Checking in means... prospects

Tourists visit Tu Duc Mausoleum on September 2nd.

Since it was a holiday and admission was free, it was naturally a time when Hue 's historical sites welcomed a large number of tourists and locals who came to visit and experience them. For many people, including myself, these historical sites were no longer unfamiliar, nor were they just a way to "follow a trend," but we still wanted to leave home and flock to these destinations to join the crowds of visitors. We went not only to admire the sights, but also to observe, to feel happy and proud to see the heritage of our ancestors cherished and respected by future generations, especially the younger generation.

On one such occasion, while out with a friend, I blurted out my thoughts. Unexpectedly, my friend just smirked, looking quite... annoying. When I pressed him for an explanation, he calmly said, "Don't get your hopes up too quickly, man. Look around. Do you see anything unusual?" Feeling a little uneasy, I carefully scanned the area a few times, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "What's so strange about it?" I said. "Nothing? Then don't you see everyone just posing for photos and checking in? They don't care about or learn anything about the historical sites and heritage!"

Taking a few souvenir photos with the historical site is irresistible.

I looked around again, and indeed it was true. But that's normal, I thought. It would be strange not to check in and take pictures. Hue's historical sites are incredibly beautiful, not only in the intact or restored structures, but even in a moss-covered old wall or a crumbling archway… anything that's captured in a photo is breathtaking. So why not take pictures? I told my friend my thoughts, but he didn't seem to agree. He said that visiting a heritage site like that… is a waste of the heritage. Visiting without understanding, without contemplating, what do you understand, what do you know about the heritage? If you keep "slipping" on the surface like that, the heritage will eventually just be like any other ordinary landscape. How can you truly appreciate, how can you convey the preciousness, the beauty, the value of our ancestors' heritage to friends and future generations…?

And there are still quite a few people interested in learning more about the historical site.

His words left my ears ringing. Feeling quite stressed, I invited him to a cafe to cool down. Then… I tried to soothe him, explaining that his opinion and wishes were perfectly reasonable. But demanding things immediately from the locals, especially young people, would be difficult. Perhaps we should be more open-minded. First, we should thank them because, in part, their photos have helped spread awareness of Hue and its heritage. To a greater or lesser extent, they have instilled a love for Hue in others. As for themselves, it's certainly their passion and affection that makes them flock to the historical sites and enthusiastically take photos. Then, at some point, looking back at those pictures, they might suddenly wonder why this historical site looks like that, or why that artifact looks like that… and from there, they will seek out more information, learn more, ask questions, and understand, deepening their love for the heritage. Let's hope so, and surely there will be many such cases. Like you, like me, if we think about it, didn't we both have a somewhat "similar" beginning? So rest assured, if you've checked in, there's... prospect. I encouraged him, and I saw his expression relax. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, a look of relief on his face: "Okay, let's go home and have a beer to celebrate the big holiday!"

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