Vietnam pushes to digitise its folk cultural heritage

Vietnam is prioritising the digitisation of its folk cultural heritage, which includes oral literature, beliefs, customs, festivals and traditional arts. Dr Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung of the Viet Bac College of Culture and Arts explained that the vast, decentralised archive can boost tourism, inspire contemporary creativity and improve preservation if moved to a digital platform.

Experts warn that the task faces serious obstacles. The dynamic, oral nature of folk expressions, scattered sources in rural communities and a shortage of professionals fluent in both culture and technology make collection and verification difficult. Under‑funding, limited digital infrastructure and the lack of a systematic national database further hinder progress. Former vice‑president of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association Tran Huu Son cautioned that removing cultural data from its physical and spiritual context could jeopardise authenticity.

Stakeholders call for increased investment in digital infrastructure, the creation of a national cultural heritage database, clearer copyright and data‑protection rules, and cross‑disciplinary training to fuse technology with cultural expertise.