The Impact of Tourism on Cultural Heritage in French Colonial Vietnam

This study investigates the impact of tourism on cultural heritage in French colonial Vietnam by comparing the 1937 Guide Taupin, a colonial-era tourist guide, with the modern Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) list of 107 heritage sites. Results show that only 23% of VNAT sites were featured in the guide, reflecting a selective colonial heritage vision that emphasized picturesque and exotic locations while overlooking historically or spiritually significant sites. The paper discusses how colonial tourism shaped cultural memory, privileging certain sites and marginalizing others, and considers potential cultural erosion. Continuity and change are examined, highlighting which sites remain significant today. Finally, the study identifies future research directions, including exploring whether colonial-era cultural losses were irreversible and implications for contemporary heritage preservation.