Heritage education goes beyond the mere provision of knowledge; it delves deeper, helping learners understand the origins of cultural values, develop critical thinking, and cultivate a sense of responsibility toward their community.
Today, many museums and heritage sites have offered educational and visitation programs designed with great detail, entirely facilitated through digital technology. Learners can access digital maps, archival records, documents, images, and videos, and even pose questions via online platforms.
At the heritage site itself, students can use mobile devices to explore and compare existing physical remains with digital reconstructions, listen to or watch insights shared by artisans, and subsequently create “story maps” or produce presentation videos.
The space of a heritage site thus transforms into an engaging learning environment that fosters interdisciplinary connections. Through this, learners come to understand that heritage is a living body of knowledge, one that is constantly evolving within the context of human society and relationships.
Integrating technology with heritage conservation and education is an approach currently being implemented in many countries around the world. UNESCO has introduced the “Culture and Digital Technologies” model, which utilises digital data, 3D technology, and online platforms to protect, showcase, and transmit heritage.
For instance, the “Dive into Heritage” platform allows visitors to explore World Heritage sites and their associated intangible cultural values by combining scientific documentation, spatial imagery, interpretive content, and interactive experiences.
In Viet Nam, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is actively digitising scientific records and building databases, with the goal of creating a smart, sustainable ecosystem for heritage education.
Several heritage sites in Ha Noi, such as the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam), the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and the Hoa Lo Prison, have adopted cutting-edge technologies to present their sites and integrate traditional education for the younger generation. An ecosystem connecting schools, museums, heritage sites, and local communities is also gradually taking shape.
Nevertheless, experts point out that the use of technology in heritage education has faced several bottlenecks, including poor data quality and interoperability, insufficient investment in technology and human resources, ill-suited technological designs, and concerns regarding authenticity, cultural rights, and ethics.
