The working trip by the Da Nang delegation to Paris (France) a few years ago was not only significant for collecting archival materials related to the 1858 resistance struggle against the French colonialism in Da Nang to support museum work, it also introduced museum professionals to new experiences in applying technology to the management of historical sites and cultural heritage. Most notably, it marked the inception of the “Da Nang Heritage Map” project on a digital platform.

Visitors can enjoy multilingual audio guides at the Da Nang Museum. Photo: X.S.

 Digitizing heritage sites

Mr. Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien, the Director of the Da Nang Museum, began sharing the story of developing the Digital Heritage Map of Da Nang with a recollection from his work trip to Paris: “There are around 2,000 heritage sites, including trees along the streets of Paris, all tagged with QR codes. Everything is managed through technology,” he recalled. “The more we explored, the more fascinated we became upon learning that information, images, and the current state of each heritage site are fully digitized and integrated into a centralized software management system. This system acts as a kind of data bank, recording every change that happens to each site. Select landmarks are even rendered in 2D and 3D models.”

With the mindset that “if other countries can do it, so can we,” the vision of creating an optimized digital heritage map took root in the minds of the Da Nang Museum professionals and returned home with them. Back in Da Nang, Mr. Thiện and his team began presenting their proposal, starting with the groundwork: compiling a carefully curated and continuously updated database of officially recognized heritage sites and landmarks across the city.

“In terms of technology, there’s always a way if you’re willing to try,” Mr. Thien emphasized. “But you need high-quality, accurate content as the foundation before you even think about digitization.” Embracing a “homegrown” approach while also avoiding copyright issues, the development team decided to build an entirely original platform for the digital map—one that would be self-contained and uniquely tailored, rather than simply integrating with existing internet-based map services.

Building on that foundation, the museum began selecting a number of iconic heritage sites—such as the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son), Hai Van Gate, and Dien Hai Citadel—for 3D digitization, while the remaining sites were rendered in 2D format. All data were uploaded to a digital map, carefully organized into distinct categories: Special National Monuments, Interprovincial National Monuments, National Monuments, and City-level Heritage Sites. Each location was enhanced with images, descriptive information, narrated videos, and precise geolocation. The development team meticulously worked through every map marker, cross-checking and verifying details about each heritage site. They captured footage of every nook and cranny by themselves—then held their breath as the system was launched for trial operation. At last, the digital heritage map was complete.

A digital transformation initiative centered around the platform bandodisandanang.vn was proactively developed by the Da Nang Museum as early as 2018. By January 2021, in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the growing demand for remote tourism and virtual exploration, the museum officially launched its Bilingual Digital Heritage Map Application (available in both Vietnamese and English) on the same platform. Through this website, users can take virtual tours of heritage sites via curated video clips, photographs, and informative content. Each site is introduced with its name, location, directions, historical context, significant events, notable figures, and cultural value—all accompanied by carefully selected background music to enhance the experience.

An enduring archive of heritage

As of April 1st, when the Da Nang Museum officially reopened to the public, the city’s cultural heritage system has been fully integrated into the Da Nang Digital Heritage Map. This includes two nationally recognized special heritage sites, one inter-provincial national site, 17 national heritage sites, 63 municipal heritage sites, and five elements of national intangible cultural heritage—each now accompanied by detailed, accessible information. This platform contributes to serving the sightseeing, learning and research of the people and tourists. In addition to online access via the platform, visitors to the museum can now enjoy a multi-language interpretation system, AI-powered tour guides, and even robotic navigation

“We have leased dedicated servers to manage and update data through two channels: open and closed,” Mr. Thien emphasized. “The open data includes information, images, and related content designed to promote the value of heritage sites to visitors interested in exploring the city's cultural and historical landscape. Meanwhile, the closed data consists of detailed records that are continuously updated to track changes in the condition of heritage sites over time. This will serve as a rich and reliable source of information for conservation and restoration efforts.”

Promotion and preservation — as the leadership of the Da Nang Museum emphasizes — are two core objectives in the museum’s digital transformation strategy. The integration of virtual reality and digitalization into museum operations is one of several key initiatives outlined in Da Nang's Department of Culture and Sports’ Digital Transformation Plan through 2025, with a vision toward 2030.

According to Mr. Thien, the ultimate goal of the digital transformation — through the Da Nang Heritage Map project and the recent innovations at the Da Nang Museum — is to reduce reliance on manual labor in museum operations while enhancing the overall quality of visitor services. "By investing in advanced technologies," he emphasized, "we hope to offer visitors the opportunity to feel, listen, watch, and immerse themselves in historical footage and imagery that closely follows the cultural and historical trajectory of Da Nang and the nation. More than just information, we aim to spark a sense of patriotism in every individual."

Reflecting on the Da Nang Museum’s investment in technology during a time when digital transformation has become imperative, we are reminded of a comment by Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly, the Vice President of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association and member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, regarding the digitization of monuments and heritage. According to her, digital transformation has made cultural artifacts more accessible and engaging, allowing them to "speak" more vividly to visitors about their enduring value. This, she noted, is the very spirit that museum professionals aspire to — preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of a region in ways that resonate with the present while honoring the past.

Reporting by XUAN SON – Translating by HONG VAN