The Hue Imperial City Relics Conservation Center receives the Vietnam Digital Transformation Award 2025. Photo: TTDT

The artifacts have been identified.

Recently, the Hue Imperial Citadel Conservation Center (hereinafter referred to as the Center) was honored at the Vietnam Digital Awards (VDA) 2025 in the category of "Outstanding Digital Transformation Enterprise/Organization". The awarded solution, "Digital Identification and Exhibition of Nguyen Dynasty Antiquities," is not only a technological advancement but also opens up a completely new approach to heritage preservation.

Previously, in 2024, the Center was awarded the VDA for its solution applying digital technology in the preservation and promotion of Hue's cultural heritage. Being honored for the second consecutive year demonstrates the sustainable direction of the ancient capital of Hue in the process of digital transformation of its heritage.

According to Mr. Vo Quang Huy, Deputy Head of the Center's Office, the digital identification solution gives each artifact a unique ID code, managed based on 3D digitized data and stored on a blockchain platform to ensure authenticity, transparency, and prevent forgery.

“From 10 pilot artifacts in 2024, we have now expanded to 98 artifacts, displayed in 10 digital exhibition rooms. In the future, we aim for a paid service to enrich information about related artifacts; users can access the digital exhibition at museehue.vn instead of visiting in person, and we will develop a digital artifact trading model (F1) based on the original artifacts that have been identified,” Mr. Huy informed.

In particular, the People's Committee of Hue City has approved a plan to identify nearly 1,000 artifacts in the period 2025-2027, aiming to form a comprehensive digital heritage ecosystem - one of Hue's important digital transformation goals.

Beyond just visual displays, artifacts are brought into virtual reality (VR/AR) and metaverse environments. Viewers can "step into" the exhibition space, rotate, interact with, and explore every detail of the artifacts—something that is sometimes difficult to access even through in-person visits.

"We hope that each artifact will not only remain in storage or behind glass cases, but will truly come alive in the digital space, so that the public anywhere can access them," said Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Center.

From core technology to digital experience

The solution is built on modern technological infrastructure: data stored on a cloud computing platform, blockchain-based security system, RFID/NFC chips directly attached to artifacts, high-quality 3D models, and glTF and Draco data compression technology to optimize storage while maintaining sharpness. Blockchain technology combined with NFC creates a one-to-one connection between the physical and digital (NFT) versions. This ensures uniqueness, easy traceability, and protection of the intellectual property rights of the heritage.

3D digitization helps recreate artifacts with high detail, from the smallest carvings on thrones and palanquins to the materials used—wood, metal, or precious stones. From this, digital exhibitions are built into virtual galleries, allowing viewers to interact as if they were in a museum.

In particular, the open data system allows researchers, schools, tour guides, and tourism businesses to use information about ancient artifacts for educational and promotional purposes.

According to experts, converting artifacts into digital assets (NFTs) is not just about preservation, but also opens up avenues for cultural and economic development. These F1 digital versions, with clear origins from genuine artifacts (F0) and certified by relevant authorities, facilitate the formation of a transparent digital asset market, serving purposes such as collecting, research, education, or content creation.

Building upon its system for identifying ancient artifacts, the Center has begun to develop a "digital marketplace" for cultural products, notably the "Imperial Capital Archaeological Chronicle" in the form of a blind box – a model combining culture and creative economics.

"We expect the digital heritage ecosystem to create new value chains: from exhibitions, education, data exploitation, to innovative products and the digital economy," Mr. Trung said.

For the first time in Vietnam, an organization managing ancient artifacts is simultaneously applying NFC chips, blockchain, 3D scanning, and VR/AR exhibitions to identify and display artifacts. This not only helps preserve heritage in a more modern and secure way, but also makes Hue a pioneer in the digital transformation of cultural heritage.

“Previously, the preservation and management of artifacts relied primarily on paper records, fragmented data, and direct displays, limited by museum space and opening hours. Now, heritage can be present simultaneously in two ‘worlds’: physical and digital,” Mr. Trung explained.

Through its pioneering steps in digital transformation, Hue is opening a new path for its heritage: not only is it preserved, but it is also "revived," gaining deeper access to the community and integrating into the global digital cultural network.

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Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/di-san-buoc-vao-doi-song-so-160145.html