Efforts made in digitising traditional arts to attract youth
Digitalisation does not mean commercialisation or oversimplification of culture. It is a way of selecting, adapting, and spreading traditional values through a modern language.
Video introducing the history by Long Khoa Hoc (Screenshot: thanhnien.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) - The preservation and promotion of traditional cultural and artistic heritage is no longer confined to museums or theater stages. Instead, a new trend is shaping the future of culture: digitising heritage which means “packaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚging" traditional values by using technology to retell them in ways that the youth want to hear, engage with, and share.
Known online as "Tuyet Mai Lay Di," Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, 24, is one of the standout content creators in spreading traditional culture. She currently has nearly 800,000 followers and 24 million likes on TikTok alone. Her videos present historical stories and figures in an accessible and creative way, helping young audiences love and understand Vietnamese culture from a fresh perspective. In particular, the traditional Vietnamese outfits she recreates have captured the interest of Gen Z and fashion enthusiasts alike.
Famous for his digital content on tech products and scientific explanations, Long Khoa Hoc, 29, has recently expanded into culture, history, and traditional arts through channels like Xin Chao Viet Nam (Hello Vietnam) and Hanh trinh di san (Heritage Journey). Through these platforms, Long and his team aim to tell stories about Vietnamese culture, cuisine, and people using modern digital language, igniting patriotism and preserving traditional values among young people.
His team has already “adapted” numerous topics, data, historical figures, legends, literary works, theatrical arts, folklore, and festivals into short videos with a youthful and humorous style, attracting millions of likes and followers across digital platforms. Similarly, many other young creators are engaging in unique "remix" forms of cultural content — from livestreaming as folk characters to producing fictional historical character interviews in podcast format.
Capturing the attention of young audiences is no longer just a trend, it's a strategic move to build a loyal viewership community for the future. Cultural and performing arts institutions cannot stand on the sidelines.
Meritorious Artist Nguyen Hai Linh, Director of the Vietnam National Music Song and Dance Theatre, said that despite still in the early stages, the theatre has already started digitising its art programmes to archive and promote them on YouTube and its website.
Heritage is no longer something to simply "display," but has become a material for modern creativity and generational connection (Photo: thanhnien.vn)
According to Linh, in the coming time, the theatre will intensify digitisation and communication on platforms such as TikTok and other social media channels where young audiences are highly active. He emphasised that the key lies in researching and closely following the preferences of young viewers, thereby producing suitable content, presentation formats, and production models. The theatre has also prepared a dedicated team of young staff to effectively carry out this initiative.
A positive sign is that more and more young people are revitalising heritage using their own language: from fashion collections inspired by traditional costumes on Instagram, vlogs exploring craft villages, memes telling folk tales, to reaction videos on traditional festivals. What was once seen as "breaking the rules" has now become an effective bridge between tradition and the younger audience.
Digitalisation has helped young people shift from a passive role of reception to actively exploring, discovering, and reflecting. Heritage is no longer something to simply "display," but has become a material for modern creativity and generational connection. AI technology is also being applied in recreating ancient singing voices and restoring pronunciation and lost tones for example, thereby creating cultural experiences that engage the auditory, visual, and emotional senses.
Dang Thi Phuong Thao, Deputy Director of the Authority of Press, stated that to spread culture to the young generation, it is necessary to have quality products that are ‘packaged’ with the right aesthetics and language for them.
Digitalisation does not mean commercialisation or oversimplification of culture. It is a way of selecting, adapting, and spreading traditional values through a modern language. When tradition is retold in the language of the times, it is no longer something "to be learned," but something "to be heard and shared," Thao stressed./.
At Kim Ngan Communal House on Hang Bac Street in Hanoi, the exhibition “Sparkling Craft Street” presents contemporary artworks that highlight the beauty of traditional jewelry-making, a treasured heritage deeply rooted in the history of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Thang Long culture.
Using the airbrush technique, Trinh Minh Tien skilfully recreated the image of Hanoi’s St. Joseph’s Cathedral reflected on a rain-covered car window — all on the surface of a car bonnet. Through Thuy Phu, the artist seeks to convey the Buddhist concept of impermanence, illustrating the ceaseless transformation of history through human-built architectural imprints.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Vietnam continues to sit just behind continental powerhouses Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).