The program "Heritage Tourism Journeys in Hanoi" will introduce four curated routes that highlight the capital's unique heritage, offering residents and visitors a comprehensive cultural experience.

The program is part of the FEF-R Patrimoine project funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs through the French Embassy and the French Institute in Vietnam (IFV), in cooperation with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University (USSH-VNU), the French School of the Far East (EFEO) and the Francophone University Agency (AUF).

The launch event will take place on December 3 at Quan Thanh Temple.

The initiative aims to promote the value of Hanoi's tangible, intangible and digital heritage through four pilot heritage routes, an interactive map system, the H-Heritage app and QR codes placed at major heritage sites in the city center.

Hanoi, a thousand-year-old capital, faces major challenges in preserving its cultural heritage amid rapid urbanization.

Ancient relics still stand within modern neighborhoods, where past and present merge in daily life, yet many sites remain underprotected and rarely introduced in a systematic way.

To address this gap, the "Hanoi Heritage Tourism Journeys" program was created to identify, study, connect and present these heritage assets to the public through modern, research-based and digital-supported methods that integrate academic study, student training and technology.

The project uses a combination of field surveys, archival analysis, training activities and digital mapping.

From more than 100 surveyed sites, researchers selected 28 representative relics divided into four heritage journeys aligned with four traditional Vietnamese belief systems: the Four Guardian Temples, Mother Goddess worship sites, Craft Ancestor Temples and Historic Pagodas.

Each journey groups related heritage sites and tells a connected story that reflects the spiritual structure and collective memory of past and present Hanoi.

Journey 1 – Thang Long Four Guardian Temples explores four sacred temples: Bach Ma, Voi Phuc, Quan Thanh and Kim Lien, which protected the East, West, South and North of ancient Thang Long.

The route highlights Hanoi's unique spiritual identity, where divine guardians symbolically safeguarded the city.

Journey 2 – Mother Goddess Temples connects eight temples and shrines dedicated to Lieu Hanh Mother Goddess and other Holy Mothers, representing the UNESCO-recognized Tam Phu worship tradition.

This route explores Dong Ha, Vu Thach, Ba Kieu, Xuan Yen, Dau Temple, Vong Tien, Tay Ho Palace and the altar at Long Bien Station.

Journey 3 – Craft Ancestor Temples follows the temples in the Old Quarter dedicated to founders of traditional crafts.

Each temple preserves the legacy of artisans who shaped Thang Long's craftsmanship.

Sites include Kim Ngan (goldsmithing), Dong Lac (traditional blouse craft), Pha Truc Lam (leatherwork), Ha Vi (lacquer painting), Phuc Hau (mirror making), Tu Thi (embroidery), Lo Ren (blacksmithing) and Ngu Xa (bronze casting).

Journey 4 – Hanoi Pagodas explores pagodas linked to the monk An Thien (Phuc Dien), an important figure in Vietnamese Buddhism.

The route spans historical sites from the long-lost Bao Thien Pagoda to Lien Tri, Ham Long and Lien Phai, recreating the spiritual flow of Thang Long and telling a story of loss, revival and preservation.

Organizers said research followed a unified process, including field surveys, photography, collection of ancient inscriptions, translation of Han-Nom documents, data research, architectural sketching, videography and historical supplementation.

Each site includes a complete dossier with descriptions, old and current images, video clips, textual references and source lists.

All materials are digitized and integrated into electronic maps, QR codes and the H-Heritage app, allowing residents, students and tourists to access information on smartphones.

This marks an important step in bringing heritage knowledge closer to the public and transforming heritage tourism, study and research into an interactive, flexible and educational experience.

These heritage routes are designed not only for domestic and international visitors but also as valuable educational tools for schools and universities in Hanoi, helping young people engage with heritage through real-world experience and visual learning.