Hanoi's relics and landscapes thrive thanks to technology

The use of advanced technologies has allowed many of Hanoi's historical relics and landscapes to flourish and the Huong Son Special Relic Complex (Huong Pagoda), a major landmark in the capital city, is a prime example of how technology has been used.

Located in My Duc District, around 60 kilometers southwest of downtown Hanoi, the Huong Son Special Relic Complex, which was listed as a national relics site in December 2017, gives visitors the feeling of being lost in a fairyland.

Le Thi Thu Hang, a follower of the Huong Son Special Relic Complex's Facebook page, said she was impressed by the many vivid images of the national relics. "At first, I was curious about the invitation to like the page, but then I found it quite interesting and informative. I have learned so much about the national site, which I couldn't do during my previous visits in person," Hang told The Hanoi Times.

Half a million pilgrims to the Huong Son Special Relic Complex over three days of Lunar New Year (Tet) 2024. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times

The website has also received a lot of support from parents in Hanoi. "As a parent of a ninth-grader, I expect my son to understand the values of the Huong Son complex. I hope the project will succeed and be known by different generations," wrote netizen Hoang The Binh on the site's Facebook page.

Nguyen Ba Hien, Head of the Management Board of the Huong Son Special Relic Complex, said they were strictly enforcing regulations, especially the transport of visitors on the Yen Stream. "The Huong Pagoda Tourism Service Cooperative controls the ferry used during the Huong Pagoda Festival, instead of the ferry owners picking up visitors themselves like in previous years." 

"The Huong Son complex has also adopted QR code technology to display information at more than 10 ticket checkpoints. Tourists use their smartphones to scan the posted QR codes to access basic information about the site," Hien said.

Since the 2024 Huong Pagoda Festival, the management has replaced paper tickets with electronic tickets and introduced electric cars for transporting visitors.

Electronic tickets have been used to visit the Huong Son Special Relic Complex to avoid congestion. Another highlight is the introduction of electric cars on three routes: Hoi Xa Bus Station - Yen Vy Ferry; Duc Khe Bus Station - Dong Cu Ferry; Bus Station on Road No.1 - Tuyet Son Pagoda Ferry.

There are 110 electric cars, each with 8 to 14 seats, with guaranteed quality and safety, running the prescribed route, with publicly displayed prices, avoiding any inconvenience to tourists.

On the work to ensure environmental protection during the festival season, Hien said that since 2023, the Management Board has ensured that all garbage is removed from the pagoda. "On days when the place is overcrowded, four boat trips are used to remove garbage and ensure a clean environment and landscape."

According to Hien, although there are still many difficulties in investing in technology, telecommunications infrastructure, and human resources, My Duc District is maintaining its policy of focusing on improving management to provide visitors from all over the world with a comfortable and interesting experience when visiting the Huong Son complex. 

Electric cars on three days of the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2024 at the Huong Son Special Relic Complex. Photo: VGP

In late September 2024, the Hanoi People's Committee issued a decision to designate the Huong Son Special Relic Complex as a city-level tourist destination.

Covering more than 4,900 hectares, the Huong Son Special Relic Complex is a cluster of pagodas, temples, and caves full of stunning stalactites and stalagmites dedicated to the worship of Buddha and deities associated with local beliefs.

Built at the end of the 17th century and renovated several times, the Huong Son complex has preserved its historical and scenic value, contributing to the country's distinctive and diverse Buddhist culture.

The Huong Pagoda Festival is traditionally held from the sixth day of the first lunar month to the third lunar month. It is the largest and longest traditional festival in Hanoi and Vietnam.

A pilgrimage to the Huong Son Special Relic Complex during the Lunar New Year is a spiritual journey to the land of Buddhism. Visitors tour the pagodas, temples, and caves and join in ceremonies to seek the blessings of Buddha.

According to the Management Board of the Huong Son Special Relic Complex, about one million pilgrims attend the Huong Pagoda Festival every year. Visitors come to worship Buddha and admire the majestic landscape of mountains, caves, and pagodas where the Bodhisattva's enlightenment is passed on.

"The Huong Pagoda in Hanoi is a cultural and religious complex that includes many pagodas, temples, and community houses, making it one of 11 special national relics in Vietnam. These are great values for the development of cultural and spiritual tourism in the Huong Son complex," said the Hanoi Department of Tourism.

Hanoi has the largest number of historical sites in the country, with 5,922 relics. Among them, 2,435 are of national significance. 

Visitors at Yen Stream in Huong Pagoda during the festival season. Photo: Duy Khanh/The Hanoi Times

In November 2013, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism approved a strategy for the scientific and technological development of culture, sports, and tourism for 2013-2020, with a broader vision for 2030. This provided the basis for the capital to apply digital technology to preserve and promote its relics and heritage.

The application of digital technology at tourist attractions is also an important part of building a database for the city's tourism sector to disseminate information related to tourism.

To strengthen the digital transformation in the development of the capital's tourism sector, the Hanoi Department of Tourism and the Hanoi Department of Information and Communication have signed a cooperation agreement for 2021-2025.

Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said technology-based solutions are designed to meet the needs of people who cannot visit in person. "Heritage education will be more effective if we know how to use digital technologies, as they help create virtual reality products that allow visitors to explore what they want to know."

"If Hanoi continues to use technology for the new to embrace the old, its cultural heritage will be in safe hands going forward and will continue to inspire the next generation," Giang stressed.