When heritage tells its story through technology

From digitizing scientific documentation and artifacts to developing digital maps, virtual reality tours, and automated audio guides, Dong Nai City is gradually applying technology to bring to life the cultural and historical treasures of a land with nearly 330 years of formation and development.

With 121 ranked relic sites, digitization helps Dong Nai preserve data, improve the efficiency of relic management, and bring cultural heritage closer to the public in the digital era.

Images and artifacts from the special national relic of the Command Headquarters for the Liberation Army of South Vietnam in Loc Thanh Commune are digitized and made available on the website ditichtathiet.vn.

Expanding access to heritage

In addition to its ranked relic sites, Dong Nai has nearly 1,500 inventoried relics, 13 recognized intangible cultural heritage elements, and a network of museums, traditional houses, and exhibition halls. The city currently preserves, conserves, and promotes the value of nearly 40,000 artifacts, 56 collections, and five national treasures.

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the Dong Nai City Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "These are not only invaluable cultural assets but also important resources for traditional education, fostering local identity, developing tourism, and enriching the cultural lives of the people. In the new development context, the priority is not simply to protect and preserve heritage, but, more importantly, to keep it alive in contemporary life and turn cultural and historical values into resources for development."

Efforts to digitize relics and help promote their value have been carried out in a coordinated manner from the municipal to the grassroots level. To date, Dong Nai has digitized 44 scientific dossiers on national and special national relics, covering more than 12,000 pages and photographs. The city has also introduced 3D digital models, geographic information system (GIS) maps, QR codes, narrated videos, and interactive information kiosks at several relic sites. Several destinations, including Tran Bien Temple of Literature, Hang Gon Megalithic Tomb, Marquis Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb, and An Hoa Communal House, now offer 360-degree virtual tours. These digital applications have begun to support heritage management, research and promotion, while expanding access to heritage.

On October 13, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Document No. 4540/HD-SVHTTDL, providing guidance on procedures for the conservation, restoration and enhancement of historical and cultural relics and scenic sites across Dong Nai City. The procedures cover proposing policy directions and determining approaches to project formulation; preparing plans for relic sites; assessing deterioration and developing projects for preservation, renovation, and restoration; and carrying out urgent repairs.

At the grassroots level, digitization requirements are closely linked to the protection and promotion of the value of individual relic sites. At the special national relic of the Command Headquarters for the Liberation Army of South Vietnam in Loc Thanh Commune, the web portal at ditichtathiet.vn has become operational. It provides an overview of the relic complex, places of interest, historical background, historical figures and events, photographs, videos, and related archival materials. The website also allows visitors to explore the entire site through an online 3D virtual tour. The development of a digital database has created an additional channel for introducing and promoting heritage, contributing to the development of local tourism.

According to Nguyen Kim Bich Huyen, Vice Chairwoman of the Tran Bien Ward People's Committee, the ward, which has been assigned responsibility for managing 18 relic sites, is proactively developing plans to digitize, update, and manage data on ranked relics in its jurisdiction. Key tasks include standardizing introductory information on relic sites, introducing QR codes, and establishing a shared database covering relics, historical documents, photographs, artifacts, and cultural activities. As conditions permit, the data will be updated and integrated with the municipal information system to support heritage management, conservation, and promotion more effectively.

Toward coordinated data connectivity

Despite notable achievements, the digital transformation of cultural heritage continues to face a number of difficulties and challenges. The Dong Nai Museum has so far digitized more than 2,600 dossiers corresponding to over 2,600 artifacts, including 450 artifacts and five national treasures that have been digitized in 3D. However, the number of artifacts uploaded to the software system accounts for only about 6.7% of the nearly 40,000 artifacts held in storage. A shared, unified and interconnected heritage database has yet to be established.

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the City Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the sector is implementing a digital transformation scheme aimed at developing a synchronized database of relics, artifacts, archival materials, and intangible cultural heritage. The project also aims to gradually apply digital technologies to management, conservation, exhibitions, heritage presentation, and promotion. Once heritage data is effectively digitized and interconnected, management will become more efficient, while residents, tourists, researchers, and younger generations will find it much easier to access cultural heritage.

Images and artifacts from the special national relic of the Command Headquarters for the Liberation Army of South Vietnam in Loc Thanh Commune are digitized and made available on the website ditichtathiet.vn.

On October 12, Ho Van Ha, Member of the City Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, signed Decision No. 3338/QD-UBND approving the investment policy for the Comprehensive Digital Transformation Project for Dong Nai's Culture, Sports and Tourism Sector, including the digitization of relic sites across the city. Classified as a Group C project, it has a total investment of VND40 billion from the municipal budget, with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism serving as the managing agency. The project is scheduled for implementation from 2026 to 2028.

The project will be implemented according to a three-phase roadmap: digitizing data on relics and artifacts; ensuring the data interoperability with the sector's shared system and the National Database on Cultural Heritage; and promoting and showcasing heritage values in the digital environment.

Notably, the level of 3D digitization will be determined according to target groups, types, and the classification status of relics and artifacts. Specifically, Group A comprises 48 priority relic sites, including six special national relics and 42 national relics, which will undergo comprehensive digitization to high standards. Group B consists of 73 city-level relic sites, which will undergo basic digitization, alongside the digitization of artifacts associated with ranked relic sites. The project also envisages developing and using shared digital platforms and equipment, including 3D virtual tour software and 3D digital maps.

By My Ny – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha