However, the cultural and tourism experiences here in recent times have only introduced a part of the huge treasure of Thang Long-Hanoi culture. How to bring the typical values ​​that scientists have excavated over the past 15 years to the public is still a big question.

Where cultural heritage converges

In early November, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Relic Site became a convergence point of cultural heritage quintessence when it hosted the first Thang Long Hanoi Festival in 2025 with the theme “Heritage-Connection-Time”. During the first half of the month, the Festival featured more than 30 unique cultural, artistic and tourism activities, with the participation of thousands of outstanding domestic and international artists and artisans and a large number of people.

An art performance at the opening ceremony of the first Thang Long Hanoi Festival 2025 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic site.

Highlights of the first Thang Long Hanoi Festival in 2025 include: Street festival, traditional and contemporary art performances, heritage exhibition, Ao Dai Festival, handicraft performances, seminars and creative business connection activities...

Previously, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, Hanoi organized a series of special exhibitions at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. At that time, this place welcomed thousands of visitors every day, becoming a typical tourist and traditional education destination of the capital.

Not only becoming a place where the quintessence of cultural heritage converges, in recent years, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel has held many attractive tours, in which the night tour "Decoding the Thang Long Imperial Citadel" stands out. The night tour's experience lasts 90 minutes, starting from Doan Mon Gate - the gate leading to the Forbidden City, the former residence and workplace of the king to the 18 Hoang Dieu Archaeological Site. Here, visitors can experience the ancient Imperial Citadel space, enjoy royal dances right on unique archaeological remains, admire precious artifacts and antiquities found at Thang Long Imperial Citadel in the exhibition house with the theme "Thang Long - Hanoi - Thousand-year history from underground"... Closing the experience journey at Thang Long Imperial Citadel is the game of decoding the secrets of the Imperial Citadel for visitors.

Recognizing the achievements in the work of preserving and promoting the values ​​of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, within the framework of the 47th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris (France) in July 2025, Chairman of the Committee Nikolay Nenov gave the hammer to approve Decision No. 47 COM 7B.92 on the work of preserving and promoting the values ​​of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel World Heritage. Accordingly, this agency acknowledged the positive results of the member country in implementing the recommendations of the 2024 Committee Session, including the Central Axis Vision, the archaeological strategy and the heritage interpretation strategy of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. In particular, the World Heritage Committee recommended that Vietnam continue to promote interdisciplinary research after the demolition of the buildings approved by the Committee, to supplement and clarify the Central Axis Vision of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, focusing on the restoration of Kinh Thien Palace and the main space of Kinh Thien Palace.

From digitalization to the invention of "AI Imperial Citadel of Thang Long"

The work of preserving and promoting the value of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel has been recognized and highly appreciated by the international community. Over the past 15 years (2011-2025), Vietnamese archaeologists have devoted their efforts to excavation, editing, research and analysis. Archaeologists have successfully decoded the thousands-year-old painting of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. This is an important basis for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel - a world cultural heritage - into a strategic economic asset of the capital and the nation.

International archaeologists study important archaeological discoveries at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

According to Dr. Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, for the Thang Long Imperial Citadel to truly revive and become a priceless asset of the nation, we need a breakthrough vision, synchronous investment, and a connection between science, technology and society. Over the past 15 years, research results have contributed to clarifying and affirming the scientific position and outstanding global value of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel heritage, a place where the quintessence of Asian civilization converges, crystallizes and shines. However, for the heritage to truly promote its value, it is necessary to shift from a mindset of "praise" to an action of "revival", turning the heritage into a resource for economic, cultural and tourism development of the Capital and the country.

Meanwhile, Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Tuan Thanh, Hanoi National University of Education, proposed to build "Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Thang Long Imperial Citadel". AI can predict visiting trends, design specialized tours, support conservation, create digital content, promote films and art about Thang Long Imperial Citadel. If done, this heritage will become a sustainable source of income, both for conservation and to spread its value to the world. 4,860 days of research have given us a solid scientific foundation, but for Thang Long Imperial Citadel to truly "revive", it requires not only more passion from archaeologists but also the participation of the government, businesses, community and technology. "To have a high-quality "AI Imperial Citadel of Thang Long", it is urgent to systematically digitize documents and records of all types of excavated relics and artifacts, the results of analysis and evaluation activities, and comparative research related to the origin, age, and characteristics. The technical, nature, scale, role and historical and cultural values ​​of each type of relic and artifact are very necessary and need to be deployed soon to provide input data for "AI Imperial Citadel of Thang Long", which is the basis for AI to make forecasts and advise on the effective exploitation of historical, cultural and artistic values ​​of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic site", Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Tuan Thanh proposed.

From the research on urban archaeology experience of York City (UK), Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University) said that the official time of excavation and research of Thang Long Imperial Citadel is very short compared to the existence of this heritage, but it is long enough to look back on "a journey" to evaluate the historical value and "position" Thang Long Imperial Citadel in the cultural heritage system of Vietnam. The urban heritage/archaeological heritage of Thang Long Imperial Citadel has global value, requiring a new approach in preserving and promoting its value, especially from Urban Archaeology and Archaeological Heritage - interdisciplinary and highly applicable approaches of modern archaeology.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic site has become a typical traditional educational place of the Capital.

“With the special value of a world heritage, Thang Long Imperial Citadel can completely learn and adapt the model of York City to suit the conditions of Vietnam. Build a strategy on cultural heritage to make Thang Long Imperial Citadel a “living heritage city” and not just an archaeological site. This strategy requires synchronous and close coordination between management agencies, scientists, communities and businesses - towards the common goal: Turning archaeological heritage into “living heritage” in the heart of a contemporary urban area. Developing from heritage and for the community is sustainable development”, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau emphasized.

“Hanoi commits to focusing all resources to seriously implement the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee in Decision No. 47 COM 7B.92. The goal is to complete and submit the Report on the conservation status update of the Central Area of ​​the World Heritage Site of Thang Long - Hanoi Imperial Citadel to the World Heritage Center before February 1, 2026. The report will include a proposal to restore Kinh Thien Palace - the most iconic structure of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. This is considered a typical space for people across the country to practice traditional rituals, recreate national history, and arouse and spread the convergence power of a thousand-year-old culture,” Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha emphasized during a meeting with the UNESCO and ICOMOS World Heritage Inter-sectoral Delegation in July 2025.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/dua-nhung-gia-tri-tieu-bieu-cua-hoang-thanh-thang-long-toi-gan-cong-chung-1011169