Hanoi (VNA) – An immersive exhibition space titled “Admiring Imperial Annotations - Preserving Woodblock Imprints” in Hanoi is bringing Vietnam’s documentary heritage closer to the public by turning archival materials into a hands-on learning experience.
Through interactive displays of Nguyen Dynasty imperial records and woodblocks, the exhibition not only allows visitors to “see” but also to “touch” history, offering a practical model for heritage education in line with the Politburo’s Resolution 80-NQ/TW on cultural development.
This is not only the opening activity in a series of community-oriented programmes but also helps enhance public access to and enjoyment of heritage values, according to Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the State Records and Archives Department of Vietnam.
It allows visitors to view royal red-ink annotations on Nguyen Dynasty administrative documents and experience traditional woodblock printing using Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks.
When young people “touch” heritage
Resolution 80 sets a clear target for the culture sector, ensuring that all pupils and students in the national education system have regular access to and participation in arts and cultural heritage education activities.
In practice, however, translating this vision into reality requires more than policy direction — it calls for concrete and operational models that bring heritage closer to learners.
Against this backdrop, free admission to the exhibition space has effectively removed access barriers for students. Educational institutions can now proactively incorporate archival visits into extracurricular programmes and experiential learning in a more regular and structured way.
Here, visitors can explore and consult a curated selection of valuable documents from the national archives, reflecting the country’s history, culture, society, sovereignty, governance and the people’s lives across different periods.
Notably, the exhibition features two UNESCO-recognised documentary heritage collections – the Moc Ban (woodblocks) and the Chau Ban (imperial administrative documents) under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), alongside materials on the French colonial period, the resistance wars, and selected documents, images and legacies of President Ho Chi Minh sourced from both domestic and international archives.
Through this immersive experience, learners not only “see” but also truly “touch” history, engaging with authentic evidence of the state governance and social life across eras.
At the launching event, the spouse of the Russian Ambassador to Vietnam and students whose parents are embassy staff had the opportunity to explore and directly experience Vietnam’s documentary heritage, including royal red-ink annotations, auspicious inscriptions, and royal seals preserved on the Nguyen Dynasty’s administrative documents and woodblocks.
Through a multimedia journey, Russian students and the public also gained vivid insights into royal court life by watching two documentary films.
Enhancing value through thematic experiences
In addition to promoting heritage education, Resolution 80 also calls for renewing cultural governance towards a more facilitative and service-oriented approach, while accelerating the application of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to create breakthroughs in cultural development.
According to Nguyen Thu Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Archives Centre No. 1, the exhibition space has been designed and operated as a practical example of that reform mindset. Rather than a static display, it is envisioned as a “visual history classroom” and an open learning ecosystem, integrating digital technologies, multimedia presentations and interactive formats.
Here, students can directly observe royal annotations on administrative documents, learn about woodblock carving and printing techniques, and experience hands-on printing on “do” paper. Moving beyond textbook-based learning, these activities offer a more immersive approach, helping learners gain a deeper understanding of the historical, legal and cultural value of original archival materials.
This direct “hands-on” engagement with heritage helps create lasting educational impact, while fostering early awareness of the value of and responsibility for preserving national archival materials.
Providing free access and organising experiential activities therefore not only serve the public but also represent a strategic approach to heritage education, reflecting long-term investment in the cultural foundation./.
