Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s tourism sector is getting a wild upgrade with virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR), turning ancient history into mind-blowing digital adventures.
When technology breathes life into heritage
The former imperial capital of Hue, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre’s “Finding the lost imperial palace” project is a standout. Through Nreal Air AR glasses, visitors step into the Nguyen Dynasty, watching virtual court rituals, guard changes at the Ngo Mon Gate, and performances at the Duyet Thi Royal Theatre, all staged at their original sites. The tech doesn’t just rebuild lost architecture, it sparks emotional ties to history, delivering a culturally rich experience.
In the central province of Quang Tri, telecom provider MobiFone has teamed up with the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to digitise museums, Chut ethnic cultural space, and the UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Using 360-degree photos, 3D models, VR videos, and digital narration, remote explorers get a near-real taste of these sites. “This isn’t just about preserving heritage, it’s about making it accessible, especially for the youth”, said Phan Thanh Hoai, Director of MobiFone Quang Binh.
Dang Hong Nguyen Khang, a graduate at the US’s New Jersey Institute of Technology, said effective VR needs to do more than dazzle the eyes, hit multiple senses and convey cultural depth.
Meanwhile, CEO of AZA Travel Nguyen Tien Dat said AI now streamlines tour design, once the domain of seasoned experts, by personalising travel experiences with unprecedented efficiency.
Still, experts cautioned that VR cannot fully replace on-the-ground experiences. Rather, it acts as a teaser, priming travelers for in-person adventures.
Toward smart tourism ecosystem
The surge of XR, AI, and digital platforms is upending Vietnam’s tourism activities. Digital platforms now allow businesses to bypass middlemen, serving up tailor-made travel plans straight to consumers via smartphone with a few taps.
![pe.jpg](https://mediaen.vietnamplus.vn/images/790ffb7916bf348155e2236b4070dfe4781bbeebc60ffa299acec9697f17ba90/pe.jpg "Tourists experience "Finding the lost imperial palace" tour. (Photo: VNA)")
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong called digital transformation an inevitable and objective move to keep the industry booming.
The Vietnamese Government has responded with a master plan for tourism development through 2030, alongside plans to foster smart tourism nationwide. Yet hurdles loom, particularly in making tech accessible to all.
According to Master Tran Tuyen, from the Centre for Sustainable Tourism Research and Development (CST) at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, while younger travellers are tech-savvy, user-friendly VR designs could also win over older crowds.
Dismissing fears that technology might replace human tour guides, CST Director Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Van Hanh said it is turning guides into “living storytellers”, adding soul to virtual experiences with human insight.
Looking ahead, experts predicted that 2025 will be AR’s breakout year, akin to the ubiquity of QR codes. With AI cooking up personalised trips and lightweight, user-friendly gadgets, Vietnam’s tourism industry is ready to explode./.
