More than 2,000 visitors have toured the Vietnam World Documentary Heritage Space within a week of its opening, highlighting growing public interest in archival heritage.

Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks are inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

Through hands-on experiences with Nguyen Dynasty imperial records and woodblocks, the exhibition is helping bring archival materials closer to audiences while promoting heritage values in line with the Politburo’s Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on developing Vietnamese culture.

Spreading documentary heritage values through immersive experiences

According to the State Records and Archives Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the exhibition showcasing Vietnam’s world documentary heritage and outstanding national archives welcomed over 2,000 domestic and international visitors, including 35 organised delegations, averaging around 300 guests per day.

As part of public engagement activities, the event “Admiring Imperial Annotations – Preserving Woodblock Imprints,” held from March 3–8, attracted large crowds.

Visitors viewed Nguyen Dynasty imperial documents bearing red-ink annotations and royal seals, while experiencing traditional woodblock printing on do paper and creating souvenir prints.

On its opening day, the exhibition received a 26-member delegation from the Russian Embassy in Vietnam, led by the Ambassador’s spouse Elena Bezdetko and Third Secretary Savin Sergey, along with teachers and students from the embassy’s school.

The delegation learned about preservation and digitisation efforts for the Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks and imperial records, implemented in line with UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme principles.

Guests also viewed documentary films such as “Tet at the Royal Palace” and “The Art of Woodblock Carving,” gaining deeper insight into traditional carving techniques through interactive experiences.

On March 5, a delegation from the French Embassy in Vietnam, headed by Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs Eric Soulier, explored imperial annotations and woodblock printing processes and attended the thematic exhibition “Ho Chi Minh: Life and Career through Vietnamese and International Archival Documents.”

Soulier praised the interactive format for enabling visitors to “touch history” while expressing strong interest in Vietnam’s heritage preservation methods.

The exhibition has also become a venue for thematic activities by institutions such as the Vietnam Military History Museum and the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, reflecting growing interest in archival materials for research, education, and cultural promotion.

Many Hanoi schools have chosen the space as a learning destination, turning it into a vivid classroom where students explore historical documents, national treasures, and archival materials related to President Ho Chi Minh, thereby deepening historical awareness and cultural pride.

Alongside organised tours, the exhibition continues to attract families and young visitors eager to engage directly with documentary heritage.

Documentary heritage as cultural bridge

Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the State Records and Archives Department, said the programme introduces new approaches to heritage engagement, allowing archival materials once stored in repositories to continue contributing to contemporary cultural life and concretising Resolution 80-NQ/TW on Vietnamese cultural development.

The steady attendance of diplomatic missions, educational institutions, and the public underscores the role of documentary heritage as a cultural bridge connecting history with the present.

Amid digital transformation and new cultural development demands, Tung stressed that the archival sector must adopt a strategic approach linking culture, data governance, and security.

Archival institutions should expand from traditional preservation to managing strategic national data, ensuring the safety and integrity of original sources.

When effectively utilised, archival materials not only preserve historical memory but also serve as valuable knowledge resources supporting governance, education, cultural development, and creative industries.

“Only when integrated into the national strategy for cultural development and digital transformation, can archival work become a soft pillar of the national knowledge infrastructure, strengthening governance capacity and enhancing Vietnam’s soft power in the new era,” Tung affirmed.

Soong Co folk singing recognised as national intangible cultural heritage

BAC NINH - On February 22 (the sixth day of the first lunar month), Chu Ward in Bac Ninh Province opened the 2026 Ha Temple Spring Festival and received an official decision recognising the Soong Co folk performance art of the San Diu ethnic group as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Xoan singing part of Vietnam's unique identity on world heritage map

In the vast treasure trove of Vietnamese folk art, Xoan singing stands as a unique jewel, inextricably linked to the worship of the Hung Kings — the nation's legendary founders.

 

Bac Ninh to host Lim Festival with wide range of cultural activities

BAC NINH – Local authorities in Tien Du commune, Bac Ninh province have announced plans to organise the Lim Festival in spring 2026, featuring a wide range of traditional cultural and folk activities.

Dong Ho folk paintings reimagined beyond traditional Do paper

BAC NINH - The rustic imagery, natural colours and distinctive folk spirit of Dong Ho paintings have long inspired artisans, painters and contemporary artists to explore new forms of expression. Moving beyond the traditional Do paper or poonah paper, the centuries-old folk art is undergoing creative reinterpretations that breathe new life into the heritage in modern times.

Five new intangible cultural heritages added to national list

The freshly listed heritages include the traditional folk knowledge of cultivating Hung Yen longan and processing its fruit in Hong Chau and Son Nam wards as well as in Tan Hung, Khoai Chau, Trieu Viet Vuong, and Tien Lu communes.

 

Then melodies resound in Ma Bap

BAC NINH - For the Nung ethnic community in Ma Bap village, Lang Giang commune, Then singing is an inseparable part of their cultural and spiritual life. To preserve and promote this valuable heritage, local people regularly practice and pass it on to younger generations.