The “Three-Legged Stool” Strategy for Tourism Economic Growth

In the flow of the digital era, reviving heritage values through modern technology is not just a trend but has become the “key” for Phu Tho to achieve a breakthrough. The close-knit bond—resembling a “three-legged stool”—between Culture, Tourism, and Digital Technology is creating a smart ecosystem. This ensures that the age-old values of the Ancestral Land are not only preserved intact but also remain vibrantly “alive” in modern socio-economic life.

Children learn about history at the Hung Vuong Museum.

Phu Tho is often likened to a “living museum” with a rich historical and cultural depth. The province currently boasts 2,778 relics and nearly 2,000 intangible cultural heritages, including five recognized by UNESCO. However, to transform these precious assets into commensurate economic value, a breakthrough “push” is required. Digital technology serves as that bridge, allowing tourists to access heritage in an intuitive and vivid way.

At the Hung Temple Historic Site and Hung Vuong Museum, the sight of tourists scanning QR codes and using smartphones to experience check-in points with Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) has become commonplace. With a simple tap, the historical space of the Hung Kings' era appears vividly with multi-language audio and visuals. This marks a distinct shift from “resource exploitation” to "knowledge and experience exploitation."

Through the QR-Code system, visitors can explore information and artifacts at the Hung Vuong Museum using their smartphones.

At a recent national scientific conference, Dr. Nguyen Thi My Linh (Academy of Journalism and Communication) remarked: "The harmonious link between culture, tourism, and digital technology will help Phu Tho transition to a knowledge-based economy. Culture is the spiritual foundation, tourism is the channel that converts cultural values into economic benefits, and digital technology is both the tool and the driver to expand creative space."

Practical results show that this “three-pillar” combination has yielded clear efficiency. In 2025, Phu Tho welcomed an estimated 14.5 million visitors, with total revenue reaching nearly 45 trillion VND. The attraction comes not only from natural landscapes like Hoa Binh Lake, Xuan Son National Park, or Long Coc Tea Hill but also from digitized tourism products that enhance the visitor experience.

Long Coc Tea Hill is one of the favorite “check-in” spots for young people.

The Vietnam Cultural Heritage Digitization Program (2023-2030) is being vigorously implemented locally. Experience tours at traditional craft villages—such as Muong brocade weaving, Ly Nhan blacksmithing, Sai Nga conical hats, and Huong Canh pottery—have been refreshed with enhanced digital interaction. A prime example is the “Colors of the Ancestral Land - Phu Tho 2025” event, which attracted 70 tourism businesses and created a powerful media “boost” across cyberspace.

Despite these successes, challenges remain. Management and conservation are inconsistent in some areas, and data systems are not yet fully integrated. Notably, the digital application capacity of some SMEs and local communities remains limited. Investment resources for large-scale smart tourism projects have yet to meet requirements.

The peaceful beauty of Du Village, Xuan Dai Commune, through a flycam lens.

To truly establish Phu Tho as a leading cultural tourism hub of the country, perfecting mechanisms and policies is a prerequisite. Dr. Nguyen Thi My Linh suggests focusing on four strategic groups, starting with a unified policy framework that identifies culture as the foundation, tourism as the driver, and digital technology as the breakthrough tool. Encouraging Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models in heritage management will help maximize social resources.

Ultimately, technology is just a tool; the core elements remain the people and their unique cultural values. When heritage is “empowered” by technology, the melodies of Xoan and Gheo singing, or the ancient beauty of the relics, will resonate globally, bringing the image of the Ancestral Land closer to domestic and international friends.

Le Hoang