Digital transformation of activities to preserve and promote the value of traditional costumes at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Abstract

Traditional attire is an important tangible cultural heritage, reflecting the history, indigenous knowledge, and cultural identity of ethnic communities. In the context of digital transformation reshaping the cultural heritage sector, museums are increasingly shifting to digital data systems to enhance the preservation of Vietnamese traditional costumes facing the risk of extinction. Using a literature review, analysis, comparison, and an interdisciplinary approach combining cultural studies, museology, and information technology, this research has successfully developed a digitisation process and a specialised data management model. The research proposes a seven-step digitisation process integrating modern technology with indigenous knowledge, accompanied by a management information system model to store, exploit, and promote the value of heritage in a digital environment. The results also affirm that data standardisation combined with community participation is a key factor in ensuring the sustainability of digital heritage. From there, appropriate technical solutions are proposed to suit the practical conditions of Vietnamese museums in the process of digital transformation.