On July 18, 2026, the University of Sciences, Hue University (HUSC) hosted an international conference on “Conservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage Values: International Experiences and Practice in Vietnam”. The conference was jointly organized by the University of Sciences, Hue University; the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University, Hanoi; the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City; and Hanoi University of Education. 

The conference was held against the backdrop of the growing importance of preserving and promoting cultural heritage for sustainable development in Vietnam and worldwide. Amid globalization, digital transformation, and the growth of the cultural industries, cultural heritage is not only essential to preserving national identity but also an important resource for economic growth, cultural tourism, national soft power, and international exchange and cooperation.

The event brought together representatives of Hue City authorities and cultural agencies, leaders of Hue University and the co-organizing universities, as well as professors, researchers, experts, lecturers, and postgraduate students from universities and research institutions in Vietnam and abroad. Participants included representatives of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Hue City Party Committee; the Department of Science and Technology; the Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City; Hue Newspaper and Radio-Television; the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre; the Ho Chi Minh Museum; and Hue City Public Security.

Representing Hue University were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Vu Quoc Huy, Acting Director of Hue University, together with leaders of its Office and the Department of Science, Technology and International Relations. The University of Sciences, Hue University was represented by Assoc. Prof. Vo Thanh Tung, Rector, along with Vice Rectors Assoc. Prof. Tran Ngoc Tuyen, Dr. Phan Tuan Anh, and Dr. Bui Quang Vu, as well as leaders of relevant faculties and units. Leaders of the co-organizing institutions also attended the conference.

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Vo Thanh Tung emphasized that cultural heritage embodies the memory of communities, crystallizes national identity, and represents an important endogenous resource for sustainable development. In the context of international integration and digital transformation, he called for an interdisciplinary approach that balances preservation and development and connects tradition with modernity.

Assoc. Prof. Vo Thanh Tung, Rector of HUSC, delivers the opening remarks at the conference.

As a city with a rich system of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, including numerous UNESCO-designated heritage properties, Hue provided an appropriate setting for an international academic forum connecting scholars, experts, and policymakers to discuss theoretical and practical issues surrounding heritage preservation and promotion in the context of new development.

Dr. Tran Thi Hong Minh, Dean of the Faculty of Political Theory at HUSC, presented the keynote introductory report, highlighting the opportunities and challenges facing cultural heritage preservation and promotion and setting the direction for discussions throughout the conference.

The plenary session featured presentations by Vietnamese and international scholars on a wide range of topics, including international experiences in heritage preservation; sustainable cultural tourism; heritage conservation and territorial development; smart heritage transformation in the age of artificial intelligence; accessibility of heritage for people with disabilities; and lessons from UNESCO heritage cities around the world. In the afternoon, discussions continued in four thematic sessions focusing on international experiences, the theoretical and practical foundations of heritage preservation in Vietnam, the preservation and promotion of Hue’s cultural heritage, and an English-language session on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, heritage economy, cultural policy, innovation, and sustainable development.

According to the Organizing Committee, the conference received more than 300 papers from scholars, experts, lecturers, researchers, and policymakers representing universities, academies, research institutes, and government agencies. Following a rigorous peer-review process, more than 200 papers were selected for publication in the conference proceedings and presentation at the conference sessions.

Scholars and experts from five countries - Spain, Japan, South Korea, France, and China - joined Vietnamese researchers at the conference. The exchange of research findings, practical experiences, and policy recommendations contributed to a deeper understanding of cultural heritage preservation and promotion while opening new opportunities for research cooperation among academic institutions, research organizations, and management agencies.

The international conference served as a significant academic forum for strengthening scholarly exchange, connecting researchers, experts, and policymakers, and promoting domestic and international research collaboration. It also provided a platform for developing scientific evidence and policy recommendations to support cultural heritage preservation and promotion in connection with digital transformation, the development of cultural industries, and sustainable development.

Holding the conference in Hue also helped promote the outstanding values of the Complex of Hue Monuments and Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage, while highlighting Hue’s role as a cultural, educational, scientific research, and international cooperation center in Central Vietnam and beyond. The event further underscored the pioneering role of higher education institutions in research, policy consultation, and the promotion of cultural values for the country’s sustainable development.