In the era of rapid digital development, the idea of an application for cultural preservation using virtual reality (VR) is opening up a highly promising direction. This model combines modern technology with traditional heritage, allowing people to access, experience, and preserve cultural values in a vivid and sustainable way.
Such an application could operate through several advanced principles. VR enables the reconstruction of cultural spaces, recreating monuments, festivals, or traditional craft villages in realistic 3D simulations. Users could experience immersive participation, joining festivals, learning handicrafts, or exploring ancient architecture within a virtual environment. In addition, the application could serve as a digital archive, storing artifacts, folktales, and performing arts for future generations to access. Most importantly, VR could be integrated into education, allowing students to learn history and culture through direct experiences rather than only reading books.
If implemented, this application would bring many benefits. It would help preserve heritage, especially in cases where monuments are at risk of deterioration or disappearance. People anywhere in the world could gain global access, experiencing the culture of a nation through VR. Direct experiences would spark learning interest, encouraging younger generations to appreciate and connect with traditional culture. At the same time, VR could promote tourism, serving as an effective tool for cultural promotion and attracting visitors to real-world destinations.
However, challenges remain. Building high-quality VR models requires significant technological investment. The content must ensure authenticity, reflecting the true essence of culture and avoiding excessive commercialization. Accessibility is also an issue, as not everyone owns VR devices, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions. Another risk is that users may become overly dependent on VR, diminishing the value of real-life experiences.
Even so, the vision of a world where students can join the Hung Kings’ Festival right in their classroom, or international tourists can explore Hoi An Ancient Town through VR before visiting in person, continues to inspire hope. An application for cultural preservation using VR would transform culture into a vivid, accessible, and sustainable journey. Yet it also raises a profound question: can we harness technology to preserve culture while maintaining the authenticity and original spirit of heritage?
