Digitizing heritage – bridging the past and the present

Alongside preservation efforts, the digitization of heritage is increasingly seen as a key that links the past with the present, helping Dong Nai’s cultural assets become more vivid, accessible, and widely integrated into contemporary life.

Runner-up Mai Ngo (fourth from left) joins ethnic minority communities in Thanh Son commune, Dong Nai province, at the Long Tong Festival 2026.

Digital technology is opening up new approaches, bringing both tangible and intangible heritage closer to the public, while also serving as an important resource for local cultural, tourism, and socio-economic development.

Digitizing tangible cultural heritage

In recent years, Dong Nai’s cultural sector has intensified its digitization of tangible heritage, including museum artifacts and historical sites. This includes 2D digitization of documentation for national and special national relics across the province. Priority has been given to groups of artifacts that represent Dong Nai’s historical and cultural identity, regularly exhibited items, and rare collections.

Notably, several national treasures have been fully digitized in 3D, including the Loc Hoa lithophone set, the Long Giao pangolin statue, the Binh Hoa Vishnu statue, the Long Giao bronze halberd collection, and the Binh Da lithophone collection. These artifacts are integrated with comprehensive scientific data, facilitating research, study, and long-term preservation. In particular, the Loc Hoa lithophone set has been fully digitized in 3D with an electronic dossier including images, descriptions, material information, dating, origin, and preservation status.

With just a smartphone, residents and visitors can now experience 360-degree virtual tours of several relic sites in Dong Nai, such as Tran Bien Temple of Literature, Hang Gon megalithic tomb, Nguyen Huu Canh Temple, An Hoa communal house, and the Binh Phuoc cultural exhibition space. In addition, the development of GIS maps for archaeological relics has made the management of protected heritage zones more scientific and accurate.

Nguyen Ngoc Yen, Director of Dong Nai Museum, said that the strong application of science, technology, and digital transformation represents a breakthrough in promoting heritage values. The museum not only digitizes data but also builds open databases, organizes virtual exhibitions, and installs QR codes and automated audio guide systems, making heritage more accessible to the public.

Beyond preservation, technology is also reshaping the way heritage stories are told. In 2026, Dong Nai Museum is implementing a plan to produce 3D brochures introducing Bien Hoa Ancient Citadel Relic, Marquis Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb, and Tran Bien Temple of Literature. This contributes to diversifying the methods of introducing and promoting historical sites, enhancing public awareness, and strengthening traditional education, particularly among younger generations in preserving and promoting Dong Nai’s cultural values.

Spreading the value of intangible cultural heritage

In addition to tangible heritage, Dong Nai is also focusing on digitizing intangible cultural heritage of historical, cultural, and scientific significance. For many years, Dong Nai Museum has prioritized digitizing materials related to heritage at high risk of disappearance among ethnic minority communities across the province. Nearly 100 documentary films on traditional festivals, handicrafts, and folk knowledge have been digitized. Notably, Dong Nai's 11 elements inscribed on the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage have been digitized into documentary formats for preservation and broader dissemination through mass media.

On April 7, the Dua Tpeng Festival (also known as the Pha Bau Festival) of the Khmer people took place in K’Lieu Hamlet, Loc Thanh Commune, Dong Nai Province. Recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019, the festival is an occasion for the Khmer community to pray for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and a prosperous, happy life.

Along with the provincial level, local authorities have actively integrated digitization with heritage preservation and promotion. Nguyen Trong Quang, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Xuan Phu Commune, noted that although the locality currently has no ranked cultural or scenic sites, it has actively promoted intangible heritage through local radio, social media, and official portals, emphasizing that preserving cultural heritage is preserving the soul of the nation. The commune has also invested in upgrading the Cho Ro Ethnic Cultural House; maintained traditional festivals of the Cho Ro, Hoa, and Tay communities; and established cultural clubs attract many residents, notably the Then singing club of the Tay people in Binh Tien hamlet.

In Phu Nghia commune, alongside building an initial digital database for three archaeological sites – Phu Nghia 2, 3, and 4 circular earthworks – the locality has preserved and promoted the traditional brocade weaving of the S’tieng people, while maintaining and expanding clubs of gong performance and “Don ca tai tu” – Southern amateur traditional music. The commune also places strong emphasis on heritage transmission through the school-based heritage education model.

Do Thi Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Phu Nghia commune, said that during the 2026-2030 period, the locality will continue to effectively implement the National Target Program on Sustainable Preservation and Promotion of Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Values. This includes strengthening the application of information technology and digital transformation in heritage management and promotion, while integrating heritage conservation with sustainable economic and tourism development planning.

Initial results from heritage digitization in Dong Nai are laying an important foundation for the formation of a digital cultural space in the future. Although challenges remain in terms of resources and manpower, as technology increasingly serves as a bridge, heritage is no longer merely a memory but comes alive vividly, continuing to spread and enrich cultural identity in today’s life.

By My Ny – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha