This research aims to explore somewhat conflicting aspects of the historic-cultural heritage preservation, tourism development, local ways of life and increasing need of the inhabitants to modernize and improve their living condition in so called ‘living heritage sites’ in Vietnam, mainly focusing on the two officially recognized ‘ancient villages’ – Duong Lam in the northern part of Vietnam and Phuoc Tich in the central part, as two case studies. It sheds light on the phenomenon of transforming anonymous villages to a National Heritage and touristic sites. In Vietnam, local authorities together with international experts on heritage preservation are conducting projects of heritage preservation and tourism development in the ‘living heritage sites’. It contributes to the better understanding of Vietnam’s village history, heritage preservation and tourism development in the designated sites, and how historic and cultural heritage was preserved before and after the nomination of the villages, and on heritage tourism in Southeast Asia more generally.
Since heritage preservation and tourism development in the ancient/traditional sites are becoming an increasingly popular issue in the whole world and especially in Asia, the data on Duong Lam and Phuoc Tich’s current situation, and residents’ attitudes towards the occuring changes in their villages can be analyzed and implemented to improve heritage preservation and tourism development projects in these villages and in other similar ‘living heritage sites’ in South East Asian countries.
There is a lack of academic literature in English in this field regarding VIetnam, therefore, my research will be of interest to the wider audience interested in Vietnam as well as heritage tourism in Soutehast Asia.