Preserving and Promoting Tangible Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Urban Development in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

Tangible cultural heritage constitutes a vital component of the national cultural legacy, embodied in material forms such as historical–cultural relics, architectural works, heritage spaces, artifacts, antiquities, and national treasures. These assets reflect the historical trajectory, cultural identity, and developmental level of communities. In the context of rapid urbanization and expanding urban governance, the preservation and promotion of tangible cultural heritage in Ho Chi Minh City are encountering new pressures and challenges. This article analyzes and evaluates the current state of heritage preservation and promotion from the perspective of urban heritage management. It identifies key achievements, existing limitations, and emerging issues in the process of safeguarding and valorizing heritage assets. On that basis, the paper proposes several policy and management solutions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of tangible cultural heritage preservation in alignment with the goals of sustainable urban development in Ho Chi Minh City