Ho Chi Minh City must move beyond the outdated notion of treating relics as "frozen assets" and instead repurpose or breathe new life into them so they can continue to exist and evolve within the city’s dynamic urban landscape.

In recent years, the city has seen notable progress in preserving and promoting the value of its cultural heritage. Between 2021 and 2025, 83 heritage sites, structures, and landmarks listed in the city’s inventory have been restored, conserved, or had their cultural value enhanced.

The total investment reached approximately 59 million USD, with over 40.6 million USD sourced from central and city budgets. The remaining amount came from socialized funding.

Ho Chi Minh City has also developed a strategic vision aligned with national heritage preservation programs. Notably, the Cu Chi Tunnels have been added to the preliminary list for potential UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination  -  a significant milestone for the city.

In tandem with physical conservation efforts, the digital transformation of the heritage sector has gained momentum. Museums are embracing modernized exhibits that better engage visitors, while the consolidation of cultural institutions is improving resource coordination and tourism-cultural development.

Persistent challenges remain

Despite the achievements, progress in compiling inventories and securing heritage designations has lagged compared to earlier periods. The dossier to propose UNESCO recognition for the Cu Chi Tunnels remains incomplete, and the city’s heritage preservation fund has yet to be established as scheduled.

Efforts to mobilize socialized funding for heritage conservation have fallen short. The absence of specific regulations and prioritization criteria has led to continued deterioration at some heritage sites. Communication and promotion strategies remain inadequate relative to the sector’s potential.

A particularly pressing issue is the lack of a formal inventory of intangible heritage. This shortfall directly impacts the ability to compile national dossiers for recognition of intangible cultural heritage.

At the grassroots level, the workforce dedicated to heritage preservation is limited in number. Moreover, some staff members lack the specialized skills required for complex restoration techniques.

A shift from ‘static preservation’ to ‘living heritage’

At the citywide Heritage Conference hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports on November 24, Associate Professor Dr. Dang Van Bai  -  Vice Chairman of the National Cultural Heritage Council  -  stressed the need for a fundamental shift in strategic thinking around heritage conservation.

According to him, the city must move away from viewing relics merely as “frozen assets” and instead activate or repurpose their functions so that they can remain alive and relevant in a modern urban context.

Dr. Bai proposed the establishment of a regional heritage conservation fund based on a trust-and-investment model. This fund would be supervised by local authorities but managed by a professional and independent board. Beyond receiving donations, it could also generate returns through investments to sustainably support future conservation projects.

The fund’s revenue sources should be diversified and linked to regional economic development mechanisms. Public-private partnerships (PPP), he suggested, could serve as a sustainable funding stream: investors could operate heritage-related services but would be required to contribute a portion of their revenue or licensing fees to the fund, thereby creating a continuous financial cycle between commercial use and conservation.

Intangible cultural heritage is about people

According to Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly  -  former Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage  -  museums are not just repositories of artifacts but community-serving institutions that safeguard both tangible items and documentation of intangible heritage.

She noted that the revised Cultural Heritage Law, passed by the National Assembly in November 2024, paves the way for more professional museum operations  -  from research and collection to public engagement.

Dr. Ly emphasized that intangible heritage is, fundamentally, about people  -  it is life itself. It is a process of inheritance, transmission, and creative renewal. Adopting this perspective allows urban heritage to stay vibrant and adaptive to contemporary life without losing its core value.

As a major, ever-evolving metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City must protect its intangible cultural heritage as a way to preserve its identity, foster a distinct cultural ethos, and better serve its people.

Nguyen Minh Nhut, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the city’s Party Congress has outlined a vision to build an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity, while shaping the ideal citizen of Ho Chi Minh City  -  one defined by "truth, goodness, and beauty."

The city remains steadfast in its goal of fostering holistic human development by aligning economic growth with social progress. Key priorities include establishing core values and standards for the people of Ho Chi Minh City, expanding the "Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space," completing cultural infrastructure, and investing in the preservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Quoc Ngoc