Learning from Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
In January 2024, we explored some of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites as part of our professional development in heritage interpretation. UNESCO—the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation—recognises places of cultural and natural importance around the world. As of 2023, Vietnam has eight listed sites: five cultural, two natural, and one mixed.
On our journey we visited four:
- Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long (Hanoi)
- Hội An Ancient Town
- Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng National Park
- Complex of Huế Monuments
Reflections on interpretation
Across these remarkable sites, interpretation varied greatly:
- At the Imperial Citadel, archaeological digs and simple interactive activities, like drawing water, offered small but effective ways to connect visitors with the past.
- Hội An was a living heritage site, its streets and architecture still actively used by local communities, yet with little in the way of structured interpretation beyond the guides.
- Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng National Park relied almost entirely on the knowledge of guides, despite the richness of its caves and biodiversity.
- The Huế Monuments Complex offered the widest range—signage, guided tours, and even immersive virtual reality experiences.
Key learning
This trip highlighted the importance of non-personal interpretation in complementing guided experiences. While our guides provided invaluable knowledge, we noticed that without signage, interactives, or multimedia, independent visitors could easily miss layers of meaning.
For us as interpreters, the lesson is clear: **blending personal and non-personal interpretation enriches the visitor experience, ensures accessibility for diverse audiences, and helps sustain heritage value over time.**
Why it matters
Exploring Vietnam’s UNESCO sites reminded us that interpretation is not only about explaining the past, but also about connecting people with living culture, natural systems, and the responsibilities of conservation. Each site has its own rhythm and challenges, but all benefit from thoughtful interpretation that bridges heritage and audience.
