“Today, we are not only introducing heritage tours to the public, but also laying the foundation for a new phase: building a city that considers heritage knowledge as a driver of sustainable development, an element that enhances cultural and tourism appeal, and a tool for training younger generations. France will continue to accompany Vietnam on this path, with the same enthusiasm, attentiveness, and determination as before.”
The French Ambassador to Vietnam, Olivier Brochet, shared this during the launch ceremony of the "Hanoi Heritage Tourism Journey" program on the morning of December 3rd at Quan Thanh Temple, Hanoi.
Accordingly, four unique heritage exploration routes in the capital city, offering novel experiences supported by interactive mapping systems, the H-Heritage application, and QR code systems at various historical sites in the city center, have been introduced to the public.
Ancient relics "awaken"Perhaps nowhere else do ancient relics stand so serenely amidst modern residential areas, where past and present intertwine in every street, house, and way of life, as in Hanoi. However, much of this value is currently manifested in the simple, humble way in the temples, pagodas, and shrines hidden deep within alleyways, little known and rarely systematically introduced.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)
Stemming from this reality, the "Hanoi Heritage Tourism Journey" program was created to help locals and tourists identify and connect with heritage through a new way of thinking: combining academic research and modern digital technology.
Speaking to a reporter from VietnamPlus online newspaper on the sidelines of the event, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep (Expertise France, Scientific Coordinator of the Project), said that the project chose a combined approach of field surveys, data analysis, training, and the application of mapping technology.
Accordingly, the team surveyed more than 100 ancient relics in Hanoi. A vast archive of documents in French, Sino-Vietnamese, and Vietnamese was unearthed. Each relic was then vividly recreated through complete records, digitized on electronic maps, and integrated into the H-Heritage application. With just a smartphone, visitors can now touch history.
“The travel itineraries we develop are geared towards all audiences: not only serving as purely experiential tourism but also as a tool for exploring cultural knowledge, an educational tool, and ultimately, research material for students and scientists. Thus, a single platform integrates multiple functions,” shared Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep.
Notably, one of the project's impressive results is the development of an online heritage itinerary website and mobile application (QR code) to enable Vietnamese people and friends around the world to access and learn about Hanoi's heritage in the most comprehensive, quick, and convenient way.
Hanoi's unique heritage is showcased in books and maps introducing the project's experiential journey at the event. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)
Experts consider this a significant step forward in bringing heritage knowledge closer to the public and tourists, transforming heritage visits, learning, and research into an interactive and flexible experience.
“We have selected 28 representative relics, divided into four heritage routes associated with four traditional Vietnamese beliefs, including: the Four Guardian Temples, the Mother Goddess Temple, the Ancestral Temple of Crafts, and Hanoi Pagodas. Each route not only brings together a group of relics but also tells a connected story, reflecting the spiritual structure and memories of Hanoians past and present,” said Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep.
According to Ambassador Olivier Brochet, a thorough research project was undertaken for each site along the four itineraries: scientific descriptions, ancient and modern photographic documentation, authentic historical citations, and data from the EFEO's archives and inventory. This documentation was selected, processed, systematized, digitized, and integrated into a geographic-based map. All of this is connected in an interactive digital system, easily accessible via QR code and the H-Heritage application.
More than just experiences…This activity is part 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 - IFV), and implemented in collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi (USSH - VNU), the French School of Far Eastern Studies (EFEO), and the Francophone University Organization (AUF).
French Ambassador to Vietnam, Olivier Brochet, speaks at the event. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)
As the central area of the Program, the leaders of Ba Dinh Ward stated that they have implemented many comprehensive and effective solutions to preserve historical and traditional cultural values.
In particular, over the past year, Franco-Vietnamese research teams have worked tirelessly to document, analyze, and present Hanoi's unique heritage. As a result, four themed heritage itineraries have been created, including: the guardian deities of the four directions of the ancient Thang Long-Hanoi citadel; temples dedicated to the Mother Goddess; village communal houses dedicated to the founders of traditional crafts; and Buddhist places of worship and religious spaces.
Ambassador Olivier Brochet emphasized that these itineraries are not just for tourists. They are also effective educational tools for schools, high schools, and universities; cultural communication tools for tour guides, museums, and local communities; and valuable methodological models for researchers. The itineraries will help everyone see Hanoi from a new perspective – a historical yet vibrant capital, where tradition is interwoven with the challenges of modernity.
“Cultural heritage is a testament to who we once were; and the way we care for our heritage today reflects who we want to become in the future. This is a beautiful and promising journey of cooperation, reflecting the richness and strength of the Franco-Vietnamese friendship,” said Ambassador Olivier Brochet.
Ambassador Olivier Brochet participated in activities at the launch ceremony this morning at Quan Thanh Temple. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)
"Heritage tours within Hanoi city"include:
Journey 1: "The Four Fortresses of Thang Long"(The Four Guardian Deities of the Capital City), visitors will explore four sacred temples: Bach Ma, Voi Phuc, Quan Thanh, and Kim Lien, guarding the four cardinal directions (East, West, South, and North) of Thang Long capital city. This tour honors the sacred cultural identity and unique spiritual structure of Hanoi, a place that needs not only human protection but also divine safeguarding.
Journey 2: “Temples of the Mother Goddess”The tour will connect eight temples and shrines dedicated to Mother Lieu Hanh and other Holy Mothers, representing the Tam Phu belief system – an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. The journey will explore the temples of Dong Ha, Vu Thach, Ba Kieu, Xuan Yen, Den Dau, Vong Tien, Phu Tay Ho, and the incense tree at Long Bien train station. This unique Vietnamese belief system blends rituals, music, dance, and the spirit of honoring the Mother.
Journey 3: "Shrines dedicated to the patron saint of the craft"This tour will take visitors to explore the ancestral temples of Hanoi's traditional crafts, such as: Kim Ngan (ancestral temple of goldsmithing), Dong Lac (ancestral temple of traditional Vietnamese blouses), Pha Truc Lam (ancestral temple of leather and footwear making), Ha Vi Temple (ancestral temple of lacquerware), Phuc Hau Temple (ancestral temple of mirror making), Tu Thi Temple (ancestral temple of embroidery), Lo Ren Temple (ancestral temple of blacksmithing), and Ngu Xa Temple (ancestral temple of bronze casting).
Journey 4: “Hanoi Pagodas,”These are temples associated with the name of the monk An Thien (Phuc Dien) - one of the most prominent patriarchs of Vietnamese Buddhism. From Bao Thien Temple, now only a memory, to Lien Tri, Ham Long, and Lien Phai... The journey recreates the historical and spiritual flow of Thang Long, where memory, technology, and faith meet, telling the story of loss, preservation, reconstruction, and conservation of heritage.
The press reported on the event:
People's Representative: Four new heritage Hanoi tour routes have been launched.
Government online newspaper:Unique Hanoi heritage tour itineraries using digital technology.
Vietnam News Agency:
Awaken the heritage of Hanoi with unique and distinctive journeys.
VOV:Awakening Hanoi's heritage through 4 unique digital journeys.
The world and Vietnam:Hanoi introduces four heritage tourism itineraries with a modern digital platform.
People's Police:Launching "Hanoi Heritage Tour Itineraries" using digital technology.
Youth and the Law:Announcing "Heritage Tourism Itineraries in Hanoi City"
