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| Delighting in “unearthing” antiquities through the collective toy model De Do Khao Co Ky (Imperial Ancient Capital Archaeology Chronicles) |
“Activating” heritage
Recently, at the Ruong house of the Royal Treasury Palace within Hue Imperial Citadel, Hue Monuments of Conservation Center, in collaboration with Phygital Labs, launched a Cultural-Heritage-Technology Experience Space. The initiative introduces a new way of approaching heritage, the one in which legacy is capable of entering into dialogue with contemporary audiences, especially young people and international visitors.
Following its opening, the space has attracted large numbers of both domestic and international visitors. Many linger for extended periods, exploring the digital exhibition and interacting with artifacts “brought to life” through spatial computing, 3D holograms, and digital identification models.
According to Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of Hue Monuments of Conservation Center, the launch of the Cultural-Heritage-Technology Experience Space at the Royal Treasury Palace stands as clear evidence of a shift in contemporary heritage-making mindsets.
“Instead of replacing heritage, technology helps to expand the scope of experience. Through spatial computing, digital exhibitions, 3D holograms, and the digital identification of artifacts, heritage is retold in a more accessible and engaging way, helping younger generations understand, appreciate, and journey alongside heritage”, Mr. Trung said.
According to Mr. Trung, Hue is home to a vast wealth of heritage resources, from collections of antiquities and architectural spaces to the historical narratives embedded in each relic. If confined to traditional display methods, heritage remains difficult to reach a broad audience. On the contrary, when transformed into digital products, heritage can both disseminate cultural values and generate economic value.
“The key lies in selecting the right technologies so that each product is not only engaging but also commercially viable. A purely cultural experience alone is not the end goal the center is pursuing. After the pilot phase, we are now moving into an expansion stage, diversifying our offerings to better capture market trends and meet visitors’ expectations,” Mr. Trung shared.
The experience space at the Royal Treasury Palace is also positioned within Hue’s broader strategy for developing its night-time economy in the coming period. Accordingly, artistic performances, digital-space experiences, culinary offerings, and evening shows are expected to help extend visitors’ length of stay, addressing a long-standing criticism of Hue tourism for its lack of nighttime activities.
Technology as a linking bridge
With its open and flexible design, the Royal Treasury Palace is positioned as a space for heritage experience, education, and cultural dialogue. The highlight lies in utilizing technology as a bridge between the past and present. Visitors can step into a digital exhibition powered by Apple Vision Pro, immersing themselves in a vivid, first-person experience where history seems to unfold before their eyes. Alternatively, they can admire National Treasures through 3D hologram technology at close range, without any physical impact on the original artifacts.
Alongside this is the collectible toy model: Imperial Ancient Capital Archaeological Chronicle, a product that has drawn strong interest from young audiences and visitors by allowing each participant to “unearth” a one-of-a-kind artifact, digitally identified and authenticated with guaranteed ownership rights.
Mr. Nguyen Huy, founder of Phygital Labs, said that technology is often seen as being at odds with culture; but, in reality, it is merely a tool that helps culture reach wider audiences. “Technology does not alter the essence of heritage or historical narratives. Instead, it enables the world to better understand Vietnamese culture, tourism and history, including Hue. What matters is that all content and heritage copyrights remain under the center’s ownership,” he said.
According to Mr. Nguyen Huy, the model pursued by Phygital Labs and Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities focuses on transparent heritage copyright exploitation. Building on the intrinsic values of heritage assets, the center grants licenses, while businesses develop creative products within the permitted framework, thereby, fostering a sustainable heritage-based economic ecosystem.
Sharing her firsthand experience, Marie Dubois, a visitor from France, said: “Visitors are more engaged when exploring heritage in such a vivid way. Technology helps me better understand the stories behind each artifact, rather than simply viewing them and reading display panels”.
Mr. Minh Quan, a young visitor from Ho Chi Minh City, said that this space is well-suited to younger audiences. “Just by tapping a phone, you can find out what an artifact is, who it belonged to, and the story behind it. This approach makes history much more accessible and memorable,” he said.
Mr. Hoang Viet Trung informed that global perspectives on heritage are also evolving. While UNESCO once placed primary emphasis on preservation, activating heritage values, bringing heritage into social life, and reinvesting returns into conservation now considered an inevitable cycle.
“Many countries with heritage assets have developed experiential spaces, turning heritage into a living legacy linked to souvenirs and creative services. That is the heritage economy, implemented in a highly systematic way. Hue also hopes to move in that direction”, Mr. Trung said.