National University and training and research centers; and Technology with Hoa Lac High-Tech Park and innovation zonesThis will be the axis that leads the creativity of the entire capital, maximizing historical, intellectual and technological values, turning Hanoi into a city that converges the past, present and future.
In the development journey of Hanoi - the political, cultural, scientific and educational center of the whole country, VNU has always affirmed its role as a leading knowledge center, a place where intelligence and creativity converge, strongly contributing to the cause of building and developing a civilized, modern and sustainable capital.
VNU is not only a key national university but also a strategic resource of Hanoi in education, science, technology and innovation. Tens of thousands of bachelors, masters and doctors trained at VNU have been actively contributing to the team of cadres, experts, managers, entrepreneurs and intellectuals of the capital.

VNU has proactively researched the major issues of the Capital and proposed a list of key tasks, focusing on four major groups of issues that the City is particularly concerned about, namely: Environment and sustainable development; Economy and public health; Preservation and promotion of cultural values, digital heritage; and Digital platform to support data-based decision-making. These proposals clearly demonstrate VNU's vision and outstanding ability in solving the complex, interdisciplinary challenges of a large city like Hanoi.
In the journey of developing the Capital of culture - identity - creativity, VNU has always affirmed its role as an intellectual locomotive and center of innovation, contributing to the soft power of Hanoi. Entering a new stage of development of the country, VNU has more favorable conditions to promote its pioneering position in training, research, knowledge transfer and policy consulting, while accompanying the Capital in building an ecosystem of knowledge, innovation and sustainable development.
Heritage Tourism Itineraries in Hanoi: Preserving Heritage with Digital Technology
On December 3, 2025, at Quan Thanh Temple, Hanoi, the Hanoi Heritage Tourism Itineraries were launched. This is an important result of the FEF-R Patrimoine project funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (through the French Embassy and the French Institute in Vietnam), in collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the French School of the Far East and the Francophone University Organization.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities said that Hanoi is a city of thousands of layers of cultural sediments, where each relic and each street preserves stories, memories and long-standing traditions. However, in order for those values ​​to truly reach the public, especially young people and international tourists, new, modern and more accessible approaches are needed.
From that practical need, the project "Heritage Tourism Itineraries of Hanoi City" was formed. The project has the participation of many French and Vietnamese experts, including scientists and students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. After more than a year of implementation, the project team has conducted field surveys, collected documents, built heritage profiles, digital maps, QR-code applications and the H-Heritage platform for the public. On that basis, 04 experimental heritage itineraries, combining scientific research with digital technology, have been introduced to the Vietnamese and international public, providing a visual, vivid and accessible way to explore heritage.

French Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Olivier Brochet, emphasized that these itineraries are not only for tourists. They are also an effective educational tool for schools, high schools and universities; a cultural communication tool for tour guides, museums and localities; and a valuable methodological model for researchers. The itineraries will help everyone see Hanoi from a new perspective - a historic but always vibrant capital, where tradition is interwoven with the challenges of modernity.
The selection of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities as the host of the project “Heritage Tourism Itineraries in Hanoi” not only demonstrates the trust of the French partner, but also contributes significantly to affirming the mission of VNU in general and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in particular in researching and preserving cultural values, digital heritage; training the young generation associated with promoting the cultural heritage of Thang Long - Hanoi. “Heritage Tours in Hanoi” include:
Journey 1 "Thang Long Tu Tran"(The Four Guardian Gods of the Citadel), visitors will explore four sacred temples: Bach Ma, Voi Phuc, Quan Thanh and Kim Lien, guarding the four directions East-West-South-North of Thang Long Citadel. The itinerary honors the sacred cultural identity and unique spiritual structure of Hanoi, which not only needs human protection but also needs the gods to ensure its well-being.
Journey 2 “Mother Goddess Temples”will connect eight temples, shrines worshiping Mother Lieu Hanh and the Holy Mothers, representing the Three Palaces belief - an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. The journey will explore the temples: Dong Ha, Vu Thach, Ba Kieu, Xuan Yen, Dau Temple, Vong Tien, Tay Ho Palace, and Long Bien Station incense tree. This unique belief of the Vietnamese people blends rituals, music, dances and the spirit of honoring the Mother.
Journey 3 "Communal Temple of the Profession's Ancestors"will take tourists to explore the ancestral communal houses of Hanoi such as: Kim Ngan (ancestor of goldsmithing), Dong Lac (ancestor of ancient yem), Pha Truc Lam (ancestor of leather and footwear), Ha Vi communal house (ancestor of lacquering), Phuc Hau temple (ancestor of mirror coating), Tu Thi communal house (ancestor of embroidery), Lo Ren communal house (ancestor of blacksmithing), Ngu Xa communal house (ancestor of bronze casting).
Journey 4 "Hanoi Pagoda"are pagodas associated with the name of Monk An Thien (Phuc Dien) - one of the typical ancestors of Vietnamese Buddhism. From Bao Thien Pagoda, now only in memory, to Lien Tri, Ham Long and Lien Phai... The journey to recreate the historical and spiritual flow of Thang Long, where memory, technology and faith meet, tells the story of loss - survival - regeneration and preservation of heritage.  
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